![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSydney murder case: Tributes flood in for Jesse Baird and Luke DaviesPublished34 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Jesse BairdImage caption, Police say they are “very confident” that they have found the bodies of Luke Davies (left) and Jesse Baird (right)By Tiffanie TurnbullBBC News, SydneyTributes have flowed in for suspected Australian murder victims Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, as relatives visit the site where their bodies were found.Police located human remains inside “surf bags” on a rural property in Bungonia, south of Sydney, on Tuesday.The discovery ends a search that has gripped and horrified Australia.Police officer Beaumont Lamarre-Condon has been charged with murdering the couple, allegedly with his work-issued gun. He is yet to enter a plea. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among those who paid tribute to Mr Baird and Mr Davies, offering condolences to their family and friends.”They obviously were full of life… this is just a terrible incident,” he said, adding that it was a “tough day” for the LGBTQ+ community.Dozens of Mr Davies friends held an intimate beach-side vigil in Sydney on Tuesday evening, lighting candles beside a portrait of the 29-year-old – who had recently landed his dream job as an international flight attendant for Qantas. In tributes posted online, Mr Davies has been remembered as a beautiful soul with a “lust for life”, a love of travel and a cheeky smile.”I can’t believe he’s gone. What a tragic waste,” his friend Rory Grant said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Meanwhile Mr Baird – a TV personality and Australian Football League umpire – has been remembered by loved ones as a talented, effervescent, and caring man.His cousin, Austin Baird, described the 26-year-old as his “first ever best friend”. “I am beyond devastated… you were one in a million,” he wrote on Instagram.And his peers at Network 10 have said he was more friend than colleague. “[He was] like a little brother. He had this big, beautiful smile [and] at 26 he was an absolute star,” said Sarah Harris – the host of current affairs show the Project – in a teary on-air tribute on Sunday.Police under scrutinyIn a series of press conferences this week, New South Wales (NSW) Police have shared a timeline of how they allege the killings of the Sydney couple unfolded. Witnesses have said they heard “shouting” from inside Mr Baird’s inner-city Paddington home on the morning of 19 February. Around 09:50 local time (22:50 GMT), neighbours heard gunshots but did not report them to police until days later.Within minutes of the gunshots, an emergency call was made from Mr Davies’ phone but quickly disconnected. Police say they sent a patrol car to Paddington to investigate the source of the call, but they could not determine the location it originated from and did not enter Mr Baird’s home.Two more days would pass before the couple’s bloodied items were found in a bin in Cronulla, 28km (17 miles) away.Police then set up a crime scene at Mr Baird’s house last Wednesday, after finding a “significant” amount of blood and upturned furniture, as well as a bullet from Mr Lamarre-Condon’s work-issued gun.They also appealed for information and searched a family home in Balmain. Image source, EPAImage caption, Police officer Beaumont Lamarre-Condon is accused of murdering Jesse Baird and Luke DaviesOn Friday, Mr Lamarre-Condon handed himself in. The former celebrity blogger – who once dated Mr Baird – was charged with two counts of murder.Investigators allege he spent the days after the alleged killings crisscrossing the state to try and cover his tracks – enlisting the help of what police say were at least two unwitting acquaintances.In the hours after the deaths, police say Mr Lamarre-Condon hired a van to dispose of the men’s bodies, and that he sent messages from Mr Baird’s phone telling his friends he was moving to Western Australia. Detectives began searching one property in Bungonia after allegedly learning Mr Lamarre-Condon had visited it, with a person they have described as an “innocent agent”, last Wednesday.After severing a lock on a gate, Mr Lamarre-Condon then left the female acquaintance there before driving the van on to the property and returning 30 minutes later, investigators said. He was initially unwilling to co-operate with police but finally told them on Tuesday that the remains were located at another property in the same town, according to authorities.NSW Police has come under fire for its handling of the case, with questions raised over the out-of-hours access officers have to their firearms and the vetting