Clementine Ford returns City of Melbourne grant after male death rate tweet

Feminist writer Clementine Ford has returned the arts funding she received from City of Melbourne after causing controversy with a tweet in which she said coronavirus wasn’t “killing men fast enough”.

Controversial feminist writer Clementine Ford has returned a City of Melbourne grant after causing outrage with an “offensive” comment against men.

Controversial feminist writer Clementine Ford has returned a City of Melbourne grant after causing o utrage with an “offensive” comment against men.

Ford recently tweeted “the coronavirus isn’t killing men fast enough”, just weeks after receiving $2800 of ratepayers’ cash for artists struggling through the pandemic.

Greens councillor and arts portfolio chairman Rohan Leppert did not criticise the tweet, and said a review of the grants process called by Lord Mayor Sally Capp wouldn’t lead to Ford losing the cash.

But Cr Capp said tonight that Ford won’t take the grant.

“I respect her decision not to proceed with the application and not to accept the funding,” she said.

“The City of Melbourne is committed to freedom of speech, but I also acknowledge the hurt felt by many people who have contacted me this week.”

Earlier in the week, Lord Mayor Sally Capp described as offensive, distasteful, “deliberately divisive and incredibly unhelpful”.

“I found these comments offensive and distasteful and I agree with the sentiment of outrage expressed by many members of our community,” she said.

In a long statement posted on social media today, Ford admitted her tweet was “an horrendous thing to say. There’s no question about that. I cannot defend it”.

“I have fortunately amassed enough success as a writer that I can afford to walk away from $2800,” she said.

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