Seven Network responds to Robert Ovadia’s brutal swipe at former employer

Channel Seven has responded to veteran journalist Robert Ovadia after he hit out at the network’s “propaganda unit” amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

Former Channel Seven reporter Robert Ovadia has hit out at the network’s “propaganda unit” after reports claiming rival network journalists had also complained about his behaviour.

“I’ll expect more smear over the coming months as this evil company (in whose service I risked my life and safety many times) now seeks to destroy my reputation further, the veteran TV journalist said.

In a social media post on Monday morning, Ovadia blasted Channel Seven’s “propaganda unit” and a Daily Mail news article claiming female reporters from Nine and the ABC had also complained about his behaviour.

Ovadia said on Instagram: “Feel free to scroll through a few recent interactions with women I’ve worked with … vs Seven’s Propaganda Unit intent on scaring me away from court - and a consequential death threat.”

Former Channel 7 reporter Robert Ovadia.

“I can be crass, I can be blunt, I can be obnoxious, my humour is dark — 20 years surrounded by trauma and danger will do all of that to you — but I do NOT mistreat women.

“When this kicked off, the day Seven first leaked this story, my teenage daughter asked if people will think her dad is a rapist. At least Four Corners’ laboured hatchet job got one thing right — the Seven Network is Diabolical.”

His lawyer, John Laxon, told Daily Mail Australia they were unaware of the latest allegations as Seven had repeatedly refused to furnish them with details of its claims against the embattled reporter.

“I’m aghast Seven is making these allegations and they shouldn’t be,’ Mr Laxon said.

Robert Ovadia's Instagram post on Tuesday morning. Picture: robovadia/Instagram

A Channel Seven spokesperson responded to Ovadia’s comments saying it was confident “its position on this matter will be upheld by the courts.”

“Mr Ovadia commenced Federal Court proceedings against Seven over his dismissal for serious misconduct following the sending of inappropriate emails to a 23-year-old news producer and other employees of Seven. In doing so, Seven is discharging its obligations to prevent sexual harassment at work, including as more recently expanded under recent legislation. Mr Ovadia was trained about these new legislative obligations by Seven and failed to comply with them,” the spokesperson said.

“At the first hearing of those proceedings ... Justice Raper asked Seven whether any other conduct would be relied upon by Seven other than set out in the termination letter. In that context, Seven confirmed it has had complaints or allegations about Mr Ovadia from 13 other employees. Although Seven was not required to provide examples of the other conduct it intends to rely on at this stage, Seven has provided Mr Ovadia and his lawyers examples of some of the inappropriate emails by Mr Ovadia, which will be further detailed in Seven’s defence required to be filed on 12 September 2024. Out of respect for their privacy, Seven has not chosen to make further even more inappropriate emails public at this stage.

Mr Ovadia was a 23 year veteran at Seven and an award winner.

“In response to this, Mr Ovadia has made outlandish complaints about Seven being an ‘evil company’ with a ‘propaganda unit’ that is setting out to destroy his reputation. Seven is confident its position on this matter will be upheld by the courts.

“Seven is doing no more than defending court proceedings commenced by Mr Ovadia and will continue to respond in the context of those proceedings.”

The veteran journalist, who worked as a senior investigative reporter and fill-in presenter for the network’s flagship Seven News program, was stood down in June pending an investigation of improper behaviour and later sacked for purportedly sending inappropriate images to a female news producer.

Ovadia has denied all allegations of misconduct and launched civil legal action against his former employer following news of his sacking.

Last week, it was revealed Ovadia is expected to face allegations from a further 13 women as he sues Network Seven and its news boss over allegations he was unlawfully sacked.

Ovadia was initially stood down after it was revealed he was part of an investigation by the ABC’s Four Corners program into the alleged culture at the Seven Network.

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