The Today show came under fire in 2016, for what critics deemed to be ‘casual racism.’
And on Tuesday, the Channel Nine program again faced criticism, this time over a discussion about racism in Australia.
Twitter users accused producers of recruiting an ‘all-white panel’ to discuss whether Australia is a racist nation, prompting Ben Fordham and Sylvia Jeffreys to respond.
‘You’ve got an intelligent discussion yet someone focuses on skin colour’: Today’s Ben Fordham and Sylvia Jeffreys hit back at claims they used an ‘all white panel’ to discuss racism. Pictured L-R Deborah Knight, Ben Fordham, Sylvia Jeffreys
The co-hosts proudly pointed out that at least one panelist, Dr. Anne Aly, is a Muslim politician from Egypt after viewers assumed she was white.
‘You’ve got this thought-provoking, intelligent discussion and someone focuses on the colour of the skin of the people having the conversation,’ Ben snapped.
Sylvia added: ‘Well yeah and I think you’ll find that Dr. Anne Aly is the first Muslim woman elected to our federal parliament.
‘All white panel?’ The today show panel included Dr. Anne Aly (L), Sylvia (C) and university lecturer, Dr Jane Fynes-Clinton (R)
‘That’s racist’: Some Today viewers incorrectly assumed Dr. Aly was white
Unimpressed: Another viewer lashed out at the Today show before Ben and Sylvia clarified that they did not use an all white panel
‘She is the daughter of Egyptian immigrants. She’s quite qualified to weigh in on that discussion.’
The camera then panned to a baffled Dr. Aly who said: ‘I’m not white,’ – drawing awkward laughter from the Today hosts.
‘That’s settled isn’t it,’ Sylvia giggled before the panel quickly changed the subject.
‘I’m not white’: The camera later panned to a baffled Dr. Aly who said: ‘I’m not white,’ – drawing awkward laughter from the Today hosts
The today show panel included Sylvia, Dr. Aly and university lecturer, Dr Jane Fynes-Clinton.
In 2016, Australia’s racial discrimination commissioner, Dr Tim Soutphommasane, slammed the lack of diversity on Australian commercial TV.
Soutphommasane’s comments came after Today’s Karl Stefanovic and his former co-host Lisa Wilkinson joked about being ‘too white’ for a Gold Logie nomination, after presenter Waleed Aly, a Muslim born to Egyptian parents, scored a nod.
Bizarre: Today’s Karl Stefanovic (L) and his former co-host Lisa Wilkinson (R) joked about being ‘too white’ for a Gold Logie nomination, after presenter Waleed Aly, a Muslim born to Egyptian parents, scored a nod
SBS newsreader Lee Lin Chin, who was born in Indonesia to Chinese parents, was also nominated.
‘It is all of a pattern with the casual racism that can pass for banter on Australian commercial TV,’ Soutphommasane said during a speech on cultural harmony.
At the time, Channel Nine hit back at criticism surrounding Karl and Lisa’s gaffe’s, after she said ‘I got a spray tan and everything and still didn’t make [the nominations list].’
‘Lisa was clearly taking the piss out of herself for letting the side down and not getting a nomination … even getting a spray tan in order to be ready for any possible publicity shoot,’ a spokeswoman told The Guardian.
‘To suggest anything else is just mischief making.’
Aussie talent: SBS newsreader Lee Lin Chin (L), who was born in Indonesia to Chinese parents, was previously nominated for a Gold Logie along with Waleed Aly (R)