7 News has stripped a poll regarding Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s decision to leave Australia for London from its Facebook page, following claims that it could only serve to promote harmful rhetoric about the media personality.
The post, which asked readers whether or not they wanted Abdel-Magied to stay put or if she “should stay and face her critics,” garnered thousands of votes before being pulled. Users also had their say in the comments, with many voicing their opposition to her solely due to her Islamic faith.
Speaking to News.com.au, Abdel-Magied said the poll exhibited “poor editorial decision-making”, and that asking for reader opinions through that format only “invites prejudice and discrimination.”
“It’s pretty trashy click-bait.”
A spokesperson for 7 News also copped to that mind-boggling oversight, saying “it should never have been posted and we are reviewing how that occurred.”
In a separate statement, a Yahoo7 representative said “it was posted to genuinely create discussion around a balanced article and it was never the intention to generate inappropriate commentary on social media.
“We accept this was an error of judgement, the post has been removed and we unreservedly apologise to anyone offended.”
Abdel-Magied has been the subject of intense media scrutiny, particularly from conservative outlets, for the majority of the year. Her Facebook post about ANZAC Day, in which she referenced Australia’s refugee policy, was the target of an avalanche of negative press coverage.
And, evidently, the preoccupation with Abdel-Magied was even enough to spur a poll on her departure.
Source: News.com.au.
Photo: Yassmin Abdel-Magied / Instagram.
Photo: Yassmin Abdel-Magied / Instagram.