process for prospective recruits.The Police Commissioner has also apologised after referring to the deaths as a “crime of passion” and using a Taylor Swift lyric to respond to criticisms of the force.”There will always be haters, haters like to hate, isn’t that what Taylor [Swift] says?” Karen Webb said on Tuesday.The fallout has led to NSW Police being uninvited from Sydney’s iconic Mardi Gras celebrations this weekend. Police banned from Mardi Gras after murder caseWatch accused killer policeman Beau Lamarre-Condon hand himself inPolice have long had a difficult relationship with Sydney’s LGTBQ+ community, but it is the first time since their initial inclusion in the event in 1998 that they have been asked to sit it out. Ms Webb has said she is “disappointed” by the decision and that she will try to negotiate a solution with organisers.The Australian Federal Police have voluntarily withdrawn from the march this year. “This decision was not taken lightly, but we acknowledge how some in the community are feeling about the blue uniform,” a spokesperson said in a statement.”We must always remember that this is an event for, and about LGBTQI+ communities, and those people who love and support them.”Related TopicsNew South WalesSydneyLGBTAustraliaMore on this storyPolice banned from Mardi Gras after murder casePublished1 day agoPoliceman charged with murder of missing Sydney couplePublished4 days agoTop StoriesTrump and Biden projected to win Michigan primariesPublished2 minutes agoEni Aluko says X allows people to ‘vomit hatred unchecked’Published19 minutes ago’Tragic waste’: Australia mourns murder case couplePublished34 minutes agoFeaturesThe Papers: ‘Day of royal tragedy and drama’ and ‘£16 packs of cigs’Why Google’s ‘woke’ AI problem won’t be an easy fix’My mother’s body was left by smugglers in the desert’Why South Korean women aren’t having babiesWomen remain defiant as Iran holds electionsCatalonia’s farmers demand more help over droughtGazans in survival mode with cold nights and food rationsMichigan vote tests anger over Biden’s Israel policyWhy firms are racing to produce green ammoniaElsewhere on the BBCHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerMost Read1’Day of royal tragedy and drama’ and ‘£16 packs of cigs’2Royals mourn Prince Michael of Kent’s son-in-law3Godson and friend guilty of Run-DMC star’s murder4Post Office confirms boss is under investigation5Cash-strapped councils target arts and parks cuts6Four of couple’s children taken into care7Trump and Biden projected to win Michigan primaries8Dozens die after bus falls off bridge in Mali9New rules make it harder to keep primates as pets10Sixth person charged with spying for Russia in UK](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/15E01/production/_132710698_capture.png)
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSydney murder case: Tributes flood in for Jesse Baird and Luke DaviesPublished34 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Jesse BairdImage caption, Police say they are “very confident” that they have found the bodies of Luke Davies (left) and Jesse Baird (right)By Tiffanie TurnbullBBC News, SydneyTributes have flowed in for suspected Australian murder victims Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, as relatives visit the site where their bodies were found.Police located human remains inside “surf bags” on a rural property in Bungonia, south of Sydney, on Tuesday.The discovery ends a search that has gripped and horrified Australia.Police officer Beaumont Lamarre-Condon has been charged with murdering the couple, allegedly with his work-issued gun. He is yet to enter a plea. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among those who paid tribute to Mr Baird and Mr Davies, offering condolences to their family and friends.”They obviously were full of life… this is just a terrible incident,” he said, adding that it was a “tough day” for the LGBTQ+ community.Dozens of Mr Davies friends held an intimate beach-side vigil in Sydney on Tuesday evening, lighting candles beside a portrait of the 29-year-old – who had recently landed his dream job as an international flight attendant for Qantas. In tributes posted online, Mr Davies has been remembered as a beautiful soul with a “lust for life”, a love of travel and a cheeky smile.”I can’t believe he’s gone. What a tragic waste,” his friend Rory Grant said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Meanwhile Mr Baird – a TV personality and Australian Football League umpire – has been remembered by loved ones as a talented, effervescent, and caring man.His cousin, Austin Baird, described the 26-year-old as his “first ever best friend”. “I am beyond devastated… you were one in a million,” he wrote on Instagram.And his peers at Network 10 have said he was more friend than colleague. “[He was] like a little brother. He had this big, beautiful smile [and] at 26 he was an absolute star,” said Sarah Harris – the host of current affairs show the Project – in a teary on-air tribute on Sunday.Police under scrutinyIn a series of press conferences this week, New South Wales (NSW) Police have shared a timeline of how they allege the killings of the Sydney couple unfolded. Witnesses have said they heard “shouting” from inside Mr Baird’s inner-city Paddington home on the morning of 19 February. Around 09:50 local time (22:50 GMT), neighbours heard gunshots but did not report them to police until days later.Within minutes of the gunshots, an emergency call was made from Mr Davies’ phone but quickly disconnected. Police say they sent a patrol car to Paddington to investigate the source of the call, but they could not determine the location it originated from and did not enter Mr Baird’s home.Two more days would pass before the couple’s bloodied items were found in a bin in Cronulla, 28km (17 miles) away.Police then set up a crime scene at Mr Baird’s house last Wednesday, after finding a “significant” amount of blood and upturned furniture, as well as a bullet from Mr Lamarre-Condon’s work-issued gun.They also appealed for information and searched a family home in Balmain. Image source, EPAImage caption, Police officer Beaumont Lamarre-Condon is accused of murdering Jesse Baird and Luke DaviesOn Friday, Mr Lamarre-Condon handed himself in. The former celebrity blogger – who once dated Mr Baird – was charged with two counts of murder.Investigators allege he spent the days after the alleged killings crisscrossing the state to try and cover his tracks – enlisting the help of what police say were at least two unwitting acquaintances.In the hours after the deaths, police say Mr Lamarre-Condon hired a van to dispose of the men’s bodies, and that he sent messages from Mr Baird’s phone telling his friends he was moving to Western Australia. Detectives began searching one property in Bungonia after allegedly learning Mr Lamarre-Condon had visited it, with a person they have described as an “innocent agent”, last Wednesday.After severing a lock on a gate, Mr Lamarre-Condon then left the female acquaintance there before driving the van on to the property and returning 30 minutes later, investigators said. He was initially unwilling to co-operate with police but finally told them on Tuesday that the remains were located at another property in the same town, according to authorities.NSW Police has come under fire for its handling of the case, with questions raised over the out-of-hours access officers have to their firearms and the vetting process for prospective recruits.The Police Commissioner has also apologised after referring to the deaths as a “crime of passion” and using a Taylor Swift lyric to respond to criticisms of the force.”There will always be haters, haters like to hate, isn’t that what Taylor [Swift] says?” Karen Webb said on Tuesday.The fallout has led to NSW Police being uninvited from Sydney’s iconic Mardi Gras celebrations this weekend. Police banned from Mardi Gras after murder caseWatch accused killer policeman Beau Lamarre-Condon hand himself inPolice have long had a difficult relationship with Sydney’s LGTBQ+ community, but it is the first time since their initial inclusion in the event in 1998 that they have been asked to sit it out. Ms Webb has said she is “disappointed” by the decision and that she will try to negotiate a solution with organisers.The Australian Federal Police have voluntarily withdrawn from the march this year. “This decision was not taken lightly, but we acknowledge how some in the community are feeling about the blue uniform,” a spokesperson said in a statement.”We must always remember that this is an event for, and about LGBTQI+ communities, and those people who love and support them.”Related TopicsNew South WalesSydneyLGBTAustraliaMore on this storyPolice banned from Mardi Gras after murder casePublished1 day agoPoliceman charged with murder of missing Sydney couplePublished4 days agoTop StoriesTrump and Biden projected to win Michigan primariesPublished2 minutes agoEni Aluko says X allows people to ‘vomit hatred unchecked’Published19 minutes ago’Tragic waste’: Australia mourns murder case couplePublished34 minutes agoFeaturesThe Papers: ‘Day of royal tragedy and drama’ and ‘£16 packs of cigs’Why Google’s ‘woke’ AI problem won’t be an easy fix’My mother’s body was left by smugglers in the desert’Why South Korean women aren’t having babiesWomen remain defiant as Iran holds electionsCatalonia’s