Johanna Griggs slams New Idea over 'fake' story

CHANNEL 7 personality Johanna Griggs has taken aim at New Idea magazine on Twitter for "making up" a cover story about her.

2 min read

November 18, 2013 - 11:08AM

DailyTelegraph

JOHANNA Griggs has taken aim at New Idea magazine for "making up" a cover story.

The Channel 7 personality took to twitter to voice her frustration yesterday after New Idea used the social media site to promote their latest issue which features Griggs.

"Just read yet another made up cover story in new idea where they pretend I've spoken to them. I haven't. Nice work," Griggs posted online.

On its website New Idea gushes that the story reveals the "perennially sunny Johanna Griggs' secret".

The blurb says "hitting the big 4-0 is a challenging time for many women, but the landmark birthday has coincided with some big news even the star admits she once could never have imagined. And turning 40 is a milestone she refuses to hide from, embracing a happy home life away from the spotlight with husband Todd Huggins and her two sons".

A read of the story reveals no shocks or, in fact, a surprise of any sort.

The piece is a cobbled together collection of quotes from stories published in The Daily Telegraph and The Australian, which are attributed, plus yet another recitation of Griggs' sporting career, ups and downs in television and her personal life.

There are even quotes from a New Idea story on Johanna and Todd's IVF heartbreak recycled from 2009 - though to be fair the magazine does correctly date and source those quotes.

It would appear that the "happy surprise" spruiked in the headline on the cover is the fact that Johanna's new show House Rules has been renewed for a second season - which was the subject of a Daily Telegraph story on June 30.

Or maybe it's the fact that she's happy, successful and in a loving relationship at the age of 40.

Confidential went to New Idea for a response to Griggs' tweet but they declined to comment.

The Seven personality's followers, however, were quick to join the conversation and air their views on the "story".

@JohGriggs7 who are the @newideamagazine staff who hide behind the cover and write this trash...
— Evan (@PresidentWilko) November 17, 2013

@JohGriggs7 @NewIdeamagazine Never let the truth get in the way of good story. That's @NewIdeamagazine at its best, No truth in it #fiction
— Matt Lehmann (@MattNoid21) November 17, 2013

Griggs, the host of House Rules and Better Homes and Gardens who also played a prominent role in Seven's Melbourne Cup and Spring Carnival coverage, has been in the limelight ever since winning a bronze medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

Unfortunately her swimming career was cut short by chronic fatigue syndrome in 1993, Griggs retiring the day after setting that year's fastest time in the 50m backstroke, and while she attempted a comeback in 1992 her health problems returned.

But it quickly became apparent that her future was in television and she steadily built her profile across sport, news and lifestyle programs.

After her first marriage to actor Gary Sweet, which produced sons Joe Buster and Jesse James, the former swimmer married builder Huggins in 2006. The couple has a construction company which Griggs is also actively involved with.