Georgia Love taken off air, dumped as Chadstone ambassador in ‘racist’ cat video fallout

Channel 7 bosses have benched news reporter Georgia Love in the continued fallout from the former Bachelorette’s racist cat joke.

Channel 7 has yanked Georgia Love off air and issued an apology for the reporter’s racist post.

Seven bosses sent an email to newsroom staff on Friday saying Love had been counselled following a “workplace investigation” into the post.

The Channel 7 reporter was criticised over an Instagram story she shared on Monday in which she filmed a cat inside an Asian restaurant with the caption “shop attendant or lunch?!”

Seven news director Shaun Menegola sent an email to his staff stating Love had been “reassigned to the production desk, effective immediately.”

“It has been a difficult week for many as a consequence of some inappropriate and offensive posts on a staff member’s private account,” Menegola wrote.

“Following a workplace investigation that had to follow due process, I want to let you know that Georgia has been counselled and will be reassigned to the production desk, effective immediately.”

Georgia Love has been dumped from her ambassador with Chadstone over a cat post on Instagram.

He forwarded Love’s apology to the team.

“I want to apologise for an inappropriate post on my personal social media account this week and for an old post which has resurfaced,” Love’s apology stated.

“I’m deeply sorry for the hurt that I’ve caused and, in particular, for offence to the Asian community. It certainly wasn’t my intention.

“My posts were inappropriate and offensive. There is no excuse for perpetuating racist stereotypes in any forum.

“I am committed to moving forward, learning and growing in my new role and I hope that in time I can earn your trust back.”

Georgia Love out for a run on Friday after Channel 7 bosses yanked her off the air following a ‘racist’ social media post. Picture: Matrix Media Group

The fallout comes just months after the network’s CEO James Warburton took a stand against racism.

A spokesperson said the Seven network’s human resources department completed a thorough confidential and internal review of the racist post this week.

On Friday Seven issued a statement to the Herald Sun saying disciplinary action had been taken into the “inappropriate action.”.

“We have addressed this matter internally and disciplinary action has been taken. Seven does not condone this inappropriate conduct and all of our staff have the right to work in a safe, nurturing workplace free from prejudice.”

On Friday Chadstone shopping centre announced they had dumped Love as an ambassador.

Love’s previous apology via social media was rejected by many who viewed it as not addressing the “casual racism” it showed towards Asians.

Chadstone Shopping Centre issued Page 13 a statement on Friday saying they were very “disappointed” and had ended their contract with Love the very day she posted the offensive clip.

“We were disappointed by a social media post this week by one of our friends of the Chadstone brand and, as a result, we issued notice to end our contract with Georgia,” the statement said.

Georgia Love was slammed online for her “casual racism”.

“We always support diversity and welcome a range of customers and retailers every day, without prejudice or discrimination, as we work to ensure our centre is a safe and inclusive place for our community to come together.”

It was only late last month that Love was announced as the retail shopping giant’s ambassador.

Love’s manager, Sean Anderson of 22 Management, said they were “disappointed” by Chadstone’s decision to terminate the Channel 7 reporter’s contract “but respected their right to do so”.

Anderson said Love had been the victim of relentless trolling since the racism furore broke on Monday.

“We are focused on providing as much support as we can to Georgia as the trolls are currently in full flight and intent on inflicting as much damage as they can on her.”

The former Bachelorette star found herself in hot water again after an eight-year-old Instagram post joking about an animal hospital being next to a Chinese restaurant was reposted online.

Love’s offensive post comes after her boss, Seven West Media CEO James Warburton, told staff that racism is “unacceptable and will not be tolerated” after a separate incident involving a staff member who published a racist post on 7News.com.au’s social media pages after the Euro 2020 final.