farmers demand more help over droughtGazans in survival mode with cold nights and food rationsMichigan vote tests anger over Biden’s Israel policyWhy firms are racing to produce green ammoniaElsewhere on the BBCHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerMost Read1’Day of royal tragedy and drama’ and ‘£16 packs of cigs’2Royals mourn Prince Michael of Kent’s son-in-law3Godson and friend guilty of Run-DMC star’s murder4Post Office confirms boss is under investigation5Cash-strapped councils target arts and parks cuts6Four of couple’s children taken into care7Trump and Biden projected to win Michigan primaries8Dozens die after bus falls off bridge in Mali9New rules make it harder to keep primates as pets10Sixth person charged with spying for Russia in UK
[ad_1] Friends and family of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies remember them as talented and caring young men.
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityCultureOppenheimer: Cillian Murphy film dominates SAG Awards ahead of OscarsPublished54 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Cillian Murphy said it was “extremely special” to win an award voted for by fellow actorsBy Steven McIntoshEntertainment reporterOppenheimer continued its dominance of awards season as it scored several major prizes at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards on Saturday.Christopher Nolan’s film won best film cast, while Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr won individual acting prizes.Accepting the top prize on behalf of the cast, Sir Kenneth Branagh said they were all “grateful, humbled and proud”.The evening was peppered with remarks about the actors’ strike, which brought Hollywood to a standstill last year.Paying tribute to the US actors’ union, Sir Kenneth said: “Thank you for fighting for us, thank you for every Sag-Aftra member whose support and whose sacrifice allows us to be standing here better than we were before.”He recalled the night last July when the cast of Oppeheimer downed tools at the film’s London premiere as the strike began.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Sir Kenneth Branagh (left) accepted the night’s top prize on behalf of the cast of Oppenheimer”We went from the red carpet, we didn’t see the film that night, we happily went in the direction of solidarity with your good selves, so this is a full circle moment for us,” he told the audience of actors.”We are grateful and humbled and proud not just to be in Mr Nolan’s masterpiece, but proud to be in your company.”The film, about theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, described as the father of the atomic bomb, is almost certain to win best picture at the Oscars next month following its success at SAG and other precursor ceremonies.The winners and nominees at the SAG AwardsSAG Awards: The red carpet in picturesThe prize for best film cast is seen as the top honour at the SAG Awards in the absence of a best picture category. Winners at the annual ceremony, held in Los Angeles, are voted for by other actors.Irish actor Cillian Murphy said his win was “extremely, extremely special to me, because it comes from you guys”.He recalled: “Twenty-eight years ago when I was trying to become an actor, I was a failed musician, and I felt extremely like an interloper, but looking out on all of you guys here today, I know I’m part of something truly wonderful, so thank you so much.”Best actor had been seen a two-horse race ahead of the Oscars on 10 March, but Murphy’s win gives him significant momentum over his nearest rival, Paul Giamatti of The Holdovers.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lily Gladstone’s best actress win gives her Oscars campaign a significant boostElsewhere, Killers of the Flower Moon star Lily Gladstone was named best leading actress – giving her own Oscars campaign a significant boost.”This has been a hard year for all of us, those of us in this room, those not in this room, I’m so proud that we have gotten here in solidarity with all of our other unions,” she said in her acceptance speech.Lily Gladstone: The actress who could make Oscars historyBarbenheimer was wonderful for cinema, Cillian Murphy saysCan anything stop Oppenheimer’s march to the Oscars?”It’s truly a gift that we get to do this for a living. That’s the win, getting to be here, getting to be on set, getting to tell stories. We bring empathy into a world that so needs it.”She added: “It’s so easy to distance ourselves, to close off, stop feeling, and [actors] all bravely keep feeling, it brings people out of the shadows, it brings visibility.”Gladstone’s win leaves the Oscars category for best actress too close to call, following Poor Things star Emma Stone’s victory at last week’s Baftas.