ABC host announces decision to ‘walk away’ amid ongoing racism

One of the ABC’s longstanding hosts has announced his abrupt decision to leave the network after an ongoing battle against racism.

Accomplished ABC host Stan Grant has penned a tortured article for his employer's website to announce that after six years with the company, he has chosen to “walk away”.

Less than a year after being made the permanent host of the network’s current affairs talk show Q+A, Grant has revealed his decision to not return after Monday evening’s program.

Grant wrote how ongoing racism was to blame for his decision and the unwillingness of those in his professional network to publicly defend him.

“This year the stakes are higher. There is a referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and I am not alone in feeling judged. This is an Australian judgement on us. Such is politics,” he explained.

“But racism is a crime. Racism is violence. And I have had enough.”

Stan Grant will not return to Q+A after Monday evening.

He wrote that while he had always come up against racism, he had remained committed to speaking out about “truths” with love and respect.

It seemed his recent contribution as a guest for ABC’s coverage of the King’s coronation served as somewhat of a catalyst for his decision.

“I pointed out that the crown represents the invasion and theft of our land. In the name of the crown my people were segregated on missions and reserves. Police wearing the seal of the crown took children from their families. Under the crown our people were massacred,” he wrote.

He argued that while he spoke “of truth, not grievance”, his comments had been reported differently.

“I can’t speak for what motivates those who hear only hate instead of love. But I know the impact they have,” Grant wrote.

Despite his best efforts to shield himself and his wife from being perpetually racially abused and mocked – both in person and online – he said it had proven to be inescapable.

“Although I try to shield myself from it, the fact it is out there poisons the air I breathe,” he said.

Grant said the ABC had made an official complaint to Twitter regarding the “relentless racial filth I am subjected to”.

Still, he said those at the ABC had also fallen short.

“I am writing this because no one at the ABC — whose producers invited me onto their coronation coverage as a guest — has uttered one word of public support,” he wrote.

Stan Grant said racism was largely to blame for his decision. Picture: Supplied

“Not one ABC executive has publicly refuted the lies written or spoken about me. I don’t hold any individual responsible; this is an institutional failure.”

ABC director of news, Justin Stevens, Grant said, had been “a support and a comfort”.

“He is trying to change an organisation that has its own legacy of racism. But he knows I am disappointed. I am dispirited.

“I was not the producer nor presenter of the coronation broadcast yet every newspaper article accusing the ABC of bias has carried my image. I am writing this because I will not have people depict me as a person of hate.”

ABC concedes Grant faced ‘grotesque racist abuse’

A statement issued by ABC’s Stevens following Grant’s public resignation article highlighted how abuse aimed at the host had worsened in recent days.

“Over many months, but particularly in recent days, Stan Grant has been subject to grotesque racist abuse, including threats to his safety. This has become particularly virulent since he appeared as part of the ABC’s Coronation coverage,” Mr Stevens’ statement read.

“It is abhorrent and unacceptable.”

In reference to abuse faced by Grant over ABC’s coronation coverage, Mr Stevens agreed the journalist unfairly bore the brunt.

“The responsibility for the coverage lies with ABC News management, not with Stan Grant. Yet it is he who has borne the brunt of a tirade of criticism, particularly in the usual sections of the media that target the ABC,” he wrote.

“Reporting on his contribution to the panel discussion has been unfair, inaccurate and irresponsible. It has contributed to fuelling horrendous personal and racial abuse. Any complaints, criticism – or vitriol – regarding the coverage should be directed to me, not to him.”

He added the network was “standing by” Grant and condemned the “attacks directed towards him”.

Mr Stevens said the network would continue to refer threats to police and confirmed the ABC had lodged “a detailed complaint with Twitter over the racist abuse of Stan being published on its platform”.

Industry reacts to shock resignation

Colleagues and industry peers reacted to Grant’s shock resignation Friday afternoon with compassion for the outgoing host – even those that didn’t typically agree with him.

Veteran journalist Tracey Spicer described the abuse he received as “appalling”.

“Stan Grant has written an eloquent, devastating and moving piece about the appalling racial abuse on social media. And now, he’s walking away. THIS is always the aim of the bigots: To silence powerful voices. Side note: Shame on the ABC for not backing him up,” she tweeted.

ABC 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson described the abuse faced by Grant as “disgusting”.

A must read.

Stan Grant has written an eloquent, devastating and moving piece about the appalling racial abuse on social media.

And now, he's walking away. THIS is always the aim of the bigots: To silence powerful voices.

Side note: Shame on the ABC for not backing him up. https://t.co/SvqPu6SYsa

— Tracey Spicer AM GAICD (@TraceySpicer) May 19, 2023

“Stan Grant is an admired colleague. The abuse directed at him is disgusting. There are no words adequate to the horror we feel at this. Stan is brilliant and cherished,” she wrote.

Guardian journalist Van Badham was similarly outraged.

“Stan Grant is stepping down from #qanda due to racial abuse on social media. It is outrageous he was ever subjected to it; he has my solidarity. To lose someone of Grant’s stature & experience from the national broadcaster is a loss to US ALL. These platforms are toxic. #auspol,” she wrote.

Sean Kelly, a columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald, described Grant an “icon”.

“Stan Grant is an Australian icon, a serious journalist, a leader in this country. This is a sad and disgraceful result,” he wrote.

ABC producer Catherine Zengerer said she was “so sorry” for what Grant had experienced.

“Stan Grant quitting QandA due to the barrage of racism he has endured. He says not one ABC executive has spoken up against it. I have observed the stream of irrational hatred towards Stan & it’s very distressing. I’m so sorry he has been exposed to this,” she wrote.

Originally published as ABC host announces decision to ‘walk away’ amid ongoing racism