A Melbourne hotel has reinstated an employee, having initially stood him down over his alleged involvement in the antisemitic online abuse directed towards North Melbourne recruit Harry Sheezel.
Voco Melbourne Central, a franchise of InterContinental Hotels Group, put one of its managers on paid leave while the hotel investigated whether the employee had breached its employment conditions by allegedly posting an antisemitic comment from a personal social account.
A Melbourne hotel has reinstated an employee, having initially stood him down over his alleged involvement in the antisemitic online abuse directed towards an AFL draftee.Credit:AFL Photos/Getty Images
The comment allegedly posted by the employee, which The Age has chosen not to publish, was one of the antisemitic comments posted by a handful of users on social media last week directed to North Melbourne draftee, Harry Sheezel.
The abuse came after this masthead shared an article about Sheezel to its Facebook page, who is the first Jewish player to be drafted into the AFL since 1999.
The hotel was made aware of the comment, which was posted from the employee’s personal Facebook account, after members of the public contacted the company. In response, the hotel temporarily stood the employee down on full pay while the matter was investigated.
“We are grateful for the community for highlighting the fact that one of our colleagues had posted a comment, as we wouldn’t otherwise be aware of colleagues’ personal social media activity,” a spokesperson from Voco Melbourne Central said.
“While we vigorously disagree with the individual’s comments, we have determined that the individual did not breach any employment conditions by posting an opinion on a personal social channel, so have now reinstated that colleague.”
“We continue to reinforce with the colleague the importance of reflecting our hotels’ values around diversity, equity and inclusion.”
The AFL announced its integrity department was conducting an investigation looking into the online abuse on Monday, which will look into whether those who participated in the abuse are club members.
As it stands, there have been no reports made to police.
“To denounce a young man on the eve of realising his dream of being drafted to the AFL is deplorable and unacceptable, and there is no place for this type of behaviour anywhere in our community,” a spokesperson from the AFL said.
The Age removed the post from Facebook the following day once its social media team was made aware of the hateful comments. All other posts linking to the article on social media were restricted to prevent further comments.
Acting Age editor Michael Bachelard said the published article was a lovely, positive story about a young man facing a big day – his drafting to the AFL.
“It’s disgraceful and disappointing that sewer-dwellers on social media took such a story and turned it into an excuse for vile antisemitic abuse,” he said.
“As this is, unfortunately, growing more common, we normally use our discretion to block comments on stories that even mention the religion or race of a person. (The social media companies do not allow us to pre-moderate comments.) On this occasion, unfortunately, the story was posted at a busy time – the evening of the state election – and the usual, cautious practice was overlooked.
“Comments were not blocked or adequately moderated until the issue was drawn to our attention, when the situation was rectified. For this, we apologise to Harry Sheezel and the broader Jewish community.”
At the national draft, Sheezel was called at pick No.3 by the Kangaroos on Monday after Aaron Cadman and Will Ashcroft went to GWS and Brisbane, respectively. The youngster expressed his gratitude and said he was excited to be part of the rebuild at North Melbourne.
When he was asked how it felt to be the first Jewish player this century, and how he had handled the online abuse, he said: “I’m just trying to be a role model.
“Hopefully I can be an example for these kids [in the community].” Sheezel added that he doesn’t tolerate the abuse, and right action should be taken against those responsible.
“I don’t really let that stuff get to me,” he said. “I try to focus on what I can control.”
