Telegraph columnist Annette Sharp claims she is writing about Sam Armytage’s appearance to ‘champion’ women
The Daily Telegraph columnist behind a photo spread attacking Samantha Armytage’s appearance has today claimed that she has actually been “championing” women in her criticisms of the Sunrise presenter.
Yesterday’s column from Annette Sharp focused on the Seven makeover show Bringing Sexy Back which is fronted by Armytage. The article was illustrated with a number of old photographs of a casually dressed Armytage off duty. In the article Sharp suggested Armytage was was “the living embodiment of the professional transformation required” by “a team of hair and makeup professionals, stylists and wardrobe experts” to be ready to go on air.
The column led to Armytage yesterday telling viewers: “Normally I ignore the crap that comes from this particular newspaper. But some days you have to fight for yourself.
“I don’t get what this story is. Maybe it’s to shame me for being a size twelve. I understand that there is interest in my life when I’m not on duty but I don’t understand why newspapers have to dredge up old pictures that have absolutely no news value on such a big day.
“I’ve never said I’m a model, I’ve never pretended I was skinny. I do the best I can with what I’ve got.
“I don’t understand this shaming. I don’t know whether it’s trying to bully me into an eating disorder. It’s cowardly and it’s mean.”
Armytage reacts to the column on Sunrise:
Sharp then took to Twitter to claim she was showing the “truth” about Armytage in the column.
Armytage is on the cover of the current edition of Australian Women’s Weekly.
Sharp suggested that Armytage was being “hysterical” in her claim of fat shaming.
However, Sharp’s position weakened yesterday afternoon when fellow News Corp title The Australian published an email to photo agencies from the Telegraph’s picture desk circulated as the article was being prepared. According to The Australian, the email read:
“Looking for sam armytage looking scruffy/too casual/not sexy/bad for asap please — OK to go back and send older pics — dates on them would be good. Thanks v much.”
Sharp has been a long time critic of Armytage and Sunrise producer Michael Pell.
Last year when Armytage succeeded Melissa Doyle in the Sunrise chair, Sharp wrote a lengthy opinion piece suggesting that Pell should be sacked because of sliding ratings.
However, until the move, Nine’s Today had been closing the gap on Sunrise. With Armytage in place, the audience stabilised, and recent months have seen Sunrise stretch its lead again.
Sharp’s article calling for Pell to go appears to have since been deleted from The Tele’s online archive.
However, Sharp has continued the attacks on Armytage. Seven reportedly sought legal advice over a claim by Sharp that Armytage has declined to do a photoshoot with her predecessor.
And during Seven’s coverage of the MH17 disaster in July, Sharp labelled Armytage “Little Miss Giggles”.
More recently, Sharp labelled Armytage a “helicopter host” in fronting Bringing Sexy Back, which has been struggling in the ratings. Sharp claimed Armytage was a presenter “who flies in to conduct hostings but fails to immerse themselves in the show”.
In today’s Telegraph, Sharp was unapologetic for her coverage of Armytage. She claimed:
“Armytage and her Sunrise cohorts don’t like me for championing Melissa Doyle when she was shafted from the show to make way for Armytage — something she and her colleagues, all the way up to network owner Kerry Stokes — spun like silk. It seems to me it was my championing of women that got me into this fine mess.”
Codswallop.
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Delivering what the readership consumes…. garbage. (Edited by Mumbrella)
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Everyone who can read knows that Sharp has a vendetta against Armytage. What we want to know is why. Someone in the know please advise, as it seems extremely personal.
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Women: other women’s greatest enemy.
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Surely this is cyber bullying, not journalism?
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Just in: Sam Armytage looks like a regular person when she’s not at work.
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I’m not sure what qualifies Annette Sharp to think she has a right to judge others . But I’m guessing she knows a lot about duds as it usually takes one to know one.
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i think sam looks better now ive seen her in her slops…
shes got my vote…
thanx for changing my mind annette sharp.
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(edited by Mumbrella)….. Anyway karma is a bitch they say. Samantha is an accomplished professional and looks great how dare Annette attack in this way. She’s just gross and clearly very jealous of everyone’s good fortune but her own….
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Sharp, what a vindictive, spitefull piece of work. Seriously, have you got nothing better to write about. I think a lot of these sharp tongued critics need to do one thing…. (edited by Mumbrella), and then put your brain into gear prior to opening your belligerent mouth.
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Annette Sharp is nasty, this is not news. I’m no fan of a Samantha Armytage, but the personal attacks by Sharp have been out of line. Sharp makes a living out of attacking women. Who could forget her article about the likes of Sandra Sully & Kerri-Anne Kennerley sacrificing having children For there careers? Downright nasty and neglecting the facts.
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The Suffragettes, Germaine Greer, Naomi Wolf… Oh yes, Annette, you’re also an icon of feminism, with your post-modern version – “I slagged her off for the good of womenkind”. Right on, sister…u
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Ignore the last ‘u’- finger slip!
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(Edited by Mumbrella). Sam you are beautiful and dont let some dumb ass journalist troll tell you otherwise!
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“Championing of women”. Yeah right! I tried to post a comment on the Telegraph page as a survivor of anorexia, detailing what these types of articles do to women. Guess what? It didn’t get published, despite following their guidelines!
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And I note Tele editor Paul Whittaker ‘didn’t respond’. No wonder – this is the sort of stuff he champions: bullying vendetta journalism.
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The great unread against the great unwatched. Who. Effing. Cares.???
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Shame Annette. Shame.
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That email is certainly an insight to Sharp. I can’t imagine putting something like that in writing and hitting send:
“Looking for sam armytage looking scruffy/too casual/not sexy/bad for asap please — OK to go back and send older pics — dates on them would be good. Thanks v much.”
She was looking only for photos that looked bad. How is that ‘championing’ of women?
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Petty, carping, vindictive, dishonest, personal?
Surely just classic News Corp?
Nothing to marvel at.
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Am really disgusted with the comments Sharp has made about Armitage one of the most gorgeous tv presenters. At least Samantha is a normal sized woman not a barbie doll. These foul comments are bullying. Plse leave Sam alone n do and self reflect Sharp.
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@Super, the email was not from Sharp or the Telegraph. It was from The Australian. Same stable but different horse.
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Here’s an idea. Someone who could possibly be bothered assembles a collage of A Sharpe piccies, and we get to vote if they are of her looking hot or in scrufs. Could anyone tell the difference?
Only of course if anyone has such a total no-life to be bothered with such a futile exercise.
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Seriously this is a clear case of tall poppy and jealousy! Keep up the great work Sam, you are beautiful!
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