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The Holdovers star Da’Vine Joy Randolph continued her sweep of the best supporting actress categoryThe Holdovers star Da’Vine Joy Randolph was named best supporting actress, a prize she has won consistently throughout awards season and she is almost certain to take at the Oscars.”I wake up every day overwhelmed with gratitude to be a working actor,” she said. “In what other profession are people able to live so many lives and touch so many hearts of those they have never gotten to meet?”She added: “For every actor out there still waiting in the wings for their chance, let me tell you your life can change in a day, it is not a question of if, but when – keep going.”Oppenheimer’s Robert Downey Jr, who has similarly been dominating his category, was named best supporting actor.He described the award as “incredibly meaningful”, and acknowledged his Oscar front-runner status by asking: “Why me, why now, why do things seem to be going my way?”Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Alan Ruck (centre) accepted the top prize in the TV categories on behalf of the cast of SuccessionWinners in the television categories included Ali Wong and Steven Yeun for Netflix’s road rage series Beef, and Pedro Pascal for post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us.Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White were also recognised for kitchen comedy The Bear, while Elizabeth Debicki won best drama actress for playing Princess Diana in The Crown.The Bear was named best ensemble comedy cast, while Succession won best ensemble drama cast for its critically-acclaimed fourth and final season. “Not only did we all get to work on one of the best television shows, maybe ever, but we made friends for life,” said actor Alan Ruck as he accepted the prize on behalf of the cast. Tributes were paid to Matthew Perry, Harry Belafonte, Sir Michael Gambon, Tina Turner, Angus Cloud, Glenda Jackson, Alan Arkin, Julian Sands, Lance Reddick, Lee Sun-kyun, Tom Wilkinson, Andre Braugher and Chita Rivera in the show’s In Memoriam segment.The Devil wears Prada reunionImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The Devil Wears Prada stars Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway reunited to present an awardThe Devil Wears Prada stars Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway were reunited to present the first award of the night. Streep initially appeared to accidentally walk straight into the microphone stand – before explaining to the audience she did not have her glasses with her, or the envelope containing the winner.The two actresses who played her on-screen assistants in the 2006 film then appeared with the envelope and glasses, before the trio delivered a joyous sketch featuring several of the movie’s most famous lines.Presenting another category, Melissa McCarthy asked Billie Eilish to sign her forehead as she told the singer what a huge fan she was, and the casts of Modern Family and Breaking Bad reunited to present the awards for best comedy and drama ensemble cast respectively.Idris Elba played hostImage source, Getty ImagesThe SAG Awards were streamed around the world on Netflix for the first time, something host Idris Elba referred to as he opened the ceremony.”Personally, I can’t wait to get home, and have Netflix recommend this show to me,” the Wire star joked.He also acknowledged what a “difficult time” it had been for actors during the recent strike, adding: “I want to take a moment to honour and appreciate all of you, both here and watching at home, who stood up in solidarity and support.”Elba said the ceremony being streamed instead of broadcast on a TV network meant actors could swear in their acceptance speeches – but he urged them not to go “full Succession level”.”Here’s a good rule of thumb, don’t say anything you wouldn’t say in front of Oprah,” he said, to an audience which included Oprah Winfrey herself. Barbara Streisand wins lifetime achievementImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Streisand said it was “a privilege to be part of this profession” as she collected her lifetime achievement prizeThe Morning Show star Jennifer Aniston and Maestro’s Bradley Cooper presented this year’s lifetime achievement prize to veteran singer and actress Barbara Streisand.”All of us in this room and far beyond have been inspired by Barbara’s magic,” Aniston said. “Barbara did not just pave the way for us women, she bulldozed it.” Accepting her award, Streisand joked it was “such a wonderful award to get, because you know in advance you’re going to get it”.Recalling her childhood, she