- Former Channel Seven producer threatens to sue Bruce Lehrmann
- Saga includes a night out and two expensive Thai massages
A former Channel Seven producer is threatening to sue Bruce Lehrmann for defamation over an alleged saga involving a night out and thousands of dollars in Thai massages.
A News Corp story last week alleged that Taylor Auerbach used a Seven West credit card to book two Thai massages worth $1,000 – one for him and one for Mr Lehrmann – in the early hours of November 26, 2022 .
It was also reported that Mr Lehrmann stayed at Mr Auerbach’s home in Elizabeth Bay for several hours after the massage, and was charged a total of $2,940 on the company card.
The late-night meeting is said to have taken place during negotiations over Mr Lehrmann’s exclusive interviews on the channel’s programme, Spotlight, which aired in June and August last year.
It is clear that Mr. Auerbach used the Seven West card without the knowledge of key Spotlight employees. Text messages later emerged in which a senior Spotlight producer, Steve Jackson, allegedly guided Mr. Auerbach in reversing the transaction.
However, Mr Lehrmann denied Mr Auerbach’s version of events, telling the media: ‘It is an untrue and bizarre story from a disgruntled ex-Network Seven producer.’
Bruce Lehrmann is pictured in Rushcutters Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs during a sailing trip
Taylor Auerbach (pictured) quit working for Channel Seven last year. Earlier this year he took a role on Sky News
‘Network Seven has always only reimbursed reasonable travel for filming and accommodation.’
Mr Auerbach says these comments are false and sent Mr Lehrmann a notice of concern, which is the first step in defamation proceedings, because he was concerned the denial could damage his reputation.
Daily Mail Australia understands Mr Lehrmann did not receive the notice around lunchtime on Thursday because he was away playing golf, and learned about the situation through media reports.
Mr Auerbach declined to comment on the situation when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
His lawyer Rebekah Giles told the Sydney Morning Herald her client claims Mr Lehrmann’s comments about the night in question were “false”.
“The press statement will likely destroy Mr. Auerbach’s professional reputation,” she said.
She said Mr Lehrmann’s statement included the defamatory accusation that ‘Taylor Auerbach lied to the press that Bruce Lehrmann had received a massage from a Seven Network employee’.
Bruce Lehrmann is pictured with Rob Porter at Rushcutters Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs
