EXCLUSIVE: Mystery surrounds ABC TV anchor who VANISHED from her high-profile newsreading job – with insiders claiming a fiery interview with Anthony Albanese saw pro-Labor trolls try to DESTROY her
- Fauziah Ibrahim conducted controversial interview with Anthony Albanese
- Ms Ibrahim was accused of ‘showing LNP bias’ but was supported by bosses
- An investigation concluded she completed the interview with impartiality
- Now under fire for Twitter lists grouping ‘Labor trolls’, ‘lobotomised sh**heads’
- The high-profile ABC Weekend Breakfast host has disappeared from TV screens
- Do you know more? Contact [email protected]
High profile ABC presenter Fauziah Ibrahim was viciously attacked on social media over a fiery interview with Anthony Albanese months before she was caught out describing her critics as ‘lobotomised sh**heads and Labor trolls’.
The under-siege ABC Weekend Breakfast host has ‘taken a break’ from her on air duties in recent days, pending an investigation into the offensive comments made on her Twitter account.
Ms Ibrahim had grouped a handful of Twitter followers into two lists on her personal account ‘lobotomised sh**heads’ and ‘Labor trolls/thugs’, which were left open for the public to see.
Ms Ibrahim has since vanished from her usual role on the show at the weekend and deleted mentions of the ABC from her Twitter bio.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal is the latest episode in a long, quiet ordeal Ms Ibrahim has endured where trolls have viciously criticised her.
When Ms Ibrahim came under fire over a live TV interview with the Opposition Leader back in January, ABC executives strongly backed her ‘impartiality’.
At the time, Ms Ibrahim was accused of showing ‘arrogance and extreme bias’ against the Labor Party and speaking over Mr Albanese.
But the ABC offered her unwavering support.
SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH FAUZIAH IBRAHIM’S INTERVIEW WITH ALBO
The under-siege ABC Weekend Breakfast host vanished from the airwaves in recent days, pending an investigation into the offensive comments made on her Twitter account
Fauziah Ibrahim was told she would be ‘more suited to Sky News’ than the ABC after a disastrous interview with Anthony Albanese months before she was ousted for describing her critics as ‘lobotomised sh**heads and Labor trolls’
Ms Ibrahim’s interview with Mr Albanese centered on Covid rapid tests and vaccination figures and the presenter was accused on social media of rarely giving Mr Albanese an opportunity to complete a sentence.
At one stage, he tried six times to answer a statement she made about Labor ‘getting on board’ with the Coalition’s plan to boost vaccination rates.
‘If you’ll just wait a minute,’ Mr Albanese said as Ms Ibrahim spoke over the top of him.
The interview attracted criticism and upset several viewers enough they lodged complaints with the public broadcaster.
In the wake of the interview, Ms Ibrahim was the subject of intense and persistent trolling and online bullying.
‘Ms Ibrahim’s ”interview” was an absolute disgrace and should cost her her job,’ one viewer said after the segment aired.
The under-siege ABC News Breakfast host (right) was quietly stood down last week pending an investigation into offensive comments made on her Twitter account
Daily Mail Australia can reveal it’s not the first time Ibrahim had tangled with left-leaning trolls
Another said he’d ‘previously been an admirer of Ms Ibrahim’, but she ‘lost him’ after the way she conducted herself during the interview.
Countless others switched off the interview and vowed to no longer watch Ms Ibrahim’s news breakfast weekend show in protest.
‘So rude and disrespectful… she’d be better suited to Sky News after dark… Didn’t expect to see that on ABC.’
In response to complaints made about the interview, the ABC’s Head of Audience and Consumer Affairs determined Ms Ibrahim ‘conducted [herself] with due impartiality and complied with the ABC’s editorial standards’.
‘Ms Ibrahim employed the adversarial or ‘devil’s advocate’ approach to interviewing. We are satisfied the interview with Mr Albanese was suitably rigorous and informative, the questions posed by Ms Ibrahim were relevant and based strictly on news value,’ the statement read.