said: “I didn’t like reality, I wanted to be in movies. Even though I knew I didn’t look like the other women on screen. My mother said ‘you’d better learn to type’. But I didn’t listen. And somehow, some way, it all came true.””It’s a privilege to be part of this profession. For a couple of hours, people can sit in the theatre and escape their own troubles – what an idea.”She paid tribute to her fellow actors and directors, concluding: “I’ve loved inhabiting that magical world of the movies with you.”Related TopicsTelevisionLos AngelesFilmMore on this storySAG Awards: The red carpet in picturesPublished3 hours agoThe winners and nominees at the SAG AwardsPublished6 hours agoCan anything stop Oppenheimer’s march to the Oscars?Published14 JanuaryBarbenheimer was wonderful for cinema, Murphy saysPublished7 FebruaryLily Gladstone: The actress who could make Oscars historyPublished30 JanuaryTop StoriesTrump easily wins South Carolina but Haley fights onPublished1 hour agoTories suspend MP over ‘Islamists’ commentsPublished8 hours agoUS and UK carry out new strikes on Yemen’s HouthisPublished5 hours agoFeatures’Bodyguards for MPs’ and Starmer turns on ToriesThe winners and nominees at the SAG AwardsThe price of political opposition in RussiaKim Petras on sexual liberation and fighting TiKTokInside the long-abandoned tunnel beneath the ClydeThe man who tried to eat every animal on Earth. VideoThe man who tried to eat every animal on EarthAfter 1,250 years women join Japan’s (nearly) naked festivalYour pictures on the theme of ‘on the horizon’The converted landmark buildings given new lifeElsewhere on the BBCFancy a film tonight?There’s something for everyone on BBC iPlayerAttributioniPlayerHair-pulling, wrestling and kicking!Watch the moment a violent brawl unfolded in the Maldives ParliamentAttributioniPlayerHow close are we to nuclear Armageddon?The Doomsday Clock is the closest it’s ever been to midnight – Jane Corbin investigatesAttributioniPlayerHow are jelly beans made?Gregg Wallace visits a Dublin factory that makes over ten million of the sweets per day!AttributioniPlayerMost Read1After 1,250 years women join Japan’s (nearly) naked festival2’Bodyguards for MPs’ and Starmer turns on Tories3Four women and a girl killed in Vienna in 24 hours4Trump easily wins South Carolina but Haley fights on5RMT leader backs Corbyn for general election6The blind Ukrainian amputee whose wife’s voice kept him alive7US and UK carry out new strikes on Yemen’s Houthis8Tories suspend MP over ‘Islamists’ comments9Oppenheimer dominates SAG Awards ahead of Oscars10Inside the long-abandoned tunnel beneath the Clyde](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/4B17/production/_132732291_crgettyimages-2036678208.jpg)
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaAntoinette Lattouf: ABC presenter sacked over Gaza post ignites row in AustraliaPublished19 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Antoinette LattoufImage caption, Antoinette Lattouf inside the ABC Sydney studioBy Tiffanie TurnbullBBC News, SydneyOn 20 December Antoinette Lattouf signed off from the Sydney radio show she was hosting with a promise she’d be back the next day.”Can’t wait,” she told listeners.But the veteran journalist and presenter did not return to the airwaves. Later that afternoon she was sacked, with her boss saying the order had come from “above”.She was only three days into a week-long stint filling in as host of the local Mornings show on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Just hours earlier she insists she was told it was going well.But behind the scenes, her appointment to the coveted role had attracted ardent lobbying from pro-Israel groups who accused her of antisemitism and bias.Lattouf – who is of Lebanese heritage – says she fears the ABC buckled under external pressure, sacking her based on political opinion and race. She has launched a wrongful termination case.The broadcaster vehemently denies this and says Lattouf was let go because she broke its directions on social media by re-sharing a Human Rights Watch (HRW) post about the Israel Gaza war. Her dismissal has triggered a wave of public outrage and created turmoil at the public broadcaster – raising questions over its independence and reviving concerns over how it supports staff, particularly those who are culturally diverse, when they come under attack.Criticism over activismLattouf is believed to be the first Arab-Australian woman to be a reporter on commercial television, and today is a regular staple on Australian airwaves or in its local newspapers.But the 40-year-old has also made a name for herself as an activist on issues like racism, discrimination in media and mental