The ABC will review its response to racism affecting staff after journalist Stan Grant said he would step away from hosting the Q+A current affairs program.
Grant had criticised the broadcaster for not supporting him after the presenter was the target of racial abuse.
On Sunday afternoon, ABC managing director David Anderson apologised to Grant and said he was dismayed the experienced broadcaster had been exposed to such "sickening behaviour".
"Stan has our full support. And he has always had our full support. Stan makes an enormous contribution to conversations of national importance," he said.
"Stan Grant has stated that he has not felt publicly supported. For this, I apologise to Stan. The ABC endeavours to support its staff in the unfortunate moments when there is external abuse directed at them."
Grant said in his weekly column published on Friday that since appearing as a guest on ABC's coverage of the coronation of King Charles III, he had been subjected to intense abuse inspired by distorted media coverage and had "had enough".
"Not one ABC executive has publicly refuted the lies written or spoken about me. I don't hold any individual responsible, this is an institutional failure," he wrote.
Mr Anderson said to fulfill its role, the ABC needed to facilitate uncomfortable, challenging and confronting conversations, which was increasingly drawing "unacceptable abuse".
"The ABC is never above scrutiny or criticism. However, the nature of the anti-ABC reporting from some commercial media outlets is sustained and vitriolic," he said.
"This has real-world consequences for ABC presenters and journalists who are personally attacked and vilified."
Mr Anderson said he had accepted a recommendation from the Bonner Committee — the ABC’s advisory body on issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities — to conduct a review into ABC responses to racism affecting staff, and what it can do better to support staff who face it.
"This review will build on our work as the first media organisation to have an Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan," he said.
"The next version of this will be released in the coming months, as will our new Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Plan."
ABC News director Justin Stevens issued a statement on Friday saying the abuse towards Grant was "abhorrent and unacceptable".
"The ABC stands by him and condemns the attacks directed towards him. The ABC has and will continue to refer any threats to police."
