Seven Network hits back at ‘evil company’ comments made by sacked reporter Robert Ovadia
Seven has addressed allegations made by former Channel 7 crime reporter Robert Ovadia, who labelled the network as “evil” in a post on Instagram.
Ovadia was fired in June following allegations of inappropriate conduct, which he has described as “false” and “malicious.” He had spent 23 years at the network.
In a bombshell post on Tuesday, Ovadia criticized Seven’s “propaganda unit,” accusing them of trying to intimidate him from pursuing legal action and suggesting they were behind a death threat he received.
He claimed the company, for which he “risked [his] life and safety”, is now attempting to further damage his reputation.
The post read: “I can be crass, I can be blunt, I can be obnoxious, my humour is dark – 20 years surrounded by trauma and danger will do all of that to you – but I do NOT mistreat women.
“When this kicked off, the day Seven first leaked this story, my teenage daughter asked if people will think her dad is a rapist. At least Four Corners’ laboured hatchet job got one thing right – the Seven Network is diabolical.”
A Seven spokesperson has since told Mumbrella that Ovadia commenced Federal Court proceedings against Seven over his dismissal for serious misconduct following the sending of inappropriate emails to a 23-year-old news producer and other employees of Seven.
The spokesperson added: “In doing so, Seven is discharging its obligations to prevent sexual harassment at work, including as more recently expanded under recent legislation. Mr Ovadia was trained about these new legislative obligations by Seven, and failed to comply with them.
“At the first hearing of those proceedings on Thursday, 29 August 2024, about Orders for the filing of evidence and timetable steps, Justice Raper asked Seven whether any other conduct would be relied upon by Seven other than set out in the termination letter. In that context, Seven confirmed it has had complaints or allegations about Mr Ovadia from 13 other employees.
“Although Seven was not required to provide examples of the other conduct it intends to rely on at this stage, Seven has provided Mr Ovadia and his lawyers examples of some of the inappropriate emails by Mr Ovadia, which will be further detailed in Seven’s defence required to be filed on 12 September 2024. Out of respect for their privacy, Seven has not chosen to make further even more inappropriate emails public at this stage.
“In response to this, Mr Ovadia has made outlandish complaints about Seven being an ‘evil company’ with a ‘propaganda unit’ that is setting out to destroy his reputation. Seven is confident its position on this matter will be upheld by the Courts.
“Seven is doing no more than defending Court proceedings commenced by Mr Ovadia and will continue to respond in the context of those proceedings.”
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