Charles Waterstreet pulls out of #MeToo Q&A special

The much-heralded appearance of eccentric barrister Charles Waterstreet on tonight’s controversial ABC Q & A special to discuss sexual harassment and the #MeToo campaign has been called off.

The much-heralded appearance of eccentric barrister Charles Waterstreet on tonight’s controversial ABC Q&A special to discuss sexual harassment and the #MeToo campaign has been called off.

The public broadcaster has released a statement saying Waterstreet’s professional colleagues on the NSW Bar Association have voiced their “concerns”.

His inclusion on the panel to discuss the media campaign in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sex scandal had already been slammed as “deeply inappropriate” by some ABC viewers.

Barrister Charles Waterstreet will not appear on the Q&A #MeToo special, following public backlash. Picture: David Swift.

But the criminal barrister, who has fielded his own complaints of sexual harassment, was prepared to face what he said he hoped would be a “lively debate”.

Alas it is not to be.

“There has been a late change to the panel for tonight’s special edition of Q&A on the #MeToo movement,” the ABC’s media manager Sally Jackson announced today.

“Barrister Charles Waterstreet has had to withdraw because of concerns about his appearance expressed to him by the NSW Bar Association.

READ MORE: Sex, bribes and audiotape — Harvey Weinstein’s fall from grace

The ABC special will look at the allegations of sexual misconduct levelled at US film producer Harvey Weinstein. Picture: AFP

Mr Waterstreet’s life and cases formed the basis for Richard Roxburgh’s Rake. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“It is disappointing Mr Waterstreet will not be able to contribute to the perspectives canvassed in tonight’s discussion.”

Waterstreet, 67, who claims to have inspired the hit TV series Rake, had said he was not expecting to be the panel’s “punching bag” and thought he would be treated fairly after accepting the ABC’s offer to join the discussion.

Mr Waterstreet said he didn’t expect to be a “punching bag”. Picture: Instagram

Sydney law student Tina Huang complained of being shown inappropriate material.

A recent rally at University of Sydney against Charles Waterstreet’s appearance on Q&A. Picture: Twitter

Late last year he explained away law student Tina Huang’s complaints of being shown pictures of naked women and a man being masturbated during her job interview, saying it was linked to work he was doing for clients and articles he was preparing for Penthouse magazine.

Former paralegal Genevieve Wilks, 26, claimed he continually made sexually inappropriate comments when she worked for him.

“I deny that I routinely sexualised situations, and other colleagues in the office will deny these allegations,” he said last November.

The NSW Bar Association has refused to detail why it pulled the pin on Waterstreet’s TV appearance.

“The Bar Association confirms that the President of the Bar Association, Arthur Moses SC wrote to Mr Waterstreet informing him that it was his firm view that it was neither appropriate or prudent for him to appear on the Q and A television program to discuss issues concerning the #Me Too anti-sexual harassment movement,” the association said in a statement today.

“The reasons for that view being expressed by the President were communicated to Mr Waterstreet and it is not appropriate that those reasons be disclosed by the Bar Association.”