Daily Mail apologises for Sam Armytage ‘granny panties’ headline
The Daily Mail Australia has apologised to Sunrise presenter Samantha Armytage after more than 48 hours of intense criticism over its publication of images showing an outline of her underwear which it labelled “granny panties”.
How the Mail originally headlined the article
The newspaper has now changed the headline on the article, although it has not removed the image itself from the article.
The Daily Mail’s amended headline
The article, which carries the byline of journalist Max Margan, was published on Monday. It was updated today to conclude with the statement: “An earlier version of this story contained critical statements regarding Samantha Armytage’s appearance. While the story has since been amended, we apologise for any distress caused to Ms Armytage or readers more generally.”
Sunrise presenter Armytage
Since publication, The Daily Mail has been criticised across mainstream and social media for body shaming and invading the privacy of the Seven TV presenter.
Armytage has co-presented Sunrise, which is Australia’s most watched morning show, with David Koch since 2013.
The backdown came after Seven sent a legal letter to Margan and his editor-in-chief Luke McIlveen, accusing them of having “an unhealthy interest” in Armytage. The letter from Addisons lawyers states:
“Ms Armytage is at a loss to understand the reasons why Daily Mail Australia has chosen to publish the Article, which represents a gross invasion of her privacy. It would appear from the comments which accompany the article and from stories published in other media today that her view is widely shared.
“Ms Armytage accepts that she is a public figure and it follows that she is subjected to a great deal of media attention, including by way of rumour and innuendo, such as the mis-information as to whom she is “dating” which is also referred to in the Article.
“Ms Armytage nevertheless retains a reasonable expectation that intimate private information which is not known by and is of no interest to any other person would not be the subject of media exposure and comment. In those circumstances, the publication of the Article constitutes an indefensible breach of privacy which a court is likely to recognise and in relation to which it would order compensation be paid to Ms Armytage for the hurt, distress and humiliation which the publication has caused.
“For reasons unknown to our client, it appears that the Daily Mail has developed an unhealthy interest in not only the reporting on our client but now seems determined to humiliate and shame her in the most base and personal way. It has not escaped our client’s attention that the Daily Mail’s social media manager was formerly employed as a producer on the Nine Network’s Today show which is a major competitor of Seven’s Sunrise.”
The letter went on to demand that Daily Mail take down the article and apologise.
It also revealed that the photographer who took the image “was not aware the photograph would be used in such a way” and had already made an unsolicited apology.
The Daily Mail did not respond to invitations to comment.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
Linkedin
#stopfundinghate
User ID not verified.
There is way too much emphasis on everything to do with women’s looks and fashion. How about consideration if someone has a honest, open, loving personality? These attributes are way more attractive and sexy and will still hold their value long after the Breast implants fail , the $2000 dress is outgrown, the facelift sags, the flash eye lashes and finger nails fall off, the hair colour goes to grey AND the Gstring gets lost forever! Go the big undies if that feels right !
User ID not verified.
So let’s hope Sunrise will now take the high ground and not promote or publicise any content from New Idea – which has its whole survival based on such rumours and pap photos. Oh wait, it’s part of Seven West isn’t it???
User ID not verified.