Ex-Spotlight boss Mark Llewellyn slams Channel 7 claims aired ABC

Mark Llewellyn, the former Executive Producer of Channel 7’s Spotlight, has released a powerful statement after explosive texts between him and producer Taylor Auerbach were aired.

Former Spotlight Executive Producer Mark Llewellyn has issued a strongly-worded statement, in response to the Four Corners program on his old employer, Channel 7.

It comes as foul-mouth and offensive text messages from Llewellyn, sent to his former Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach, were released by the public broadcaster.

These reportedly include messages where Llewellyn called Auerbach a “c***”, claimed he was wearing “holocaust” pyjamas and wanted to “bash your head the f*** in with a cricket bat.”

Mr Auerbach gave last-minute evidence in the defamation case between Bruce Lehrmann, Channel 10 and Lisa Wilkinson, where he revealed a Channel 7 corporate card was used for prostitutes and cocaine while Lehrmann was being convinced to give an exclusive television interview.

Former Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn. Source: Instagram.

Mr Auerbach and Mr Llewellyn have both since left the Seven Network.

In the statement, Mr Llewellyn said Mr Auerbach has “made multiple allegations against me. He is someone I regarded as a close friend. One I mentored and supported, including through his personal troubles. I have no desire to engage in any public tit-for-tat and so provide these responses reluctantly following today’s media reports.”

“Taylor was given multiple opportunities, extensive support, and many second chances. Which is why his conduct on the Lehrmann story – when he spent thousands of dollars on escorts on a work corporate card – left me deflated and sad beyond words” Mr Llewellyn said.

He continued: “despite vile public speculation, I did not know about this behaviour, until after the event and it was not condoned or encouraged by me.”

In response to the claim he sent anti-Semitic texts to Mr Auerbach, Mr Llewellyn said: “the suggestion that I am anti-Semitic is simply untrue. It is hurtful and defamatory. This slur sickens me to my core. I believe it has been deliberately and maliciously made to cast me as something I am not.”

Former Seven employee Taylor Auerbach leaves the Federal Court during Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Llewellyn then claimed “the messages that have been shared in ABC’s Four Corners program have been selectively chosen. For context, Taylor and I shared a mutual love of absurd word play. This included a silly game which he and I created where he would speculate on what was the most ridiculous or un-PC thing you could get away … he was not only in on the joke, he was the instigator of it.”

In other messages reported by the ABC, Mr Auerbach told a colleague “the abuse and the bullying is actually getting too much for me. I hate every single living minute of my job.”

Mr Llewellyn responded: “I reject the suggestion that Taylor Auerbach was bullied. Nor am I aware of any workers compensation claim. I also note these allegations of ‘bullying’ have emerged after Taylor was told his contract was not being renewed.”

The Channel 7 studio.

Four Corners on Monday night claimed to have spoken to more than 200 people for its feature on the culture at Channel 7.

However Mr Llewellyn claimed: “I enjoy the company of my colleagues be they men or women. For all my faults, “a boys club” is not one of them. Indeed, I am told Four Corners spoke with a number of women who will support this (and who believe it or not, like me), but have chosen to not include them in their story.”