Deveny commits Twittercide

The Age newspaper has sacked long-time columnist Catherine Deveny for her comments on Twitter during the Logies. Watching the red carpet arrival, Deveny tweeted that she hoped Rove McManus' wife “didn’t die too” and tween star Bindi Irwin “gets laid”. It followed controversial comments Deveny made about Anzac Day the weekend before.

Deveny announced the news on on Twitter saying “What a day! Boned.” Today Deveny defended her commentss on Radio 774 saying “You’ve got to understand the context of social networking to understand it.” She went on to say that the social networking site was akin to “passing notes in class” and that it is her job as a comedian to “push the envelope”.

Age editor Paul Ramage wasn’t laughing when he also commented on ABC 774 “I came to the view that I didn’t think Catherine was a good fit for The Age going forward.” Crikey blogger, the Poison Pen, has slammed the Age’s decision expressing shock at “how quickly they folded, and on what flimsy provocation”.