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SBS sacks football reporter Scott McIntyre over series of ‘disrespectful’ Anzac Day tweets

Screen Shot 2015-04-26 at 3.07.05 pmBroadcaster SBS has sacked football presenter Scott McIntyre after he tweeted a series of “inappropriate and disrespectful comments” about Anzac troops tweeted on the evening of Anzac Day.

Among a series of comments on the social network site McIntyre tweeted “remembering the summary execution, widespread rape and theft committed by these ‘brave’ Anzacs in Egypt, Palestine and Japan” and “Wonder if the poorly-read, largely white, nationalist drinkers and gamblers pause today to consider the horror that all mankind suffered”.

SBS managing director Michael Ebeid took to Twitter after the comments had been made last night disowning them as “disrespectful and not at all the views of ” and this afternoon he released a statement saying McIntyre had been sacked.

McIntyre

McIntyre

In a joint statement with head of sport Ken Shipp the network said: “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 remarks drew widespread condemnation on social media including from Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull who described them as “despicable remarks which deserve to be condemned”.

McIntyre’s postings started at about 5pm on Anzac Day and included describing the dropping of nuclear bombs on Japanese cities Nagasaki and Hiroshima in the Second World War as the “largest single-day terrorist attacks in history”.

As of Sunday afternoon the tweets had not been taken down by McIntyre.

Alex Hayes

McIntyre’s tweets: 

Screen Shot 2015-04-26 at 3.06.58 pm Screen Shot 2015-04-26 at 3.07.05 pm Screen Shot 2015-04-26 at 3.07.15 pm Screen Shot 2015-04-26 at 3.07.24 pmScreen Shot 2015-04-26 at 2.58.39 pmThe Statement from SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid and Director, Sport Ken Shipp in full:

Respect for Australian audiences is paramount at SBS.

Late on Anzac Day, sports presenter Scott McIntyre made highly inappropriate and disrespectful comments via his twitter account which have caused his on-air position at SBS to become untenable.

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.

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.

SBS apologises for any offence or harm caused by Mr McIntyre’s comments which in no way reflect the views of the network. SBS supports our Anzacs and has devoted unprecedented resources to coverage of the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.

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