Sky News Australia presenter Sharri Markson has denied that her colleague Erin Molan was fired by the network for her strong comments in support of Israel after a bizarre conspiracy theory emerged in the Israeli media.
Daily Mail Australia revealed this week that Molan’s eponymous show, Erin, was axed by Sky News and that the network did not give the commentator a chance to say goodbye to her viewers.
On Friday, Molan’s co-host Markson wished her well in her future endeavors, writing on
Israeli media have highlighted Molan’s repeated condemnation of Hamas in their reports on Sky’s dismissal of the former Footy Show presenter.
The Israel Hayom newspaper referred to Molan’s response to the Hamas-led raids on October 7 last year in which more than 1,200 citizens were killed and 254 taken hostage.
“Molan has openly supported Israel on his Sky News Australia show,” the newspaper said.
‘Strongly condemning both Hamas’ actions against Israeli civilians and the pro-Hamas demonstrations that have broken out around the world, repeatedly using its platform to address the ongoing war.’
Israel National News covered the anchor’s firing under the headline: “Sky News Australia fires pro-Israel anchor Erin Molan.”
Sky News Australia presenter Sharri Markson has denied that her colleague Erin Molan was fired by the network for her strong comments in support of Israel. Molan posted a nine-minute video to X on Friday afternoon, saying, “I care too much.”
“Australian news presenter Erin Molan, who repeatedly defended Israel in the year since the October 7 massacre, has been fired by Sky News Australia,” her article began.
Molan posted an impassioned nine-minute video on X on Friday afternoon, repeatedly mentioning the Middle East conflict and thanking everyone who had supported her.
“So that’s done,” he said of his job at Sky. But I’m not. In fact, I’m just getting started.
‘So I feel sorry for those who expected otherwise. Surprisingly, I’m much harder to kill than you think.
You see, the problem, and it’s always been that way with me, is that I worry too much.
“About you, about the world, about a peaceful existence for every child.”
Molan called Hamas terrorists “bloodthirsty killers” and said he would continue to “fight for every hostage still held captive in Gaza.”
Markson’s post on
Israeli media have highlighted Molan’s repeated condemnation of Hamas in their reports on Sky’s dismissal of the former Footy Show presenter.
“But I know her voice will be strong and she will be successful wherever she goes, and I will do everything I can to help her,” he wrote.
‘But I have to clarify the idea that his departure from Sky is due to his Zionism; This is categorically false.
“No media outlet globally has shown more leadership or clarity on Israel’s fight against terrorism and our own battle against anti-Semitism than we at Sky News Australia and News Corp.”
Daily Mail Australia revealed on Wednesday that Molan had already presented his final show on Sky News and would officially end the channel on Friday.
Although network insiders suggested Molan was caught off guard by the decision to cancel her show, Sky insisted they had ended their association with the presenter on amicable terms.
“Erin has been a fantastic member of the Sky News team for the past three years and has worked incredibly hard for her viewers, passionately championing the issues that matter most to her,” a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
“We would like to thank Erin for her contribution to the network.”
Despite the fond farewell, Molan was believed to have failed to turn up at the station’s low-key Christmas party on Wednesday afternoon.
Molan hosted her weekly news show, Erin, for the last time on Friday, November 29.
Molan’s 2DayFM breakfast show, alongside comedians David Hughes and Ed Kavalee, was canceled in August.
Network colleague James Macpherson appeared on the show in Molan’s place last week, but viewers were told he was simply “filling in” for her and the show was still billed as Erin.
The decision to cancel Molan’s show comes just months after the breakfast radio show she co-hosted alongside comedians Dave Hughes and Ed Kavalee was canceled by Southern Cross Austereo station 2DayFM in August.
The cancellation of Molan’s two key presenting roles is understood to have come at a significant financial cost to the veteran journalist.
Sources said he had been earning around $200,000 a year from his 2DayFM radio gig and another $150,000 a year from his work at Sky News Australia.
Molan joined Sky News Australia in July 2022 after parting ways with Nine after 11 years at the network the previous December.
She debuted with Erin at 7 pm on July 19, initially filling in for Markson on Sunday nights while she was on maternity leave, before her show moved to 5 pm on Fridays.
Explaining his decision to change channels, Molan said he had wanted to move away from sports broadcasting and into hard-hitting political coverage.
“Just because he can be silly and funny and all that stuff doesn’t mean he doesn’t also have a real passion for politics or that he can’t be credible in other spaces,” Molan told the Daily Telegraph at the press conference. time.
‘I’ve always loved news and it’s always been my passion, I’ve just been waiting for an opportunity to delve into it.
“As my show launches, I think the perception that maybe I’m just that sporty girl or that girl from The Footy Show will change,” Molan continued.
‘As a TV presenter, it doesn’t really matter what the topic is.
‘I’ve done entertainment, news bulletins, sports, I’ve presented ridiculous segments on The Footy Show.
‘None of those things make me any less legitimate in another space. The ability to do a lot of different things, laugh at yourself and be silly, but also be serious and believable when necessary, I don’t think any of those things are mutually exclusive.’