Q&A host Hamish Macdonald reveals what prompted him to quit Instagram and Twitter in 2020

Hamish MacDonald left social media in mid-2020.

The question-and-answer host told Stellar on Saturday that having platforms like Instagram and Twitter was a difficult experience in a particularly conflicted year.

The 39-year-old explained that his role as a mediator and interrogator on the ABC show saw him do a lot of abuse online during his interviews.

“I have never had more abuse for the interviews I conducted than last year,” he said.

“ And the abuse has come from people on the left who don’t like you asking Dan Andrews tough questions, and people on the right who don’t like you asking tough questions of the federal government, ” he said. he added.

Hamish noted that he has learned from experience that not everyone can be happy, especially when people are feeling more anxious than ever.

Although he is at the center of online trolling, he admitted to being sympathetic to those who lash out because it’s just not the information or opinion they want to hear. .

Hamish continued to praise his partner, economist Jacob Fitzroy, for supporting the demands of his job during this difficult year.

“ He’s always been successful in making things fun and happy, and he’s also very clear with me when to put the phone down, ” he said of Jacob.

Hamish introduced himself as a gay man when the couple made their first public appearance in June 2019 at GQ’s Gentlemen’s Ball in Melbourne.

Recalling the event, the reporter said the move was not made on purpose as their relationship was never a secret and the public response was “ surprising and charming. ”

He told GQ Magazine: “ Waking up the next day and seeing literally thousands of posts from all over the world was at first a shock but ultimately a beautiful thing. ”