Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany has begun a series of meetings with Jewish leaders to "unreservedly apologize" after an image of him performing a Nazi salute came to light. On Sunday, media outlet Crikey published the photograph taken on a "closed set" a decade ago when he was Fox Sports CEO. It shows him with his right arm raised outstretched above his head in a salute and two fingers of the other hand placed above his top lip to imitate Adolf Hitler's moustache.
Mr Delany on Monday said the photo of him making an "inappropriate salute" was done in a circumstance where he was likening it to the gesture some Western Sydney Wanderers fans were using 10 years ago. "Regardless of the context, the fact I demonstrated this offensive salute was wrong and I unreservedly apologize," he said. "I am very sorry for my actions and sincerely apologize to people who have been hurt or offended, especially members of the Jewish community. The picture is completely inconsistent with my values and beliefs, and family connections."
The President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies David Ossip told the ABC he met with the Foxtel Group boss this afternoon and he made a "full and unreserved apology to the Jewish community for performing a Nazi salute." "He made it clear that regardless of the context in which he performed the salute, he understood the offence and hurt that the gesture causes; not only Jewish Australians but the tens of thousands of Australians whose family members were killed or injured fighting the Nazis during World War II," he said.
"We accept Patrick's apology and recognise not only his but Lachlan Murdoch's strong and unequivocal repudiation of anti-Semitism in the past 10 months." Mr Ossip said Mr Delany had agreed to continue to speak out strongly against anti-Semitism and other forms of hate. "He and his leadership team will be visiting the Sydney Jewish Museum to remind themselves about where unbridled hatred ultimately leads," he told the ABC.
The ABC understands Mr Delany had also made contact with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry over the weekend and would meet with its head Alex Ryvchin in the coming days. But Mr Ossip said he believed the apology was sincere and would be accepted more broadly by the community. "He is genuinely contrite and committed to work with us to combat the evils of anti-Semitism. He's committed to using this episode as a learning exercise and our hope is that this incident serves as a valuable lesson for the community as a whole."
In his email to staff, Mr Delany stressed he was a "signatory to the Say No to Anti-Semitism letter of late 2023" and said he condemns anti-Semitism in any form. "Racism in all its forms is not acceptable and I acknowledge the seriousness of my actions."
The Western Sydney Wanderers club has faced controversy in recent years over the Nazi salute issue, with one supporter banned by Football Australia from attending matches for two years after he was filmed on TV performing what appeared to be a fascist or Nazi salute. The club declined to comment.
The Backlash
Media Diversity Australia CEO Mariam Veiszadeh told Crikey that this image shows Australian media isn’t doing a good job of holding itself to account. "This news comes at a time when many inside and outside of Australian media are holding up a critical mirror to the industry, calling out toxic workplace behaviours which seem to have been flourishing for decades," she said in a statement.
Veiszadah said the revelation that there are “skeletons in the closets of all key players” shows why her organisation continues to advocate for improvement across the sector on issues like racism, sexism and cultural safety.
The Jewish Council of Australia’s executive officer Sarah Schwartz condemned Delany’s salute as “deeply concerning”. "Equally [concerning] is that he operates in a media industry where he felt this was somehow okay. It shouldn’t need to be said that the salute is an offensive and violent act not only for Jews, but also for other racialized groups," she said in an emailed statement.
Schwartz said the image showed how forms of bigotry are “all too accepted” in society, including in the media.
"That the same person can sign a pledge to ‘say no to antisemitism’ and also feel comfortable doing a Nazi salute just goes to show that we need more than superficial pledges," she said.
A Sign of Deeper Issues?
The photo has sparked debate about the prevalence of anti-Semitism in Australian media and society. The incident comes at a time when Australia is grappling with a growing number of hate crimes and anti-Semitic incidents.
The Australian Jewish community has expressed concern about the rise of anti-Semitism in recent years. In 2023, the Jewish Community Council of Victoria reported a 60% increase in anti-Semitic incidents.
Delany's apology has been met with mixed reactions. Some have praised him for taking responsibility for his actions, while others have expressed skepticism about his sincerity.
The incident has also raised questions about the culture of Australian media. Some have argued that the photo is evidence of a deeper problem within the industry.
A Chance for Change?
The controversy surrounding Delany's photo has shone a spotlight on the issue of anti-Semitism in Australia. It is a reminder that anti-Semitism is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.
The incident has also provided an opportunity for Australia to reflect on its values and to work towards a more inclusive and tolerant society. The incident has also served as a reminder of the importance of education and awareness-raising initiatives to combat anti-Semitism and other forms of hate.
The events surrounding Delany's apology highlight the need for a more nuanced and informed conversation about anti-Semitism in Australia.
This incident underscores the importance of taking responsibility for our actions and of challenging bigotry in all its forms.
This incident can be a catalyst for positive change and a chance to build a more inclusive and tolerant society.
