ABC host Lisa Millar hits out at ‘disgusting’ online trolls and criticises media coverage

ABC host Lisa Millar has unleashed on “disgusting” online trolls while also criticising media coverage of the abuse about her appearance.

ABC News Breakfast host Lisa Millar has unleashed on “disgusting” online trolls while also criticising media coverage of the abuse about her appearance.

In a furious statement on Wednesday morning, the ABC News Breakfast anchor took aim at news outlets including news.com.au and The Daily Mail, saying she was “angry” about how they covered the story.

“I’d like to take a minute to talk about what went on during the last 48 hours. If you’re blessedly oblivious, and you’ve just been getting on with your life — great — I won’t dwell on it,” she said.

“The fact that what I wore on Monday attracted obnoxious commentary on Twitter — foul, disgusting personal abuse that I couldn’t and wouldn’t repeat — was upsetting.

“That it then ended up online on some news sites where the photos and the abuse were republished made me angry. Thanks for all the support, you’ve all been awesome and some of you pretty funny, [with] some of you suggesting if we all turned up in pyjamas you’d still be fans of the show.

“I am angry though, on this International Women’s Day, on behalf of myself, but also on behalf of other women, young women, who see those stories and see someone like me being violently abused day after day for whatever reason bullies can find.

“I worry it might make you think that no progress has been made and that it’s not worth it to be a woman in the public arena.”

ABC presenter Lisa Millar. Source: Instagram

Millar was targeted by a torrent of abusive tweets on Monday about her clothing while presenting the show, with ABC director of news Justin Stevens slamming the “relentless and vile bullying”.

But after being contacted for comment, the national broadcaster released a statement attacking news.com.au and The Daily Mail, saying if the outlets “were genuine in their concern about such behaviour, they wouldn’t amplify it by republishing the comments they describe as ‘vile’ and ‘sickening’”.

“Media outlets that amplify this disgusting anonymous trolling need to take a good hard look at themselves and their standards,” Stevens said.

Millar’s co-host Michael Rowland also weighed in. “Enough. Enough of the abusive comments about Lisa Millar, and other female presenters. And enough of amplifying the bullying by republishing offensive comments. Do better,” he said in a tweet viewed by more than 600,000 users.

But media commentator Rob McKnight questioned whether the news sites had done anything wrong. “The ABC passes judgment on news.com.au story calling out trolls of Lisa Millar,” he wrote. “Makes an interesting point about amplifying the trolls, but has the outlet actually done anything wrong?”

News.com.au editor-in-chief Lisa Muxworthy defended the coverage.

“News.com.au has a long and strident history of exposing abuse against women such as the Let Her Speak campaign championing Grace Tame and other victims of crime and, more recently, our Justice Shouldn’t Hurt editorial series which led to legislative change for children involved in sexual abuse matters,” she said in a statement.

“We believe a clear public interest exists in reporting on the issue of vile social media trolls and the damage they cause. Choosing to not report on this issue or to ignore it would set a poor precedent that could help ensure appropriate action to address these actions fails to occur.”