Senior Channel 7 journalist Robert Ovadia has been dismissed by the commercial broadcaster following an internal investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Ovadia, who lives in Sydney and has been with the network for 23 years, announced on Friday that he had been fired by management.
“Yes, I have been dismissed and there will be more to say about that at the appropriate time in the appropriate forum,” Ovadia told The Australian.
Senior Channel Seven journalist Robart Ovadia (pictured) was dismissed while an allegation of inappropriate behavior by him towards a woman was investigated. He has since been fired
Channel Seven has made no comment on the resignation revealed by Mr Ovadia (Photo: Seven Network headquarters in Melbourne)
Ovadia was first withdrawn by the broadcaster on June 7 while the investigation took place.
The network said: ‘Seven is conducting an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct by Robert Ovadia.’
A few days later it was reported that the allegations related to emails exchanged between Ovadia and a former Seven colleague four years ago, the contents of which have not been revealed.
There is no evidence the allegations have been proven and Ovadia has previously said they were unfounded and that he would defend himself.
It is understood he has hired legal representation.
Anthony De Ceglie, who recently became Channel Seven news director, told staff he is taking a “zero tolerance” approach to bad behavior in the newsroom after a number of senior male employees, including his predecessor Craig McPherson, left the network amid of the fallout from the Bruce Lehrmann Spotlight scandal.
Taylor Auerbach, a former senior producer at Spotlight, alleged in documents tendered to the Federal Court that they took drugs and partied with sex workers, and that more than $10,000 was recovered from Seven, which the network has denied.
The court also heard that operating costs had been spent on expensive meals, golf trips and a year’s worth of accommodation for Lehrmann, which were said to have cost more than $100,000.
Rival network Channel 9 is also facing a scandal after the Australian revealed former news boss Darren Wick left the station following a complaint from a female employee.
Other staff have since made allegations of bullying and sexual harassment at the network, prompting Nine to launch its own investigation.
