Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame has issued an Instagram video apology addressing strong backlash over her March comments on ABC Radio regarding sexual violence against Israeli women during the 7 October attacks by Hamas.
Instagram Video Apology and Clarification From Grace Tame
In her video statement released on Thursday, Ms. Tame stated that she stands with survivors of sexual violence everywhere, regardless of who they are. She acknowledged regret for not clarifying her stance sooner, explaining that her March remarks on ABC Radio were misinterpreted as meaning she disbelieves Israeli survivors of sexual violence. According to her statement, that was not the case.
Ms. Tame stated that Human Rights Watch had been unable to find evidence supporting the claim that Israeli women were raped en masse on 7 October 2023. However, she added that she does not deny legitimate accusations of rape made by individual Israeli women, including accounts of gang-rape. She stated that she does not hate Israelis or Jewish people, but abhors the crimes of the State of Israel, affirming that she believes Israeli and Jewish survivors.
Did You Know? In 2024, the United Nations special envoy on sexual violence in conflict concluded there were “reasonable grounds” to believe sexual assaults, including rape and gang-rape in several places, took place during the 7 October attacks by Hamas.
Backlash and Reactions From Community Leaders
Ms. Tame’s initial March interview drew substantial public reaction and controversy. When asked during the program whether she had expressed outrage about Israeli women who were sexually assaulted during the 7 October attacks, she responded that she was not going to sink to the level of entertaining propaganda and that those things had been debunked. The Israeli embassy in Canberra rebuked the remarks at the time, stating on social media that she had lost her moral compass. Furthermore, the ABC ombudsman’s office reported receiving 145 complaints following the interview, alongside four distinct but similar matters.
The latest apology faced immediate criticism from community leaders. Lynda Ben-Menashe, president of the National Council of Jewish Women Australia, rejected the statement, stating it failed to qualify as an apology. Ms. Ben-Menashe stated that Ms. Tame had originally called widely proven claims of sexual violence “debunked propaganda,” adding insult to injury and fanning the flames of incitement against Jewish women and men in the country. She asserted that apologizing for how people interpreted words neither rehabilitates the speaker nor reverses the damage caused.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Grace Tame issue her apology?
The former Australian of the Year issued her apology via an Instagram video on Thursday.
What did Grace Tame say in her original March interview?
During an ABC Radio interview in March, Ms. Tame stated in response to a question about sexual assaults on 7 October that she would not entertain propaganda and that those claims had been debunked.
How did community organizations respond to the apology?
Lynda Ben-Menashe, president of the National Council of Jewish Women Australia, lashed the statement, stating it was not a genuine apology and failed to reverse the damage caused by the original remarks.
What steps should public figures take when their commentary on international conflicts causes widespread public division?
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