Read the shocking text that left an ABC star stunned and a controversial journalist SACKED

A far-left news website has been plunged into fresh controversy after one of its top columnists was reportedly sacked for sending a controversial text about sexual assault to an ABC radio show. 

Crikey's 'correspondent-at-large' Guy Rundle allegedly messaged Radio National's 'Breakfast' show text line regarding a segment on rising sexual offences to say that it was because 'every grope is now sexual assault'.

Host Patricia Karvelas read the text out on-air on Thursday morning while telling listeners it had been penned by Rundle.

'It's because every grope is now a sexual assault and people don't believe policy people,' she quoted, before adding: 'Wow, that's quite staggering... I've got to say I'm a little shocked there.' 

The text was allegedly sent in response to a segment on rising sexual assault crimes in Queensland featuring an interview with the Queensland Sexual Assault Network 's boss, Angela Lynch.

ABC managing director David Anderson was reportedly so incensed by the text that he raised it with Crikey publisher Eric Beecher and chief executive Will Hayward.

Mr Anderson reportedly told them the offensive text was one of dozens of 'inflammatory' texts Rundle had sent to the show and Karvelas, but the first that she had read on air and identified Rundle.

Controversial journalist Guy Rundle has been sacked by the Crikey website for an offensive tweet he sent to Radio National¿s Breakfast Show

Controversial journalist Guy Rundle has been sacked by the Crikey website for an offensive tweet he sent to Radio National's Breakfast Show

Radio National¿s Breakfast Show host Patricia Karvelas read Rundle's text on air and described it as 'quite staggering.'

Radio National's Breakfast Show host Patricia Karvelas read Rundle's text on air and described it as 'quite staggering.'

On Friday, Private Media chief executive Will Hayward told the Guardian Australia they were disgusted by Rundle's comments and his work would no longer be published.

'We were appalled to hear the comment made by Guy Rundle about sexual assault on Radio National yesterday morning,' Mr Hayward said.

'Rundle is a writer with significant talents and a body of insightful and challenging work, but we condemn those kinds of comments and our working relationship has become untenable.

'Therefore, we will no longer be publishing his work.'

Rundle had been expected to be covering next month's US election for Crikey but it is understood this will not happen. 

Rundle is no stranger to controversy.

Earlier this year, he claimed he would 'celebrate' in the streets if terrorists launch a major act of violence against Israel.

Private Media chief executive Will Hayward said the publisher was 'appalled' by Rundle¿s comments and his work would no longer be published on the Crikey website

Private Media chief executive Will Hayward said the publisher was 'appalled' by Rundle's comments and his work would no longer be published on the Crikey website

Rundle penned a rambling, 1,400-word opinion piece titled: 'October 7 wasn't Israel's 9/11. But as Gaza's destruction continues, it will come'.

More than 1,100 Israelis and foreign nationals, including almost 700 civilians, were killed by Hamas terrorists on October 7. 

In June last year, Rundle was widely condemned for an opinion piece he wrote about the commonwealth compensation received by Brittany Higgins who was allegedly sexually assaulted in Parliament House in 2019. 

Rundle argued that Ms Higgins belongs to a 'well-connected network' and believed the compensation was fast-tracked by Labor for its own political purposes.

Crikey removed the article from its website and apologised to readers in a humiliating u-turn.

Following this incident Rundle was not published in Crikey for a lengthy period.

Two months later the website announced a new set of editorial guidelines and Rundle also returned to writing for the website.