ITV host Nadia Sawalha is reportedly sacked after posting an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory online, which has led to several complaints and renewed pressure to take a closer look at her public utterances and social media posts.
The 61-year-old television personality, who has been one of the most familiar faces on the daytime talk show since it began in 1999, has been axed from the show allegedly because ITV executives have had “had enough” of the furore surrounding her controversial online activity.
Sawalha is reportedly not appearing on the new series of Loose Women, which was announced earlier this week. She has not been officially confirmed by ITV to have been dismissed forever, but it is believed that the broadcaster is moving away from the presenter while they work out the situation.
The debate focuses on social media posts and videos that appear to be associated with both Sawalha and her husband, Mark Adderley, who was recently suspended from the Green Party for allegedly making anti-Semitic statements and posting material about conspiracy. Adderley is said to have shared videos that equated Israel with Nazi Germany and spread conspiracy theories about Jewish organisations and world events.
Sawalha was out there shaming her husband after he was suspended, saying that he was “the most decent, kind, super smart man with the hugest of hearts” and he’s being “slandered”. She also spoke about unnamed “dark forces” that were behind the criticism, comments that sparked further controversy from anti-racism and anti-Semitism campaign groups.
Campaigners have condemned Sawalha’s online actions, which included a tweet suggesting she was looking after a Jewish site, and have asked ITV to investigate her behaviour.
Sawalha’s alleged online behaviour has been condemned by both Campaign Against Antisemitism and Labour Against Antisemitism, who have called on ITV to investigate her behaviour. One of her spokespeople is allegedly calling her posts “vile” and “unhinged,” and saying that the broadcasts can harm the broadcaster’s reputation.
It’s been confirmed that ITV employees voiced some internal concerns about the content they saw on the pair’s social media. The material was described as “dangerous” to Sawalha, who is extremely active in public events.
Sawalha, who was also a successful actress in EastEnders, The Bill and Casualty, has not taken any official step to confirm the rumours surrounding her departure from Loose Women.
This incident has added to the broader discussion of freedom of expression, accountability, and the role of public figures in disseminating political opinions online. It’s not yet clear whether ITV’s decision is short-term or long-term, but the furore has certainly left Sawalha’s TV career “in serious doubt”.