Former nine news boss Darren Wick accused of groping TV star

One of Channel 9’s on-air stars has revealed her former boss, Darren Wick, sexually harassed her in public, groping her and breathing heavily down her neck.

Exclusive: One of Channel 9’s on-air stars has revealed her former boss, Darren Wick, sexually harassed her in public, groping her and breathing heavily down her neck.

In an emotional interview, the presenter said she was so distraught by a toxic culture at the time that she raised it with a board member but nothing was done.

The star, who has agreed to tell her story but does not want to be named, said many female colleagues were “revolted” by his behaviour.

She also claims that complaints about Wick’s alleged conduct were dismissed by a senior female member of the organisation who said: “That’s just Wickie.”

The revelation from one of Nine’s recognisable faces exposes the Network to accusations that at the highest levels ignored and kept secret a toxic culture that saw other female employees also make claims of harassment by its news chief.

An on-air star says she raised issues about her treatment by Darren Wick with a Channel 9 board member but nothing was done. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Nine CEO, Mike Sneesby, addressed the crisis engulfing Nine in an all-staff email on Wednesday where he said that inappropriate behaviour in the workplace wasn’t tolerated and that complainants wouldn’t be victimised.

Wick, the former director of news and current affairs, left the network in March, claiming he was exhausted after four decades working in the industry.

Sky News has this week exposed allegations of his history of inappropriate conduct towards women at Nine.

A Nine star has now taken the courageous step of publicly revealing her experience at the network.

She said she was telling her story to help with her healing process and also to encourage change, so that the next generation of women don’t have to endure the same treatment.

The star spoke about the sexual harassment she allegedly experienced by Wick when he was intoxicated.

“On the dance floor at the Gold Coast Logies afterparty he was gropey, he had his hands everywhere, breathing heavily in my ear, I had to peel him off me,” she said.

“Any other man I might have kicked or pushed, but he was my boss.”

She said Wick was often drunk and inappropriate.

“It was commonplace for him to drink heavily at functions and he would often get in women’s personal space. We were revolted by him,” she said.

Wick spend 29 years at Channel 9 before leaving earlier this year after a legal firm investigated a complaint against him that they were unable to substantiate.

There was also a culture, the Nine star said, of damaging media leaks.

“Planting stories was commonplace during contract negotiations as a way of diminishing talent and bullying them into submission. Management would then gaslight you, saying they had no idea how confidential details that only a few were privy to were leaked,” the star said.

The Nine presenter became upset as she spoke about how she tried to raise the toxic culture at the highest level but nothing was done.

The presenter spoke to a board member about how she believed the culture was affecting her mental health and reputation.

“I once spoke in confidence to a board member, expressing my desperation that (Nine) were planting lies that were incredibly damaging to my reputation and affecting my mental health,” she said.

“There was no assistance provided by the network to source the leaks, stamp out the toxic behaviour or change the culture.

“After board level there’s nowhere to go and I was fearful of losing my job.”

Through tears and clearly emotional, the presenter said she felt completely powerless.

She had raised what she described as a toxic culture at the highest levels — a director of the board — but no action was taken.

The board of Channel 9 is currently chaired by former Treasurer Peter Costello.

There is no suggestion Mr Costello is the board member who was spoken to by the alleged victim.

Mr Costello and Wick have been contacted for comment.

This week, Sky News revealed allegations that Wick was handsy with Nine employees at a Christmas party and engaged in inappropriate behaviour at the 2019 Logies afterparty.

Sky News has also revealed that Nine engaged an external legal firm to investigate a fresh complaint this year that related to a historic incident.

The firm was unable to substantiate the complaint but the board felt it best to let Wick go, given his past behaviour.

He was then seen back in the Nine newsroom in late April.

Nine CEO Mike Sneesby sent an email to staff on Wednesday trying to calm unrest, as news and HR executives addressed staff at a 3pm meeting.

“Many of you will have seen external media over the last few days that draws attention to our internal processes and policies regarding complaints about conduct in the workplace,” Mr Sneesby said in his email.

“It is important for everyone at Nine to know that we don’t tolerate inappropriate behaviour in the workplace and want to know if there is inappropriate behaviour occurring, so that it can be addressed promptly.”

Wick’s departure from Nine, after 29 years, was prompted by the fresh complaint of inappropriate behaviour by an employee in the newsroom.

But when Wick left the company he sent out a memo saying: “After many long beach walks and even longer conversations, I know in my heart that this is the right time for me to step down and leave Nine.

“I don’t want to use the word ‘retiring’, because I don’t know how to sit idle. But I am going to take a very long break from what has been four decades of working as a journalist. I’m tired and need a rest.”

Nine’s director of television, Michael Healy, praised Wick’s enormous impact when he left saying his recent work heading up the news division came at a time of great transformation.

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