health.Before she was hired by the ABC, Lattouf attracted criticism for social media posts on the Israel Gaza war which decried the impact on Palestinian civilians.In some posts she accused Israel of targeting and killing journalists in Gaza, something echoed by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists but which Israel denies.She also drew ire for an article she co-authored in which online verification experts questioned video which purported to show pro-Palestinian protesters chanting “gas the Jews” at a march in Sydney. The ABC has stressed the critical importance of impartiality and also has strict social media requirements. It bans posts which could damage its reputation.Lattouf has long been a regular contributor to the ABC, and agreed to curtail her social media use when she started her presenting stint.But she says she was told sharing information from “reputable” sources like human rights groups was fine, and so on 19 December shared a post from HRW which said Israel was using starvation as a tool of war. Israel denies the accusation.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Palestinians queuing for food in RafahLattouf’s post came hours after the ABC itself had covered the HRW report, and Lattouf claims other ABC employees had also shared the post. She also alleges other staff have written “far more inflammatory” social media posts in the past but remain employed.”The difference between them is they are white and I have an Arab background,” she told the BBC.She wants a public apology from the ABC, compensation, and a similar role back on air.But in its reply to Ms Lattouf’s legal action, the ABC said her case was “entirely misconceived”, and she was taken off-air “because she failed or refused to comply with directions that she not post on social media about matters of controversy”.She was paid for all five shifts, it added.Swift backlashThe case sparked an immediate uproar in Australia.HRW wrote to the ABC Chair, Ita Buttrose, saying it was “troubling” that its “factual” material had been deemed “controversial'”, something it said could have a “chilling effect” on Australian journalism.The media union also called the decision to remove Lattouf “incredibly disturbing”, while Minister for Industry Ed Husic said people expressing a “peaceful” view “shouldn’t feel like their jobs are on the line”.Protestors have graffitied ABC offices in Perth and Melbourne, and crowdfunding for Lattouf’s legal fees has already raised over A$90,000 (£40,100; $62,500).Others, defending the broadcaster’s decision to sack her, argued she shouldn’t have been hired for the role in the first place – given her history on the issue. But a series of leaked WhatsApp chats have in recent days have dramatically intensified the storm.Dozens of messages from two groups seen by the BBC show a concerted letter-writing campaign against Lattouf in the days before she was fired.The hundreds of members in both groups – one called Lawyers for Israel and another called J.E.W.I.S.H Australian creatives and academics – were encouraged to write directly to ABC boss David Anderson, the ABC board and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, ABC board chair Ita Buttrose has been embroiled in the controversy”It is important ABC hears not just from individuals in the community but specifically lawyers so they feel there is an actual legal threat,” wrote one member of Lawyers for Israel, Nicky Stein, something she later admitted “a bit cheeky”.Some letter-writers claimed they had received direct responses from board chair Ita Buttrose and when news of Lattouf’s exit spread, many congratulated themselves.”Good riddance to bad rubbish,” one person said.”No doubt the PP [pro-Palestinians] will start whinging now about censorship and the Jewish lobby controlling the media,” another wrote.And when she launched her legal case in the Fair Work Commission (FWC) one person called her lawyer, who is Jewish, a “traiter”.Several members of the Lawyers for Israel chat have denied the group – which included Jewish community leaders – was controlled by any bodies or intended for organised lobbying.Ms Stein told the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) it was simply “a group of lawyers concerned about Israel and rising antisemitism”. Staff revoltThe WhatsApp messages sparked a livid meeting of the ABC staff union, attended by about 200 people.One of the broadcaster’s most senior journalists, global affairs editor John Lyons, reportedly said the release of the messages marked “one of [the ABC’s] darkest days”.”When I read those WhatsApp messages, for the first time ever… I felt embarrassed to work for the ABC,” he said, according to the SMH.”I was embarrassed that a group of 156 lawyers could laugh at how easy it was to manipulate the ABC.”The meeting culminated in a rare vote of no confidence in the ABC boss David Anderson.Union members made a list of demands, giving the editorial leadership team until Monday to respond. They have previously threatened a walkout if their concerns aren’t addressed.