‘Mr Albanese was afforded ample opportunity to respond to the questions in detail and at length. While rigorous, Ms Ibrahim demonstrated a consistently civil and objective approach.’
The interview centered on Covid rapid tests and vaccination figures and Ms Ibrahim rarely gave Mr Albanese an opportunity to complete a sentence
Ms Ibrahim has locked down her social media accounts in the wake of the controversy amid trolling from critics who have labelled her ‘trash’ and ‘disgusting’
ABC’s response to complaint about Fauziah Ibrahim’s interview with Anthony Albanese in full
‘We have reviewed the interview and assessed its compliance with the ABC’s editorial standards for impartiality.
‘During this interview, Fauziah Ibrahim employed the adversarial or ‘devil’s advocate’ approach to interviewing, which involves putting other points of view to the interviewee. It is Ms Ibrahim’s duty to conduct a testing interview that does not allow the interviewee to use the occasion as a political platform, and to interject and make reasonable efforts to ensure that the questions that were asked are answered. Posing testing questions and then allowing the interviewee to respond to those questions is a recognised standard of objective journalism.
‘On review, we are satisfied the interview with Mr Albanese was suitably rigorous and informative, the questions posed by Ms Ibrahim were relevant and based strictly on news value, and Mr Albanese was afforded ample opportunity to respond to the questions in detail and at length. While rigorous, Ms Ibrahim demonstrated a consistently civil and objective approach. The interview was conducted with due impartiality and complied with the ABC’s editorial standards.
‘Thank you for giving the ABC the opportunity to respond to your concerns. Should you remain dissatisfied, you may be able to pursue your complaint with the Australian Communications and Media Authority.’
Social media users who found themselves grouped in the two lists – which were made public on Ms Ibrahim’s account – accused her of displaying anti-Labor bias
Just three months later, two controversial lists on her personal Twitter account were unearthed labelling her critics ‘Labor Trolls/Thugs’ and ‘Lobotomised sh**heads’.
Social media users who found themselves grouped in the two lists – which were made public on Ms Ibrahim’s account – accused her of displaying anti-Labor bias.
In the wake of the controversy, Ms Ibrahim was pulled off air. An ABC spokesman insisted she has not been sacked – but is ‘taking a break’ from TV screens.
‘The ABC is reviewing recent social media activity by presenter Fauziah Ibrahim,’ the spokesman said.
Ms Ibrahim was absent from her program at the weekend without explanation. There was only a single passing reference to her.
BEFORE: Fauziah Ibrahim’s Twitter bio (pictured) used to make a very big deal out of her working for ABC
AFTER: Fauziah Ibrahim’s Twitter bio (pictured) now makes no mention of ABC whatsoever, leading to questions about her status with the broadcaster
Her replacement John Barron told co-host Johanna Nicholson he was excited to be on air, noting he’d ‘usually be watching you and Fauziah’ from home.
Eagle-eyed social commentators also noted Ms Ibrahim had removed any reference to her role at the ABC from her Twitter biography, including her cover photo.
Some believe this may indicate an extended stint on the sidelines.
Ms Ibrahim has locked down her social media accounts in the wake of the controversy amid trolling from critics who have slammed her conduct.
Apart from obvious bias she was a terrible presenter,’ one opined.
Prior to working at the ABC, Ms Ibrahim worked at international television networks including Al Jazeera, the BBC and CNBC.
She describes herself on social media as an ‘eternal expat’, a certified pilates instructor and of Singaporean heritage. Ms Ibrahim last year celebrated being one of two journalists of Asian descent to host the ABC’s flagship breakfast program.
Daily Mail Australia has sought comment from Ms Ibrahim about the developments.
John Barron (pictured left, with co-host Johanna Nicholson) replaced Fauziah Ibrahim on ABC News Breakfast over the weekend with no mention of why Ms Ibrahim was not there
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