ABC apologizes for controversial Gina Rinehart comments in Race Around the World episode
Consensus Summary
The ABC’s Race Around the World episode aired on July 12 featured crude comments about Gina Rinehart by contestant Kate McGuinness, who described a fictional violent scenario involving her. The episode sparked outrage, leading Hancock Prospecting to write to the ABC board on July 23 demanding removal of the segment, an apology, and an investigation. McGuinness apologized on July 24, stating her writing was satirical and not intended to promote violence. The ABC Ombudsman reviewed complaints and found the episode did not breach editorial standards but acknowledged it fell short of community expectations. ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks issued an apology to Rinehart and removed the offensive material from ABC platforms, announcing policy changes regarding violence. The ABC’s Race Around the World program follows six filmmakers across 10 countries over 100 days, with the final episode due to air on August 9. The controversy also drew reactions from political figures, including Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles and Greens spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young, who criticized the segment.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The ABC aired a Race Around the World episode on July 12 featuring crude comments about Gina Rinehart by Kate McGuinness
- Hancock Prospecting wrote to the ABC board on July 23 demanding removal of the segment, an apology, and an investigation
- Kate McGuinness apologized on July 24 (last Thursday) for the comments, stating her writing was 'cartoonish and always satirical'
- The ABC Ombudsman reviewed audience complaints about the July 12 episode
- The ABC managing director Hugh Marks apologized to Gina Rinehart and removed the offensive material from its platforms
- The ABC will amend its editorial policies regarding violence after the incident
- The Race Around the World program follows six Australian filmmakers across 10 countries over 100 days
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The ABC episode was titled *A Very Relaxing Video* and included a joke about 'shoving a stick right up Gina Rinehart’s butthole, stirring it round, mixing her guts up nice and smooth, to make one big sausage roll'
- The ABC Ombudsman found the episode did not breach editorial standards but acknowledged it 'fell short of community expectations'
- The ABC apologized to 'anyone else affected or upset by the publication of the film'
- The ABC will replace the film with an edited version without the offensive material
- The episode was rated M for 'coarse language' and 'sexual references'
- The ABC received legal letters from Hancock Prospecting on July 23, placing ABC Chair Kim Williams, Deputy Chair Lisa Caffery, and Managing Director Hugh Marks on notice for alleged legal violations
- The ABC confirmed it had received correspondence from lawyers acting for Gina Rinehart and would respond in due course
- The ABC’s editorial policies will be amended to better distinguish between news and non-news content regarding violence
- The ABC’s Race Around the World airs at 7.30pm on Sundays
- The ABC mentioned 'This Week in Trumpland' as part of its newsletter sign-up
- The ABC Ombudsman found the episode did not breach ABC Editorial Standards relating to harm and offence
- The Ombudsman stated the question was whether the remarks were justified by the editorial context, not whether they were offensive
- The ABC’s Hugh Marks said the episode 'has fallen short of community expectations'
- The ABC’s Race Around the World episode was judged by John Safran, David Caesar, and Leigh Sales
- The ABC’s Race Around the World is a documentary-reality show where contestants create films judged by a panel
- The ABC’s Race Around the World aired at 7.30pm on July 12
- The ABC’s Race Around the World episode was shot in Scotland by Kate McGuinness
- The ABC’s Race Around the World episode featured a 'Scottish forest warrior ninja' and tips on 'how to make something out of nothing'
- The ABC’s Race Around the World episode was referred to the Ombudsman after complaints surfaced on July 24
- The ABC’s Race Around the World episode was still available to stream on iView on July 24
- The ABC’s Race Around the World episode was removed from ABC platforms after the apology
- The ABC’s Race Around the World episode was replaced with an edited video without the offensive material
- The ABC’s Race Around the World episode was described as 'farcical' by Kate McGuinness
- The ABC’s Race Around the World episode was criticized by Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles as 'completely inappropriate and unacceptable'
- The ABC’s Race Around the World episode was called 'disgusting' by Greens communications spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
- The ABC’s Race Around the World episode was reviewed by the ABC Ombudsman, who found that a reasonable audience member 'would be unlikely to interpret the remarks as a genuine call for, endorsement of, or encouragement of violence'
- The ABC’s Race Around the World episode was shot in Scotland, featuring a 'monotone voice-over' and a 'surreal and hyperbolic' tone
- The ABC Race Around the World contestant Kate McGuinness released an apology after the episode was referred to the ABC’s internal ombudsman
- The ABC confirmed the ombudsman was 'independently reviewing audience complaints' but would not comment further while the review was in progress
- The ABC Race Around the World episode was criticized by The Australian on July 24 for containing an 'obscene and graphic slur' against Gina Rinehart
- Hancock Prospecting released a statement on July 24 calling the ABC's content 'disgusting' and 'normalising violence and murder'
- Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells weighed into the controversy on July 24, saying she respected the ABC’s editorial independence
- The ABC Race Around the World episode was shot in the Scottish highlands and featured a 'forest ninja' named Master Tom
- The ABC Race Around the World episode was largely about 'finding peace and contentment in a busy world'
- The ABC Race Around the World episode was part of a series where contestants make 10 films in 100 days
- The ABC Race Around the World episode was aired at 7.30pm on Sundays
- The ABC Race Around the World episode was part of a series with a final episode due to air on August 9
- The ABC Race Around the World episode was criticized by Leigh Sales for a 'nasty gag about Gina Rinehart'
- The SMH mentioned 120 movies to watch right now in a separate section
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian and ABC state the ABC Ombudsman found the episode did not breach editorial standards, but the ABC’s Hugh Marks said the episode 'fell short of community expectations'
- The Guardian and ABC state the ABC apologized to Gina Rinehart, but the ABC Ombudsman found no breach of editorial standards
- The Guardian and ABC state the ABC removed the offensive material from its platforms, but the SMH does not explicitly mention this removal
- The ABC and Guardian state the ABC received legal letters on July 23, but the SMH does not mention this specific date for legal correspondence
- The ABC states the episode aired on July 12 and was still available on iView on July 24, but the SMH does not mention the episode being available on iView on July 24
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