Tony Armstrong Faces Racist Abuse Online After Media Watch Report on NRMA Voiceover Work
Tony Armstrong has exposed severe racial abuse he faced online following a Media Watch report that highlighted his unauthorized voiceover work for NRMA Insurance while employed by the ABC. The program questioned his adherence to ABC's strict external work policies, which require prior approval for high-profile employees. Armstrong subsequently shared hateful and racist messages he received via social media, marking a disturbing recurrence of such attacks against him. This incident coincides with his announcement of leaving the ABC series News Breakfast.
Tony Armstrong has revealed the alarming racial abuse he has faced online following a recent Media Watch report that questioned his external voiceover work with the ABC. The report has sparked significant controversy surrounding ABC's guidelines for employees engaging in outside employment.
Media Watch Raises Concerns Over External Work
On Monday, an episode of Media Watch, hosted by Janine Perrett, highlighted that Tony Armstrong had provided voiceover work for a campaign by NRMA Insurance. This campaign was aired during Nine's Olympic coverage in July, raising concerns about potential violations of ABC's strict protocols regarding external work for employees. According to ABC guidelines, high-profile personnel are required to seek approval before taking on external commercial projects. Perrett expressed astonishment that Armstrong had participated in promoting a major insurance brand without proper authorization, emphasizing the heightened scrutiny surrounding external work obligations for well-known figures within the organization.
ABC Confirms Violation of Policy
In a statement released following the Media Watch segment, ABC acknowledged that Armstrong did not receive prior approval for the voiceover job and stated that the NRMA advertisement was produced without the broadcaster's consent. Perrett pointedly remarked on the potential conflict of interest, questioning how any ABC reporter could engage with such a prominent commercial venture without recognizing the implications involved.
Racial Attacks Follow Media Watch Episode
In the aftermath of the report, Armstrong took to social media to document the barrage of hateful comments he received. On Wednesday, he shared screenshots of racist messages on his Instagram Stories, revealing he had been subjected to two racist slurs before 8 AM. The posts showcased a disturbing range of vulgar and shocking remarks directed at him across multiple platforms. While Armstrong has not added further commentary about the attacks since the Media Watch episode aired, this incident is not an isolated event; he previously reported similar abuse to the authorities after receiving a racially charged email in 2022.
Armstrong's Departure from ABC
These recent events unfold alongside Armstrong's announcement of his departure from the ABC, with his final appearance on the News Breakfast program scheduled for Friday, October 4. The combination of the Media Watch scrutiny and the racially motivated online abuse highlights ongoing challenges related to media figures navigating external engagements amid increasing public scrutiny.
