The Adelaide Writers’ Festival looks set to lose another major sponsor, as the backlash against the festival’s decision to host two authors who have made multiple anti-semitic comments continues to grow.
The Adelaide Writers’ Festival is facing an exodus of sponsors over its decision to host two authors with long histories of racist and anti-semitic and pro-Putin comments.
In a breaking news announcement on her Thursday evening show, Sky News host Sharri Markson reported that the Adelaide Advertiser would be reviewing their sponsorship of the festival.
“All aspects of the Advertiser’s relationship with the Adelaide festival are under review. The advertiser has publicly called for writers week director Louise Adler to resign. The views of the two writers in question are repugnant,” Adelaide Advertiser editor Gemma Jones said in a statement read out by Markson.
The decision of the Adelaide newspaper follows law firm Minter Ellison’s decision to withdraw its sponsorship over concerns about “the potential for racist or anti-semitic commentary,” while Tech Company Capgemini has announced it would not be renewing its sponsorship next year.
Premier Peter Malinauskas has also announced he would be boycotting the event, and on Wednesday three Ukrainian authors who were set to take part in the writers’ festival all pulled out.
Watch the episode of Sharri Markson.