Channel 7 reporter Georgia Love taken off air and issued an apology to staff after racial post

Channel 7 reporter Georgia Love has been dumped from her on-air role and counselled after issuing an offensive post about cats and Asian restaurants.

Channel 7 reporter Georgia Love has been taken off air over an offensive social media post.

Channel 7 news reporter and former Bachelorette Georgia Love has been dumped from her on-air role and has issued an apology to her colleagues after she made an offensive Instagram post about cats and Asian restaurants.

The Melbourne-based reporter came under fire this week after she posted to her 243,000 followers a short video showing a cat sitting in the window of an Asian restaurant and wrote, “Shop attendant or lunch?”

The post which went live on Monday was quickly deleted by Love minutes later but was circled widely online, causing outrage.

The 33-year-old who is a prolific user of social media, hasn’t appeared on camera since the incident and on Friday, Seven confirmed she will no longer be seen on air after she was disciplined and counselled over the matter.

“We have addressed this matter internally and disciplinary action has been taken,” a Seven spokesman said.

“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”.

Love shot to fame in 2016 in the second series of Ten’s The Bachelorette, where she went on to marry one of the contestants on the program, Lee Elliott.

Love apologised for the racist post shared on Instagram.

Following Monday’s post by Love, Seven conducted a workplace investigation.

Love has been counselled and assigned to the production desk, which means she will no longer be on air.

On Friday afternoon she wrote an email that was sent to all staff in Melbourne’s Seven newsroom.

“I want to apologise for an inappropriate post on my personal social media account this week and for an old post that also resurfaced,” she said.

“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.”

The old Instagram post Love referred to was from eight years ago and where she joked about an animal hospital being next to a Chinese restaurant.

But these are not the only occasions she has gotten herself into trouble online – Love caused controversy when she posted a video in July of large numbers of people flocking to Sydney’s popular Bondi Beach during lockdown.

Despite Love living in Melbourne, she wrote on Twitter: “Bondi right now, where masks nor social distance seem to matter #COVID19nsw.”

Seven’s breakfast show Sunrise’s executive producer Michael Pell responded to a post from Sky News host Laura Jayes that called Love’s post “unnecessary”.

Pell wrote: “And posting random videos from a different city … wouldn’t you just concentrate on your own lockdown?” Pell tweeted to Love.

This week Love shut down her Twitter account after her post on Monday caused an uproar.

She has also stopped the ability for anyone to comments on any of her 1600 Instagram posts online.

She was contacted on Friday but declined to comment.