A renowned Australian television journalist has announced his departure from a program due to the racist attacks he has faced as an Indigenous man in the media spotlight, sparking national introspection.
Stan Grant, an award-winning journalist from ABC, revealed that the public broadcaster had lodged a complaint on Twitter about the “constant racial garbage” he had endured.
However, Grant pointed out that the media itself “twists and distorts my words,” portraying him as a “hateful person” after he mentioned the British colonial persecution of Indigenous Australians during ABC’s coverage of the coronation of King Charles III.
“I emphasized that the crown represents the invasion and theft of our lands,” explained Grant in an article published on Friday on the public broadcaster’s website.
His comments during the coronation were heavily criticized by some conservative media outlets, which deemed them biased and inappropriate.
Grant stated that he spoke out of love for Australia, feeling the need to tell the truth about Indigenous people, who still face the highest rates of incarceration and poverty.
The 59-year-old journalist announced that he would be stepping down from his position as host after the next episode of ABC’s current affairs debate program, Q+A, which will air on Monday.