‘I choose peace over drama’: Hero of Bondi’s cryptic New Year message after row with Sky News over interview that’s yet to happen
Ahmed Al Ahmed has shared a cryptic message about ‘drama’ just days after Sky News accused the Bondi hero of bailing on a highly-anticipated interview at the eleventh hour.
The father-of-two posted an Instagram Story featuring a voiceover on his new Instagram account, @ahmedalahmedsydneyhero, on Thursday.
‘Happy New Year 2026. Today is a new beginning, not just a new date. This year, I choose peace over drama,’ the voiceover said.
Al Ahmed also shared a photo of himself gazing out the window from his $6,000-a-night suite at Crown Casino’s Barangaroo hotel, with the hero later seen posing with revellers at the Sydney Opera House on New Year’s Eve.
‘On the occasion of the New Year, I would like to extend my warmest wishes to the people of Australia and to people around the world,’ he wrote.
‘May this new year bring peace, health, success, and new opportunities for everyone. Wishing you a year filled with hope, kindness, and prosperity. Happy New Year Australia.’
The social media posts comes after Sky News Australia claimed Al Ahmed failed to follow through with a planned interview with Jewish journalist Sharri Markson.
According to the broadcaster, Al-Ahmed had agreed to a sit-down with Markson after being released from hospital, with the network agreeing to book him the luxury suite.
Ahmed Al Ahmed staring out of the window of his $6,000-a-night Crown Casino suite
Al Ahmed (left) was supposed to do a sit down interview with Sharri Markson (right)
But Al Ahmed has since disputed the network’s claims.
‘The report published by Sky News does not fully reflect the facts and contains selective information that lacks accuracy,’ he wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.
‘We strongly believe in the importance of professional journalism and present the full facts to the public out of respect for our audience, while reserving our legal rights. They didn’t even care about my health condition!’
Sky News’ head of programs, Mark Calvert, has described the experience as ‘frustrating’ and ‘surreal’.
He claimed Markson was approached on Christmas Day by Al-Ahmed’s lawyer, Sam Issa, who proposed the interview.
Al Ahmed reportedly asked to visit the Bondi memorial with Markson and release six white doves, ‘one for each major religion in Australia’ as part of the interview.
Sky News says it fulfilled all of the requests; sourcing doves, arranging for Jewish community members, recalling staff from Christmas leave and securing a luxury Crown suite for three nights.
On the morning of the interview, Al-Ahmed reportedly set up his social media accounts and showed Markson photos of his five bullet wounds and footage of him tackling one of the alleged Bondi gunmen.
Ahmed Al Ahmed (left) was spotted posing for selfies on New Year’s Eve (pictured) near the Sydney Opera House
Markson in turn gave the hero a silver Star of David necklace as a gesture of thanks.
But after telling Sky staff he needed to freshen up and see his parents, Al Ahmed never returned for the 4pm interview, with calls and texts reportedly going answered.
His lawyer resigned during the dispute.
Later than evening, Sky staff spotted Al Ahmed at Barangaroo’s dining precinct, where he told staff he withdrew because he felt ‘let down’ and too upset to continue.
Calvert wrote that Al Ahmed gave no answer about rescheduling or the planned dove ceremony.
Meanwhile, the hero has received a string of high-profile visitors – including Israel’s Ambassador Amir Mamon and NSW Premier Chris Minns, in his suite at the Crown.
Just a day earlier, Al Ahmed did an interview with American network CBS News.
‘I know I saved lots of people’s lives, innocent kids and women and men. But I still feel sorry for the lost,’ he said in the interview.
Sky and Al Ahmed (pictured) shared clashing accounts as to why the interview didn’t happen
Al Ahmed has undergone surgery to remove a bullet from his shoulder and repair nerve damage, but permanent injury remains possible.
Last week, he received a $2.5million cheque from an international fundraiser with over 43,000 contributors.
His tobacco shop in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire has been sold since the massacre.
His family, granted visas to support him, have since joined him in Australia.
According to his former lawyer, Al Ahmed is taking time to focus on his recovery and hasn’t made any decisions about his future.
