Samantha Armytage opens up #undiegate paparazzi scandal on new podcast

Former Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage has opened up in detail about the notorious #undiegate scandal, describing it as part of the reason she stepped away from her role.

Samantha Armytage has readdressed the infamous ‘undiegate’ incident four years on, as she reveals that it was an example of the kind of behaviour that drove her decision to step down as co-host of Sunrise.

In the latest episode of her new podcast Something To Talk About, Armytage interviewed former politician Kate Ellis about the state of sexism in federal politics and the reckoning currently taking place in Canberra.

The pair discussed Andrew Laming, the Liberal MP accused of taking a photo of a woman with her underwear visible while she was bending over to stock a fridge. Laming has denied the claim.

Armytage then reflected on her own similar experience: “I had a paparazzi take a picture of me getting into a car one day, and you could see the outline of my knickers through my dress,” the journalist said.

“I’d just come back from the beach, put on a dress and had a shower and then raced down to the shops. I didn’t even know there was a pap following me. And that became the topic of conversation - my knickers, the outline through my dress - for a week!”

“I’m not sorry to say it was humiliating. I was very upset by that.” (Picture: Channel 7)

The photos were taken in Bondi in December 2016, and sold to a media outlet who ran them in an article alongside a headline calling her underwear “granny panties”. The incident - branded #undiegate at the time - captured national attention and launched a debate regarding the unfair treatment of women in the public eye.

“I’m not sorry to say it was humiliating. I was very upset by that. And I kept sitting in my house thinking, ‘why can’t everybody find something else to talk about?’

“It’s a really disgusting thing to have happen to you. I mean, somebody taking a photo up your dress - that’s illegal, for starters. It’s the humiliation of women.”

“I’m so sorry that happened to you,” said Ellis. “I knew about it, everyone knew about it.”

New episodes of Something To Talk About with Samantha Armytage are available every Sunday.

Armytage said that the paparazzo responsible for the photographs later found her number and sent her an apology over text. “Which was too little, too late,” she said. “I didn’t even respond.”

The journalist said that while she did try to get used to the paparazzi as her profile rose, she found “the treatment of women appalling. And I’ve made a choice to step out of a huge career because of that.”

In the latest episode of Something To Talk About with Samantha Armytage, former Australian politician Kate Ellis sits down with Sam to discuss in depth the toxic culture in Parliament House, how she dealt with the constant rumours about her private life whilst in office, the dangers of warfare politics, Brittany Higgins and Kate opens up about the challenges she sees in raising two young boys.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Originally published as Samantha Armytage opens up #undiegate paparazzi scandal on new podcast