In case you have been away from the socials for the last couple of days, American journalist, lecturer and author Chris Hedges had his forthcoming speech at the National Press Club cancelled.

In the ensuring questions over why (Hedges is writing a book documenting some of the stories of the Gaza genocide and planned to speak on the failure of western journalists to advocate for their Palestinian colleagues in Gaza, which is the deadliest place on earth for a journalist at the moment, with an estimated 278 journalists having been killed by Israel in the past two years) the NPC said Hedges was never actually confirmed to speak.

The Australian Friends of Palestine, which was helping to coordinate Hedges event has just released this statement:

AFOPA is responding to the Statement published on 4 October 2025 by the National Press Club of Australia ( NPC) in relation to their cancellation of Chris Hedges’ confirmed appearance at the National Press Club on 20 October 2025. 

The National Press Club Statement declares that Chris Hedges’ appearance was “ tentatively agreed to”. This is untrue. AFOPA received  written confirmation from the NPC’s Chief Executive on 8 September 2025 as follows:

“I write to confirm arrangements for Chris Hedges to appear at the National Press Club of Australia on 20 October 2025”. 

Furthermore, in an email on 28 September 2025 to AFOPA’s Chairperson in relation to the cancellation, the NPC’s Chief Executive wrote:  “For clarity I am withdrawing our confirmation”.

For the National Press Club to therefore state that Chris Hedges’ appearance was “tentatively agreed to” is as astonishing as it is false. Perhaps the National Press Club needs to include a disclaimer in its written confirmations that a confirmed booking is actually not a confirmed booking! 

The National Press Club’s Statement that the “proposed address was never published on our website” is also untrue. Chris Hedges’ appearance was on the Australia Press Club website( with photo and price of ticket – $95) on 8 September 2025, published by “NPC Coordinator”, at approximately 4pm