Deep-Rooted Islamophobia in Australia’s Entertainment Industry Reflected in Awarding An Islamophobe
On Sunday night, Australia’s television industry gathered at The Star to celebrate the prestigious Gold Logie Awards, while the Australian cricket team faced off against England in the Ashes series.
Surprisingly, these seemingly unrelated events highlight a distressing confluence. The Gold Logie was awarded to Sonia Kruger, a television presenter who had previously called for a ban on Muslim migration in 2016. This occurrence sheds light on the lack of seriousness with which the Australian entertainment industry addresses issues of race and diversity.
According to a report by Smh.com.au, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2019 ruled that Kruger had vilified Muslims through her comments on Today, a morning talk show. The tribunal stated that her remarks connected Muslims with terrorist attacks and were likely to encourage hatred towards the Australian Muslim community as a whole. Despite this, Kruger’s success in winning the Gold Logie demonstrates a sad reflection on Australian culture.
The inability of the industry to acknowledge and address Kruger’s comments is disheartening. Award shows, while not perfect indicators of artistic excellence, are important platforms for recognizing and celebrating the achievements of talented artists. Unfortunately, the Logies have been subject to criticism due to their opaque judging process and manipulative campaigning by networks. However, to see someone with Kruger’s controversial record being nominated and ultimately winning a prestigious award is disappointing for those who care about the Australian entertainment industry.
The lack of consequences for Kruger’s inflammatory remarks sends a clear message: the most influential figures in Australia are apathetic towards vilifying minority communities. This undermines the progress made in countering racism and discrimination, as well as perpetuating Islamophobic attitudes in the country. In contrast, many artists and figures in the US are actively taking a stand against bigotry and fighting for a more inclusive future.
While Kruger’s victory may not directly impact Australia’s entrenched Islamophobic attitudes, it reinforces the country’s failure to address these issues. People like Usman Khawaja, a renowned cricketer who has spoken about experiencing racial vilification in Australia, are reminded that little has changed in the country. Kruger’s win also sends a signal to the entertainment industry that far-right views on Muslim immigration are acceptable and can even be rewarded with the highest honors.
Ultimately, Kruger’s predictable and mundane victory adds to the disappointment surrounding the Australian entertainment industry’s handling of race and diversity. While this specific event may not bring about immediate change, it serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing Islamophobia that remains unaddressed in Australia.
By Ifeanyi Ekwueme
Source: nnn.ng
