Why is Stan Grant leaving ABC?

Popular Australian journalist, Stan Grant who has over 30 years of experience of working in broadcast radio and television news and current affairs, is living ABC’s Q+A show as its host.

This is after facing racial abuse due to speaking about the impact of colonialism during King Charles’ coronation. He shared in a column that he’d be walking away from the show after Monday (May 15, 2023) episode of the show.

He released a lengthy official statement stating reasons for his departure.

“Since the King’s coronation, I have seen people in the media lie and distort my words. They have tried to depict me as hate filled. They have accused me of maligning Australia. Nothing could be further from the truth. My ancestors would not allow me to be filled with hate. 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 said.

“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. I value the friendship of ABC Directors of News, Justin Stevens. He has been a support and a comfort. He is trying to change an organization 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,” he added.