Sunrise host Natalie Barr breaks her silence on horrifying campaign of abuse by anti-vaxxers after a video of her discussing WA’s ban on unvaccinated parents visiting their children in hospital went viral
Natalie Barr has broken her silence after being targeted in a ‘disgusting’ campaign of abuse by anti-vax trolls on social media.
The Sunrise co-host has been under attack ever since commenting on air about a new policy in Western Australia to protect sick kids by banning their unvaccinated parents from visiting them in hospital and potentially spreading Covid-19.
In her closing comments, Barr seemed to agree with the policy, saying: ‘Other states have had various forms of this and people have had time [to get vaccinated], you know. I mean, really.’
Under fire: Sunrise presenter Natalie Barr (centre) has broken her silence after being targeted in a ‘disgusting’ campaign of abuse by anti-vax trolls on social media. Pictured with Perth Lord Mayor and broadcaster Basil Zempilas (left) and Sun Herald columnist Susie O’Brien (right)
Footage of the segment was posted on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Telegram, leading to a torrent of abuse aimed at the 53-year-old journalist.
‘Once it started hitting U.S. and overseas websites and chat rooms that’s when the abuse started… swearing and negative language,’ Barr told The Australian of the viral video.
Barr added that some trolls wrote ‘really disgusting language’ across images of her and then sent them to her.
Comments: Barr has been under attack ever since commenting on air about a new policy in WA to protect sick kids by banning their unvaccinated parents from visiting them in hospital and potentially spreading Covid-19. Former basketball player and vaccine sceptic Andrew Bogut described WA Premier Mark McGowan’s policy, and Barr’s commentary, as ‘sickening’
Tough: Under WA Premier Mark McGowan’s (pictured) new rules, implemented on January 31, unvaccinated parents must apply for a special exemption to visit their sick children in hospital
Earlier this month, former basketball player Andrew Bogut took to Twitter to describe the policy as ‘sickening’, as well as retweeting Barr’s comments.
Many others then piled onto the TV personality, including one anti-vaxxer claiming to be from Western Australia who wrote, ‘Just reminding you that you’re a piece of s**t.’
The account in question only boasts 100 followers.
Pile-on: Footage of the Sunrise segment was posted on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Telegram, leading to a torrent of abuse aimed at the 53-year-old journalist
Another user ranted: ‘I think is is a dam [sic] disgrace and you Natalie Barr should be ashamed for your part in this, promoting this dam [sic] poison which is on trial yes on trial. And to have parents denied visitation rights is totally ludicrous. The unvaccinated have nothing to spread’.
That account is followed by only two people.
Under WA Premier Mark McGowan’s new rules, implemented on January 31, unvaccinated parents must apply for a special exemption to visit their sick children in hospital.
The Sunrise panel, including Perth Lord Mayor and broadcaster Basil Zempilas and Sun-Herald columnist Susie O’Brien, broadly approved of the new measures.
Critic: Earlier this month, former NBA player Andrew Bogut (pictured) took to Twitter to describe the policy as ‘sickening,’ as well as retweeting Barr’s comments. His Twitter post brought the Sunrise segment to a wider audience, and resulted in Barr being trolled
The most recent spate of attacks come after Barr last year spoke about being trolled ever since she took over Samantha Armytage as the host of Sunrise.
Speaking about the way she handles the keyboard warriors, Natalie told New Idea: ‘I think the easiest thing is to block them and not get sucked in.’
Barr took over as Sunrise co-anchor alongside David ‘Kochie’ Koch following Armytage’s decision to quit the top-rating breakfast show in March last year.
Plum role: Barr took over as Sunrise co-host alongside David ‘Kochie’ Koch (right) following Samantha Armytage’s decision to quit the top-rating breakfast show in March last year
Source: Read Full Article
