 "Australia's SEN Radio sacks cricket journalist for showing support for Palestine; Usman Khawaja speaks in support")
Renowned Australian cricket journalist Peter Lalor has been sacked by SEN Radio due to his social media activity relating to Israeli attacks in Gaza. Lalor on X has reposted numerous social media posts claiming that Israel has committed ‘genocide’ in Gaza while also highlighting the plight of Palestinians caught in the crossfire between Hamas and Israel.
“Official: More than 1,500 Palestinian families have been forced out of their homes in Tulkarm of the occupied #West_Bank!,” reads one of the tweets that Lalor reposted.
“Amnestys primary message is that genocide has been committed and accountability must be delivered for it” @AgnesCallamard, the head of Amnesty," reads another reposted tweet.
Lalor accused of being antisemitic
Lalor in a statement said that he had a word with senior people at SEN Radio on the third day of the Galle Test before being asked the following day that he will be removed from his position as a commentator. Lalor said that he was sacked because his voice made Jews in Melbourne “feel unsafe”.
“I was told in one call there were serious organisations making complaints; in another I was told that this was not the case,” Lalor said in his statement. “Perhaps I misunderstood. I was told there were accusations I was antisemitic which I strongly objected to. I was told my retweeting was not balanced, and insensitive to one side and that many people had complained.
“The following day Hutchison told me that because the ‘sound of my voice made people feel unsafe’ and that people are ‘triggered by my voice’, I could not cover the cricket for them any more.”
“I was asked by station boss Craig Hutchison, who was civil, if I didn’t care that my retweeting of events in Gaza made Jewish people in Melbourne feel unsafe. I said I didn’t want anyone to feel unsafe. Of course, I care. I have friends who are frightened and have heard the fear in their voices during conversations. It is an awful situation. But so is Gaza. It was a brief and cordial call.
“The following day Hutchison told me that because the ‘sound of my voice made people feel unsafe’ and that people are ‘triggered by my voice’, I could not cover the cricket for them any more.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsSEN Radio explains why Lalor was sacked
SEN Radio has confirmed the sacking of Lalor and sighted the same issues as mentioned by the seasoned cricket journalist.
“Sports Entertainment Network confirms it has parted ways with Peter Lalor, a freelance commentator within SEN’s cricket coverage,” the statement reads.
“We’ve been in dialogue through the back half of the [first] Test about some of the commentary on Peter’s private social media feed. Peter and I have a different view of the impact of that in the Australian community.
“SEN Cricket is a celebration of differences and nationalities and a place where our SEN audience can escape what is an increasingly complex and sometimes triggering world.
“We respect Pete as a journalist and long-time contributor to the game but also acknowledge the fear that many families in our community feel right now, and we also need to respect that.”
Usman Khawaja comes out in Lalor’s support
Meanhwile, Australian opener Usman Khawaja has come out in support of Lalor, saying his social media activity is not antisemitic.
“Standing up for the people of Gaza is not antisemitic nor does it have anything to do with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia, but everything to do with the Israeli government and their deplorable actions,” Khawaja said on Instagram.
“It has everything to do with justice and human rights. Unfortunately hatred towards the Jewish and Muslim community will always exist. Pete is a good guy with a good heart. He deserves better.”
Lalor also found support among X users who slammed SEN for sacking the veteran.
“Peter Lalor is one of the genuine nice guys of Australian journalism. He loves cricket and when he’s not doing that he cares about what’s going on in the world, including Gaza. Apparently some people find that “triggering” so SEN has sacked him. For caring about people dying,” a user wrote.
Peter Lalor is one of the genuine nice guys of Australian journalism. He loves cricket and when he’s not doing that he cares about what’s going on in the world, including Gaza. Apparently some people find that “triggering” so SEN has sacked him. For caring about people dying.
— Stuart Rintoul (@stuart_rintoul) February 4, 2025
“Pretty confident that there is not one Jewish person in Australia being ‘triggered’ by Peter Lalor. Pretty sure the SEN trigger here is that he and Gideon are flying at Cricket et al and they don’t want to give them a leg up,” wrote another user.
Pretty confident that there is not one Jewish person in Australia being ‘triggered’ by Peter Lalor. Pretty sure the SEN trigger here is that he and Gideon are flying at Cricket et al and they don’t want to give them a leg up.
— Tony Wilson (@byTonyWilson) February 4, 2025
A former chief cricket writer at The Australian, Lalor also works as a commentator for Seven.
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