Chris Smith snubbed by Sky colleague on-air amid lewd behaviour probe

Suspended Sky News and 2GB host Chris Smith has received a brutally honest assessment from a colleague on-air, after Smith publicly apologised to female colleagues left in tears by his behaviour after a work Christmas party.

Suspended TV and radio personality Chris Smith has checked himself into a mental health facility and apologised to the female colleagues left in tears by his behaviour.
It comes as Sky News colleague Andrew Bolt said on-air on Monday night that Smith should focus on his recovery elsewhere, away from the TV network.

Smith, 60, was suspended from his Sky News Australia show and from Nine’s 2GB where he was due to fill in on the breakfast show after allegedly behaving inappropriately towards colleagues after a Christmas party on Saturday.

‘GOOD RIDDANCE’: SKY NEWS STAFF TURN ON CHRIS SMITH AFTER SCANDAL

In segment on Monday, Bolt briefly addressed the incident.

“Chris, all the very best to you getting over what you say is your addiction and your bipolar condition, but your recovery must take place somewhere else ... you chose to drink or did then and allegedly upset young women who work here,” Bolt said.

Chris Smith has been suspended from Sky News and 2GB.

Sky News host Andrew Bolt said Smith should focus on his recovery. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“We’re all good people here at Sky, we have a culture of looking after each other.

“I say to Chris good luck but goodbye.”

Bolt also hit back at some of media coverage around aftermath of the Sky News Christmas party when the alleged behaviour occurred saying, “the photos were of workers here smiling and posing with friends, and that’s because the team here is the most collegiate and kind that I have ever worked with in 45 years in this business, and they do not deserve to have what Chris (allegedly) did somehow sully the reputation of us all”.

It comes after Smith broke his silence on Monday following the news of his suspension.

“I am beyond gutted and devastated to know I have upset my colleagues after our Christmas party,” Smith told The Daily Telegraph.

“I apologise profusely to the women I upset. That’s not the man I am at work, ever, as they will all attest. They have been so supportive to me and do not deserve such drunken treatment.”

Smith publicly apologised to the female colleagues impacted during the alleged incident.

Smith had been with colleagues at the Sky Christmas party at The Ivy Sunroom on Saturday afternoon and kicked on with them afterwards at The Establishment.

Multiple eyewitnesses allege he made a series of lewd comments to female colleagues before inappropriately touching more than one woman, leaving one in tears and forcing another to strike him.

Smith has no recollection of the events and blamed the lapse on bipolar disorder and alcohol addiction - the same explanation he gave for allegedly harassing four female colleagues at the 2GB Christmas party in 2009.

“I have a recurring problem with alcohol … it sends me manic,” Smith said today. “I am in a facility receiving professional help to deal conclusively with my abuse of alcohol and solve this once and for all, without qualification … it can and will be done.”

Sky immediately suspended Smith after the incident on Saturday and has had to scramble to change publicity material for next year’s line-up, where he was due to have his own 5pm show.

Chris Smith with wife Susie Burrell who has reportedly moved out of their family home. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I am also terribly upset about humiliating myself with people I respect and admire. I have been blessed to call them close colleagues,” Smith said.

When news of his immediate suspension from Sky and then 2GB came through, his wife - celebrity nutritionist Susie Burrell - is understood to have moved out of the family home with their twin boys. She did not respond to requests for comment.

“I pride myself on my professionalism and work ethic but I have dropped the ball and embarrassed many people including those I love most - my family. I am very sorry,” Smith said.

Smith was due to stand-in for Ben Fordham on the 2GB breakfast slot on Monday morning but his suspension meant John Stanley was hastily brought in to cover. Stanley began the program by saying: “Until the end of this year I imagine I’ll be doing the breakfast show here.”

In 2009 Smith said he was drunk on champagne and red wine and “loaded on the wrong antidepressants” when he was accused of harassing four female colleagues at the 2GB staff Christmas party.

He was suspended and his then wife, Ali, left him with their two children. History now appears to have repeated itself just as Smith had rehabilitated his reputation and bought a new home in Sydney’s north based on the promise of his new shows.

He was also accused by former colleagues of fondling the breasts of a newspaper reporter at a boozy corporate event and exposing himself to staff at a farewell party while at Nine’s A Current Affair.

Friends who have spoken to Smith since the incident question whether he can stage another comeback.

“Chris is at rock bottom. I’ve never seen him this fragile,” one friend said. “He’s desperate to apologise to the people involved.”

“He’s just bought a house and is supporting four kids,” the friend said. “Suddenly he’s heading into Christmas with the prospect of losing both his jobs.”