Patrick Delaney, CEO of Foxtel, a major Australian cable television company majority-owned by News Corp, has issued an apology after a photo surfaced showing him performing a Nazi salute.
The image, taken about a decade ago, was first published by Crikey. Delaney explained in an internal memo that he believed he was imitating a gesture used by some Western Sydney Wanderers soccer fans during the 2014-15 season. The incident reportedly occurred while he was visiting a Fox Sports television set as the channel's CEO.
"Regardless of the context, the fact I demonstrated this offensive salute was wrong," Delaney stated in his email to staff. He emphasized that the action was "completely inconsistent" with his values and beliefs.
The Jewish Council of Australia condemned Delaney's actions as "deeply concerning." Sarah Schwartz, the council's executive officer, questioned how someone in the media industry could think such a gesture was acceptable.
Delaney pointed to his recent signing of the 'Say No to Antisemitism letter' following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. He committed to meeting with Jewish leaders to express his remorse.
This incident comes amid rising antisemitism and Islamophobia in Australia related to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The federal government has appointed a special envoy to combat antisemitism and plans to do the same for Islamophobia.
Lachlan Murdoch, during a November visit to Sydney, called on News Corp staff in Australia to address all forms of antisemitism.
Foxtel, once a dominant force in Australian television, has been struggling in recent years due to competition from international streaming services. News Corp is reportedly considering selling the company.
* The BBC contributed to this article.