LONDON: A British journalist鈥檚 interview with a Palestinian politician has sparked anger on social media, with viewers around the world describing the presenter鈥檚 conduct as 鈥渞acist鈥� and 鈥渦nprofessional,鈥� and demanding an apology.

Talk TV鈥檚 Julia Hartley-Brewer was interviewing Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council Mustafa Barghouti on Wednesday, the day after Israel assassinated deputy Hamas chief Saleh Al-Arouri in Beirut.

In video footage of the interview, which went viral on social media in the days that followed, Hartley-Brewer repeatedly interrupts her guest and shouts at him as he talks about the rule of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

鈥淒o you think Israel is a democratic country? Netanyahu is destroying democracy,鈥� Barghouti says.

Speaking over him, Hartley-Brewer says: 鈥淭hey have elections.鈥�

Barghouti continues: 鈥淭his man now has three, four courts against him because of four cases of corruption. This man knows if the war stops, he will go to jail.鈥�

After further exchanges, Hartley-Brewer expresses impatience and says: 鈥淵ou talked about how you do not want Israel鈥� you are saying Israel, Oct. 7 happened, you are placing that in a historical context, I understand that, please do not say that again. We do not have time for it. You have made that point five times already.鈥�

Barghouti, who is head of the Palestinian National Initiative, responds: 鈥淚 do not know what you have time for.鈥�

Hartley-Brewer raises her voice to say: 鈥淥h my God. For the love of God, let me finish a sentence, man. Maybe you are not used to women talking, I do not know, but I would like to finish a sentence.鈥�

While Barghouti remains calm and composed, the broadcaster, in a still-raised voice, gives him 10 seconds to outline what he believes would have been 鈥渁n acceptable reaction鈥� to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

鈥淭o end occupation and allow peace to prevail for both people,鈥� Barghouti says.

鈥淏rilliant,鈥� Hartley-Brewer says, then slaps her desk and concludes by saying: 鈥淪orry to have been a woman speaking to you.鈥�

Shocked viewers took to social media to express their anger, describing Hartley-Brewer as 鈥渂igoted,鈥� 鈥渞acist鈥� and 鈥渦nprofessional,鈥� and demanding an apology from Talk TV.

British newsreader India Willoughby said in a message posted on social media network X that Hartley-Brewer 鈥渋s very lucky that she lives in a time period where bullies are indulged,鈥� and noted that Barghouti had 鈥渟eemed very calm.鈥�

Philip Proudfoot, a politics researcher, tweeted: 鈥淭he level of disrespect shown to Palestinian MP Mustafa Barghouti here is beyond shocking, including an anti-Arab trope framing his struggle to explain even basic context to Julia Hartley-Brewer as driven by 鈥� misogyny.鈥�

British-Lebanese journalist Hala Jaber shared Talk TV鈥檚 clip and described the presenter as 鈥渞ude, bigoted, narrow-minded, arrogant and absolutely unprofessional.鈥�

Addressing Hartley-Brewer directly, she added: 鈥淵our performance was a disgrace to your profession.鈥�

Reem Kelani, who described herself as a 鈥減roud Arab woman,鈥� urged Talk TV and Hartley-Brewer to apologize.

鈥淗er interview with Dr. Barghouti, a man of great integrity, was a disgrace,鈥� she wrote on X. 鈥淗artley-Brewer also made false accusations about Dr. Barghouti鈥檚 stance towards women.鈥�

Stewart Mills, who is based in Sydney according to his X profile, wrote: 鈥淎ppalling racism by Julia Hartley-Brewer.鈥�

Demanding an apology, he said the journalist鈥檚 conduct showed 鈥渃omplete disrespect for a beautiful and decent man who has devoted his life to community and public health.鈥�

Columnist Reem Al-Harmi said Hartley-Brewer鈥檚 language was 鈥渃ondescending, patronizing, and next-level gaslighting.鈥