Leigh Sales reveals the real impact of “rabid Internet thugs” on getting her to leave the job she loved, and why it has nothing to do with rumors about Scott Morrison: “I was abused. the weather”.
- ABC News presenter Leigh Sales says she resigned because of online “rabid thugs”
- He said he has two orders to protect him from violence because of threats made online
- Sales has been the presenter of the 7.30 news program for almost 12 years
- Sales called for fathers to “work harder at home” to help struggling mothers
By Ashley Nickel for Daily Mail Australia
Posted: 01:57, 18 June 2022 | Updated: 2:28, June 18, 2022
ABC journalist Leigh Sales said she left her TV news space in prime time due to online “rabid thugs.”
Sales announced it would leave the ABC news and current affairs program at 7.30am in early February, but revealed in an interview on Saturday that it had decided to leave due to online trolls.
“People have reported that I left because there was an interview with Scott Morrison and then they mistreated me, but they abused me all the time, so there was nothing to do,” he said.
Leigh Sales (above) said she quit her job presenting the 7.30pm news on ABC because of online “rabid thugs” and threats of violence.
“Whether you are there or not, there is a rabid group of thugs who only use any excuse to accumulate practically.
“The problem is that this kind of online tearing of people can translate into real-life violence. I have two orders of protectionist violence against me from random people who have threatened me.”
In the past, Sale has said he has repeatedly been the victim of online harassment every time he interviewed former Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
After an interview with Morrison in 2020, Sales shared a sample of the sexual hatred he received, including messages that he was “sitting on his lap.”
Sales said he has been the victim of online trolls repeatedly and has “two orders of protectionist violence against me from random people who have threatened me.”
Sales has presented at 7.30 for almost 12 years and will continue to work with the national station in a different role.
Sarah Ferguson will replace Sales as presenter at 7.30am starting in July.
However, Sales also admitted that it was not just harassment that encouraged her to resign.
She said working in “senior roles” is difficult for women struggling to maintain work-life balance and encouraged parents to “take it more lightly at home.”
“I’ve had all the support in the world at work and my ex-husband is great at helping with kids, but it’s very hard to have two kids and a great job, even when you have great help.” she said.