Offensive ANZAC Day tweets see journalist removed from his job with public broadcaster.

SBS journalist, Scott McIntyre has been sacked after sending a series of negative tweets on the centenary of ANZAC Day. The tweets have been deemed disrespectful and offensive by many.

McIntyre, a presenter and soccer reporter, tweeted the following yesterday, from his personal but officially verified account:

The response online to McIntyre’s comments was swift and angry. While there were small numbers who supported the journalist’s sentiments, the majority felt they were ill timed and offensive to those whose relatives fought and died defending Australia.

Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull – whose department is responsible for McIntyre’s employer the SBS – responded using the same medium. He was distinctly unimpressed and called for the comments to be condemned.

Today, SBS managing director Michael Ebeid and director of sport Ken Shipp released a joint statement condemning the comments as ‘inappropriate’. Announcing that McIntyre would no longer have a job with the network, they stated that the tweets had caused McIntyre’s ‘on-air position at SBS to become untenable’.

The statement reads:

While many were distressed by the journalist’s comments, others have been quick to jump to McIntyre’s defence, including Channel 10 ‘s Hugh Riminton.

McIntyre was dismissed from his position with the SBS this morning.