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The ABC board has called the criticism of David Anderson “abhorrent”The ABC board responded by calling its own emergency meeting and passing a unanimous vote of confidence in Anderson.”Any suggestion I would not defend our position when external pressure is applied – regardless of where that pressure is coming from – is offensive and incorrect,” he said in a statement.He agreed to meet staff – but “in the coming weeks”.The case has reopened old wounds for the ABC.It has revived concerns about how it treats diverse staff, after an ugly saga last year in which pioneering Aboriginal journalist Stan Grant quit over what he called a failure to protect him from racist attacks.And it’s also fed uneasiness about the broadcaster’s independence. Advocates worry that politicised appointments to the ABC board, its government-dictated funding model, and increased – often frenzied – scrutiny is jeopardising its work. Racism furore reignites scrutiny of Australian mediaPolitical influence row hits Australia ABCThe saga also comes as the broader Australian media grapples with tension over the impartiality of its coverage of the Israel Gaza war.Most notably, ABC political reporter Nour Haydar left the public broadcaster this month over its coverage of the war, as well as its treatment of culturally diverse staff. The ABC has defended its impartiality and said it is “continuing to progress” on diversity matters despite having its “most representative” workforce ever. Lattouf says its these broader themes that make her case so important.”It is not just about me. It’s about free speech, it’s about racism… and crucially, it’s also about a fair, independent and robust ABC,” she told reporters last week.After a failed mediation meeting, the ABC is now attempting to have Lattouf’s case thrown out, arguing it didn’t actually sack her.The matter is back at the FWC in March, and Lattouf says she’s in it for the long haul.”I’m willing and prepared to fight for as long as it takes,” she said.Related TopicsJournalismAustraliaMore on this storyIsrael Gaza war: History of the conflict explainedPublished15 November 2023Racism furore reignites scrutiny of Australian mediaPublished23 May 2023Who’s behind Israel-Gaza disinformation and hate online?Published15 October 2023Gaza Strip in maps: How life has changed in three monthsPublished15 JanuaryTop StoriesTrump must pay $83.3m for defaming E Jean CarrollPublished11 hours agoShip linked to Britain on fire after Houthi attackPublished45 minutes agoWWE boss Vince McMahon quits after sex abuse claimPublished8 hours agoFeaturesWhy defamation defeat is a double-edged sword for TrumpBali bomb families face accused at Guantanamo BaySumo, Surfing and Sabalenka: Photos of the weekThe Papers: ‘The King’s fine’ and ‘Klopp shock’Golden age or dying days for British theatre?Israel reined in by ICJ ruling – but will it obey?Fierce row after sacking of ABC presenter over Gaza postWoodpeckers and sparrowhawks: Your Birdwatch 2024 pictures’It’s my calling to stop knife-crime killers’Elsewhere on the BBCA Scottish wild swimming road-trip!Julie Wilson Nimmo and Greg Hemphill take the plunge at Scotland’s breath-taking wild swimming spotsAttributioniPlayerScientists uncover alcohol’s hidden dangersInvestigating what alcohol is and why so many people love to drink itAttributioniPlayerCould this Italian dream turn into a real nightmare?Amanda Holden and Alan Carr don their boiler suits to renovate a dilapidated house in TuscanyAttributioniPlayerBritish television’s greatest double actEric and Ernie share their remarkable journey through TV appearances, rare radio material and BBC archivesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Ship linked to Britain on fire after Houthi attack2Trump must pay $83.3m for defaming E Jean Carroll3‘I thought mum left me, she’d been sent to prison’4Warning over children using viral skincare products5WWE boss Vince McMahon quits after sex abuse claim6’Alfie’s killer threatened to torture me to death’7Who won The Traitors: TV final reveals all to fans8’What terminal cancer has taught me about life’9The Papers: ‘The King’s fine’ and ‘Klopp shock’10Defamation defeat a double-edged sword for Trump](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/4AD2/production/_132445191_whatsappimage2024-01-25at4.10.30pm.jpg)
