Television
MAFS groom under scrutiny as Nine launches investigation
Channel Nine has launched an internal review after a Married At First Sight groom set for the 2025 season was revealed to have faced court over serious domestic violence allegations.
Adrian Araouzou was found not guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, domestic violence common assault, and resisting police in 2021, but the case has raised fresh concerns over MAFS’ casting process.
As Liam Mendes reports in The Australian, following media scrutiny, Endemol Shine and Nine conducted an internal investigation, ultimately clearing Araouzou of any wrongdoing. However, producers have since questioned the duty of care for his on-screen partner.
Radio
SEN drops presenter mid-tour over social media posts
SEN Radio has cut ties with Peter Lalor midway through Australia’s Sri Lanka tour, citing concerns over his social media activity related to Palestine.
As Daniel Brettig and Tom Decent report in The Sydney Morning Herald, Lalor, a cricket journalist and commentator, was informed by SEN chief executive Craig Hutchison on the final morning of the first Test that his services were no longer required.
Lalor had been covering the series from Galle and also works with Seven and the Cricket Et Al Substack. His X feed features reposts of news about Gaza and Palestinian prisoners, which reportedly led to complaints.
Television
Court hears Ita Buttrose pushed to axe Antoinette Lattouf from ABC Radio
Former ABC chair Ita Buttrose pushed for Antoinette Lattoufto be removed from her fill-in radio role after pressure from the pro-Israel lobby, a court has heard.
As Ellie Dudley reports in The Australian, emails revealed in Lattouf’s unfair dismissal case show Buttrose emailed then-ABC boss David Anderson, asking “Has Antoinette been replaced?” amid backlash over her impartiality. Buttrose reportedly told executives, “We owe her nothing.”
Taking the stand, Lattouf defended her controversial Instagram posts, which accused Israel of war crimes, insisting they were based on facts.
Tech
AusSuper pumps $489m into Nvidia before stock’s record fall
Australia’s biggest super fund, AusSuper, ramped up its bet on Nvidia, pouring nearly $489 million into the AI chip giant last quarter – just before its January 27 market tumble.
SEC filings show the fund snapped up 2.42 million Nvidia shares in the three months to the 31st of December, 2024, taking its direct stake to 7.9 million shares, valued at $1.07 billion USD at the time.
As Joshua Peach reports in The Australian Financial Review, The fund’s true exposure to Nvidia is likely higher, as filings only capture direct holdings, not shares held via external managers.
Australia looks to toughen fines for tech giants over online harm
Australia is being urged to raise the stakes for tech giants failing to curb child exploitation, terrorist content, and online hate, with a review recommending multi-billion-dollar fines for non-compliance.
As Clare Armstrong reports in The Daily Telegraph, to clarify the boundaries of online hate, the federal government is also being advised to amend the Online Safety Act – defining hate material as attacks based on protected characteristics like race or religion, while excluding criticism of ideas, concepts, or institutions.
The move aims to force platforms to crack down on hate speech – such as anti-Semitic or homophobic content -without triggering broader free speech battles.
Pictured: Married at First Sight