Seb Costello breaks silence after being targeted in Edwina Bartholomew tweet
Channel 9 reporter Seb Costello has issued a measured response, days after he was the target of a disparaging tweet by Sunrise’s Edwina Bartholomew. He confirmed a meeting with lawyers after the social media furore.
Fiona Byrne
Don't miss out on the headlines from Fiona Byrne. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Channel 9 newshound Seb Costello has broken his silence after being targeted in a disparaging tweet by Sunrise’s Edwina Bartholomew.
The reporter confirmed on radio yesterday that he would be discussing the situation with lawyers.
It comes after reports that Nine was reviewing its legal options after the extraordinary tweet was sent from Bartholomew’s verified account about 9am on Saturday.
It was posted in reply to a Nine News Melbourne tweet on Thursday featuring video footage of Costello reporting from outside the Victorian parliament after a man drove a station wagon to the front steps of the building and tried to set it on fire.
The comment, which was backhanded praise for Costello’s reporting, remained public for about 50 minutes before being taken down.
Costello, who is also a newsreader on Triple M’s Hot Breakfast, held discussions with lawyers on Monday over the controversial tweet posted by Sunrise reporter Edwina Bartholomew.
Costello said “it’s not ideal”, with Channel 9 neither confirming or denying possible legal action.
“Look, it’s not ideal what was said. I spent the weekend with family and it’s not ideal with family either,” he began, before Hot Breakfast host Eddie Maguire interrupted.
“And you’ll be spending today with lawyers?” he asked, prompting a cagey response from Costello.
“Well, and that’s probably why I can’t say too much, that was an accurate (Herald Sun newspaper) report, I’ll be talking to lawyers today and that’s all I’ve got to say. I’ll move on and do my job,” he told the hosts.
TWEET A ‘MISTAKE’: BARTHOLOMEW
An expecting Bartholomew, who is in London on assignment for Sunrise, confirmed on Saturday she had posted the comment, describing it as a mistake.
“I was half asleep and on the other side of the world,” she said.
“My apologies to Seb and all involved. No offence was intended and hopefully none was taken.
“It was clearly a mistake and the errant tweet has been deleted.”
According to The Australian, Nine issued a statement on Sunday claiming that Costello was “devastated” by the tweet.
“Seb and Nine are devastated and shocked at the damaging and false nature of this personal attack on a public platform,” a spokesperson said.
Costello is no stranger to the headlines.
He has spoken previously of suffering burnout while based in London in 2017 as his network’s European correspondent.
He took a three-week break from his reporting duties in August of that year and sought professional advice to deal with the rigours of reporting tragedies.
“I am like anybody, I am a bit of a work in progress and being able to talk to someone allowed me to work out what was and wasn’t working and how to manage career and personal life a lot better,” he said of the experience.
He returned to Melbourne in June last year, and along with his TV role is part of the Triple M Hot Breakfast show.
Beauty queen slams ‘dumb blonde’ insult
Former Miss Universe Australia and qualified speech pathologist Olivia Rogers says brains and beauty are not mutually exclusive, clapping back at a heartless mum who labelled her a “dumb blonde” who wouldn’t trust Rogers to teach her child.
Fev’s savage swipe at AFL WAGs, players’ diva behaviour
Footy legend Brendan Fevola has delivered a brutal reality check for the AFL players and WAGs in the Queensland hubs, savaging their diva-like behaviour and unleashing some pointed words of advice.