The tension between Abbie Chatfield and feminist activist Clementine Ford has reached new heights, with Chatfield breaking down during a video urging Ford to “stop” the war-of-words.
It all started with Ford’s sharp criticism of Chatfield’s political views, particularly her stance on Palestine, sparking a storm of social media posts and emotional responses.
But that’s now evolved into a personal war of words, with both sides accusing the other of toxic behaviour and harassment.
Abbie Chatfield’s emotional response
Chatfield, the 29-year-old influencer and host of the popular podcast It’s A Lot, has not held back in addressing Ford’s critique.
The latest escalation came when Chatfield shared a tearful Instagram video accusing Ford of “dehumanising” her. In the post, Chatfield implored Ford to stop spreading harmful lies about her and her intentions.
“I get it enough from people on the right and trolls and men that hate me and want to threaten me and want me dead. Please stop dehumanising me,” Chatfield said through tears.
“Please, you can criticise my content you can criticise my work just I’m begging you to stop lying about my intentions. Stop saying that I have a personality disorder. You don’t know me. This is so f****ing triggering I just want her to stop.”
She went on to plead for Ford to stop using her posts about Gaza as a platform for more attacks.
“Please stop discouraging me from posting about Gaza. It isn’t working, you’re discouraging others and you’re encouraging trolling of me. Please, like, I’m just trying to do what I can to help,” Chatfield stated, expressing frustration over Ford’s comments.
“I’m scared of her. Please stop, Clementine. I am begging you to stop,” she cried. Chatfield also pointed out the dangers of such online harassment, stating, “You are f***ing my mental health. Please f***ing stop.”
Abbie Chatfield breaking down in a video in which she pleads with Clementine Ford to leave her alone.
Clementine Ford’s criticism
The root of the online altercation lies in Ford’s vocal critique of Chatfield’s political views and her actions during the recent federal election.
Ford, a feminist writer and outspoken pro-Palestine activist, took to her social media to criticise what she sees as Chatfield’s performative activism.
In one post, Ford accused Chatfield of using social issues as a personal platform for self-promotion.
“Abbie Chatfield is first and foremost all about Abbie Chatfield,” Ford wrote on Threads, claiming that Chatfield’s political stances were more about promoting herself than genuinely supporting causes.
In another post, Ford doubled down on her criticism, saying, “No amount of fake crying to try to launder her complicity in doing PR for genocide supporters can change that.”
Author and feminist Clementine Ford
Ford also lambasted Chatfield’s lack of depth when discussing political issues. “She is completely shallow and frequently unable to actually prosecute an argument she hasn’t cobbled together from uncredited sound bites,” Ford claimed, accusing the media personality of not fully understanding the topics she discusses.
In her Substack, Ford also wrote that Chatfield was “profiting from the performance of being politically engaged and presenting herself as a voice of feminist and political authority while railing against anyone who demands more from her than shallow aphorisms and platforming genocide supporters.”
She continued:”The fact she is so incapable of elaborating beyond these soundbites isn’t so much evidence she doesn’t really know what she’s talking about beyond an introductory level; it’s that she doesn’t believe she even needs to.”
Ford’s critiques come amid Chatfield’s public support for the Greens party and outspoken stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Chatfield with Greens leader Adam Bandt who appeared on her podcast
She has publicly backed the party and its leader Adam Bandt, and encouraged her followers to get involved in political discussions.
Chatfield had also previously interviewed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in February, where they discussed a range of issues including climate change, women’s rights, and the ongoing Middle East conflict.