Rachel Riley returned to social media after Channel 4 viewers called for the Countdo
wn star to be fired after her comments over the Sydney mall knife attack.
The incident left six people dead over the weekend, with the broadcaster noting that Riley had been reminded “of her obligations as a contributor to Channel 4 programming”.
A knifeman – 40-year-old Joel Cauchi – went on a rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction, who police have said suffers from mental health issues.
Riley originally tweeted: “For six months now, people have been out on our streets proudly calling for the ‘Infitada Revolution’. If you want to know what ‘Globalised Infitada’ looks like, the Sydney Mall.”
She quickly deleted the post after many claimed she was being Islamophobic, and went on to post a lengthy apology.
A few hours after her original apology, she returned to her social media for further clarification and added: “I’ve thought about this all day and deleted the original tweet, so just one more post on the matter.
“I’m sorry to those I offended. My post was ambiguous and although it was genuinely designed to call out calls for violence, it wasn’t the right place or time which made it easier to misinterpret and I apologise.
“I know nuance isn’t popular online, and even though I’m certain many of the people calling this out are the same people who’ve been trying to shut me up or have me fired for the last 6 years.
“Who would happily join in the calls for violence against their enemies, I’m also sure there re those who don’t fall into that camp, and it is to them I write this now.
“I too have been subject to assault in recent months and it was a Muslim woman and her husband who came to see if I was ok afterwards. I’m grateful to them and wish to undo any offence caused to the community.”