Antoinette Lattouf reveals her next career move after ABC star was abruptly dumped from national broadcaster
Antoinette Lattouf has announced she will launch a podcast after parting ways with the ABC as a fill-in on radio after just three days in the role.
Ms Lattouf had presented ABC Sydney Mornings last week but was dismissed on Wednesday afternoon and did not return for her shifts on Thursday and Friday.
She was fired after sharing a series of anti-Israel posts about the conflict in the Middle East.
A flood of complaints from the ABC’s Jewish listeners reached chairman Ita Buttrose, leading to Ms Lattouf’s resignation.
Ms Lattouf will now focus on her latest career – a new podcast entitled ‘The Antoinettes’.
Antoinette Lattouf has announced she is launching a podcast after parting ways with the ABC as a fill-in on radio after just three days in the role.
Ms. Lattouf announced her podcast last week. She presents it together with the American poet Azure Antoinette
“What happens when an Australian journalist named Antoinette and an American poet named Antoinette sit down to tackle the world’s biggest and smallest problems?” she wrote in an Instagram post.
“They exchange a lot of words and some barbs! There are trials and errors, and plenty of laughs as the Antoinettes navigate their friendship while trying to make sense of the chaos of the world.
‘Every week the two smarta***s solve one problem. Nothing is off the table. Welcome to the baking fire. Welcome to the shitshow!’
Ms Lattouf said the first episode would be released early next year.
Last week the journalist filed a complaint with the Fair Work Commission, alleging she had been unfairly dismissed.
Her submission to the FWC alleges she was fired after sharing a Human Rights Watch Instagram post, in violation of the ABC’s policy.
It is also claimed that ABC chief executive David Anderson made the decision to terminate Ms Lattouf’s position at the national broadcaster.
The ABC declined to comment.
Last Wednesday evening, Ms Lattouf said on Instagram that she was ‘very disappointed by the ABC’s decision’.
“I believe I was wrongfully dismissed,” she said.
“This is not a victory for journalism or critical, honest thinking. I am currently considering my legal options.’
The ABC has a strict editorial policy, requiring staff to be impartial in their reporting and to protect the broadcaster’s reputation.
Last week the journalist filed a complaint with the Fair Work Commission, alleging she was unlawfully dismissed from the ABC
“An ill-considered post or tweet could immediately jeopardize this perception of impartiality,” the ABC rules say.
a GoFundMe was set up by Ms Lattouf’s supporters to help fund her legal costs.
“We stand with Antoinette and support the rights of employees to share news that expresses an opinion or reinforces a fact without fear of retaliation,” said the fundraiser, which has raised more than $12,000 in donations.
“We must help her fight this decision and we must fight for the right of all of us to share what is happening around the world without fear of professional reprimand.
‘Searching and speaking the truth, and sharing that truth with others, should never be a punishable offense. It is a freedom and a right that we must all defend.”
Ms Lattouf recently co-authored an article questioning the veracity of viral footage showing pro-Palestinian activists chanting “gas the Jews” during an October protest at the Sydney Opera House.
“Analysis of the Aust Jewish Association videos by fact-checker RMIT CrossCheck found a number of clues suggesting the audio was edited…,” she claimed.
In another post from November, Ms. Lattouf wrote: “We need a PERMANENT ceasefire and must address the ROOT of the problem: the unlawful occupation of Palestine.”