News

Outsiders loses another host as Sky News dumps Ross Cameron after racist comments

Controversial Sky News program Outsiders has seen another presenter dumped, with Ross Cameron fired by the network after making racist comments about Chinese people.

The presenter and former Liberal MP was sacked after saying: “If you go to the Disneyland in Shanghai on any typical morning of the week you’ll see 20,000 black-haired, slanty-eyed, yellow-skinned Chinese desperate to get into Disneyland.”

In a statement, Sky News chief executive Paul Whittaker said: “I have today advised Ross Cameron that his contract with Sky News has been terminated.

“Sky News is committed to robust discussion and debate however this language is totally unacceptable and has no place on any of our platforms, nor in modern Australian society.

“All content from the episode dated 30 October has been removed from all Sky News platforms.

“We apologise for any hurt or offence caused by the remarks made by Ross Cameron on the program.”

Since its launch in 2016, the low rating show has been dogged by controversy with the original line up of former Labor leader Mark Latham, Cameron and Rowan Dean being dropped after its first episode, only to return the following year.

Latham’s tenure on the program was short lived with him being fired after questioning the sexuality of a schoolboy and picking fights with broadcasters including fellow Sky commentators Kristina Kenneally and Peter Van Onselen along with the ABC’s Wendy Harmer.

Following Latham’s sacking, the show too was suspended and returned after an eleven-day ‘recess’ with only Dean and Cameron as regular hosts.

The show continued its run of controversy this year with Sky forced to apologise to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young for comments by her parliamentary colleague, David Leyonhjelm, made on the program.

Despite the scandals, Sky moved the program to a six-day-a-week format last month and included the show in its free-to-air news deal with regional broadcaster, WIN.

The program has been a frequent target for Sky’s critics with the show being a lightning rod for campaigns against its advertisers and for the channel to be removed from Qantas lounges.

Cameron’s comments were no exception with critics, including former Sky News regular Craig Emerson jumping onto Twitter to condemn the network.

Emerson himself quit the network after another program, The Adam Giles Show, featured an interview with neo-Nazi and white supremacist Blair Cottrell earlier this year.

The Cottrell interview resulted in the Victorian government ordering Sky News’ feed off digital signage on the Melbourne city rail loop, a decision that is currently being reviewed by the state minister.

ADVERTISEMENT

Get the latest media and marketing industry news (and views) direct to your inbox.

Sign up to the free Mumbrella newsletter now.

 

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up to our free daily update to get the latest in media and marketing.