Australian multicultural broadcaster SBS on Sunday said it has sacked football journalist Scott McIntyre for a series of tweets on Anzac Day that were described as "inappropriate and disrespectful".
"Mr McIntyre's actions have breached the SBS Code of Conduct and social media policy and as a result, SBS has taken decisive action to terminate Mr McIntyre's position at SBS, with immediate effect," SBS managing director Michael Ebeid and director of sport Ken Shipp said in a statement.
"At SBS, employees on and off air are encouraged to participate in social media, however maintaining the integrity of the network and audience trust is vital. It is unfortunate that on this very important occasion, Mr McIntyre's comments have compromised both,” the statement said.
McIntyre referred to some Australians marking Anzac Day as "poorly-read, largely white, nationalist drinkers and gamblers" on his Twitter account at Saturday night.
"Remembering the summary execution, widespread rape and theft committed by these 'brave' Anzacs in Egypt, Palestine and Japan," he wrote to his over 30,000 followers.
"Not forgetting that the largest single-day terrorist attacks in history were committed by this nation & their allies in Hiroshima & Nagasaki."
Australia’s Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull took to the Tweeter to criticise the presenter.
"Difficult to think of more offensive or inappropriate comments," Mr Turnbull tweeted.
"Despicable remarks which deserve to be condemned."
Difficult to think of more offensive or inappropriate comments than those by @mcintinhos. Despicable remarks which deserve to be condemned.
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm)
April 25, 2015
Here’s my statement regarding unfortunate comments made by Scott McIntyre last night http://t.co/QuqAb83daJ
— Michael Ebeid (@michaelebeid)
April 26, 2015
#ScottMcIntyre's tweets were untimely, immature and in one case offensively wrong. But lest we forget, Our Diggers also died for free speech
— Hugh Riminton (@hughriminton)
April 26, 2015
Remembering the summary execution, widespread rape and theft committed by these ‘brave’ Anzacs in Egypt, Palestine and Japan.
— Scott McIntyre (@mcintinhos)
April 25, 2015
Wonder if the poorly-read, largely white, nationalist drinkers and gamblers pause today to consider the horror that all mankind suffered.
— Scott McIntyre (@mcintinhos)
April 25, 2015
The cultification of an imperialist invasion of a foreign nation that Australia had no quarrel with is against all ideals of modern society.
— Scott McIntyre (@mcintinhos)
April 25, 2015
Not forgetting that the largest single-day terrorist attacks in history were committed by this nation & their allies in Hiroshima & Nagasaki
— Scott McIntyre (@mcintinhos)
April 25, 2015
