Alan Joyce, the former Qantas chief executive, has spoken out about homophobic abuse he says he endured during his time running the Australian airline, describing some of the attacks as "deliberately set up" against him. Joyce, who led Qantas for around 15 years before stepping down amid controversy over cancelled flights, customer service failures and executive pay, has previously faced intense public criticism, and he is now framing part of that backlash as being rooted in prejudice rather than purely business performance. The remarks matter because they reopen debate about how much of the hostility directed at Joyce during his tenure was driven by his sexuality rather than his handling of the airline.

Joyce, who is openly gay, has said the attacks went beyond fair criticism of his leadership and amounted to targeted homophobia, though the article does not detail the specific incidents or individuals he holds responsible. His comments come after a turbulent period for Qantas that included a damaging court case, a slumping reputation and public anger over service standards, all of which fuelled scrutiny of his leadership before his departure.