Correction Issued Over False Allegations
Metro has published a correction and apology to Mark Adderley and his wife, television personality Nadia Sawalha, following an article published on 8 May. The original piece, headlined “Nadia Sawalha hits back at ‘lies’ after Loose Women axe claims,” falsely stated that Mr Adderley had shared videos celebrating the ‘courage’ of Hamas and promoting conspiracy theories blaming Jews for the September 11 attacks and the Bondi Beach stabbings.
Retraction of Specific Claims
In the correction, Metro clarified: “While Mr Adderley does have strong views about Israel and Zionism, he did not make these statements suggesting support for terrorism or hatred of Jews.” The newspaper also acknowledged that the article’s implication that Ms Sawalha endorsed such statements by supporting her husband was false. “These allegations were false and we apologise to Mr Adderley and Ms Sawalha for the error and distress caused,” the correction stated.
Background of the Original Article
The original report had linked Mr Adderley’s online activity to extremist content, leading to public backlash. The couple, who run a YouTube channel together, were portrayed as endorsing antisemitic views. The correction now sets the record straight, noting that no such endorsement occurred.
Impact and Response
Neither Mr Adderley nor Ms Sawalha have publicly commented on the correction. The apology serves as a formal retraction of harmful allegations that could have damaged their reputations. Metro’s correction underscores the importance of accurate reporting, especially when dealing with sensitive topics such as terrorism and antisemitism.
