ABC managing director Hugh Marks has publicly defended the broadcaster’s decision to commission Grace Tame for a new taxpayer-funded podcast.
The new series, Autistic AF, premiered on the ABC last week, sparking outrage from the Jewish community given Tame’s controversial comments about Israel.
Speaking on Radio National Breakfast on Tuesday, Marks said Tame had been confirmed as the podcast’s host before controversy over her comments about Israel emerged.
‘When we engaged for the project, that was actually some time ago, so it was before those particular comments that were made, and it was certainly also before, I think, the much-quoted interview that she did with Hamish Macdonald and Sydney Mornings were also made,’ Marks said.
‘Obviously, I understand why people feel Grace shouldn’t have a program on the ABC, given the controversy that’s reported and associated with many of her comments.
‘But I think if you look at the program itself, it’s a great podcast that she’s done a great job on, a topic that I’m sure will be of real interest and real importance to many Australians who suffer from those conditions, and particularly young Australians and young Australian women.’
Marks also addressed the controversy sparked by ABC presenter Charlie Pickering, who said he personally viewed Tame’s appointment as problematic.
‘We’ve looked at Charlie’s comments, I think he did express that they were his own view, they weren’t represented at the ABC.’
ABC managing director Hugh Marks has publicly defended the broadcaster’s decision to commission Grace Tame for a new podcast
The new series, Autistic AF with Grace Tame, premiered on the ABC last week, sparking outrage from the Jewish community after her comments about October 7
Pickering converted to Judaism before marrying his Jewish-American wife, Sarah Krasnostein.
‘I do actually think it’s problematic – that’s my personal opinion,’ Pickering said – when asked about Tame’s comments by Rebel News.
‘And as you would understand, and as a Jewish Australian, there is a complete misunderstanding about a lot of words that were said and the true meaning of them.
‘People are using words and phrases that have meaning well beyond they think they do.’
Alex Ryvchin, Executive Officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said the ABC employing Tame sends the wrong message.
‘It seems the ABC has determined that Grace Tame is fit for employment at public expense after screaming chants widely interpreted as calling for global attacks on Jews and a radio interview in which she doubled down on her comments questioning the widespread pack rape and sexual torture committed by Hamas, which the terrorists themselves never denied.
‘Everyone deserves a second chance but Tame has shown no remorse or regret whatsoever.
‘The effect of this is to legitimise her violent views and sends a message that her obscene conduct carries no consequences and even brings public contracts.’
Tame’s new role with the ABC also follows her admission that she lost speaking bookings for the rest of this year following the comments she made about October 7
ABC star Charlie Pickering (pictured with his wife Sarah Krasnostein) said the network hiring Tame was problematic
Tame’s new role comes just months after she led a chant to ‘globalise the intifada’ – interpreted by some as a call for Palestinian resistance against Israel and by others as inciting violence against Jews.
She also faced backlash for an interview with ABC Sydney Mornings host Hamish Macdonald in March.
Macdonald asked, on behalf of a listener, why she is ‘selective in her outrage’ after they said they had never heard her condemn or speak out about Israeli women who were raped and killed by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
‘I’m not going to sink to the level of … of entertaining any kind of propaganda, Hamish. Let’s not do that,’ Tame said.
‘What’s the “propaganda” included in that question?’ Macdonald asked.
Tame said: ‘Those things have been debunked. Violence is happening on both sides, but this is not a fair fight. We’re not talking about two equal cohorts, even marginally.’
Macdonald questioned her claims: ‘So the UN Special Representative on sexual violence and in conflict has said that there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred. Are you saying that that is propaganda?’
Tame replied: ‘Awful things are being perpetrated by both sides. But this is not about what about it. This is not about selective outrage. I’m outraged by all of the violence.’
Tame’s new role with the ABC also follows her admission that she lost speaking bookings for the rest of this year following the comments she made about October 7.
In her new podcast, Tame explores what life is like for women and gender-diverse people with autism, including her experiences with food and sound sensitivity, as well as ‘masking’.
‘Masking is effectively hiding or changing your traits, needs or interests in order to navigate a world designed primarily for neurotypical people,’ she told ABC presenter Yumi Stynes in the debut episode.
‘The toll of masking can be catastrophic, because those needs still need to be met.
‘I used alcohol and drugs as a coping strategy, which is sadly normalised and easily accessible. Now I turn to running and cycling to regulate my emotions.
‘Exercise has been a really effective tool for emotional regulation and trauma recovery, and it also allows me to socialise in a way that doesn’t require small talk.’
