Friends fear Lisa Wilkinson is the subject of ‘white-anting’

Friends fear Lisa Wilkinson is the subject of a “white-anting” campaign from within Channel Ten after claims leaked to media on Friday.

Supporters of veteran broadcaster Lisa Wilkinson have slammed claims about her circulating in the television industry and believe an apparent white-anting operation is being orchestrated within Channel Ten.

On Friday, a senior source within the network claimed Ms Wilkinson had asked to appear on The Project in the aftermath of the landmark ruling against Bruce Lehrmann in his multimillion-dollar defamation lawsuit against her and Ten.

The request was said to have been refused, in what was painted as a damning sign of how dramatically the relationship between Ten and its once-marquee personality have collapsed.

Those close to the claim insist Ms Wilkinson never expressed a desire to be on air and supporters are dismayed at an apparent campaign to undermine her.

Supporters of veteran broadcaster Lisa Wilkinson have slammed claims about her circulating in the television industry. Picture: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

Her colleagues at the network and The Project were said to be “embarrassed yet unsurprised that Lisa has made this week’s judgment all about herself”.

“Lisa thinking she could just go back on air … after she burnt everyone on that show. It’s just so far from reality that it’s not funny,” a Ten insider told news.com.au.

News.com.au understands Ms Wilkinson’s former colleagues at the show are dismayed that this false claim has been shopped around.

Lauded newsman Peter Meakin, an industry veteran who served as director of news and current affairs at each of Australia’s three commercial networks, told news.com.au he was shocked by the narrative being pushed about Ms Wilkinson.

“I’ve worked with her at Seven, Nine and Ten, so Lisa and I go back many, many years,” Mr Meakin said.

“She’s always been an absolute breeze to deal with. As a television executive, I’ve never had a problem with her. All these stories going around, all these claims and the rest of it – it amazes me.”

On Friday, the senior insider claimed Ms Wilkinson’s colleagues were angered that her brief remarks on the steps of the Federal Court on Monday didn’t reference their involvement in the story.

Her colleagues at the network and The Project were said to be ‘embarrassed yet unsurprised that Lisa has made this week’s judgment all about herself’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

“Lisa claimed all of the credit for the Brittany Higgins story during her speech at the Logies [in 2022], backflipped in court and threw her colleagues under the bus claiming she was nothing more than autocue reader, before another stunning backflip on the steps of the courthouse again claiming credit for the story.

“Lisa has made it all about Lisa – again. It’s quite astounding.”

Mr Meakin, who worked with Ms Wilkinson when The Project’s story about Brittany Higgins was aired, completely rejected this suggestion.

“I was one of the colleagues she allegedly threw under the bus, except that I didn’t think I was thrown under the bus.”

Mr Meakin added that he knew of “no-one on the show” who felt that way.

Ms Wilkinson addressing the media after Justice Michael Lee handed down his judgment following a defamation trial between Bruce Lehrmann and Network 10 over Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Bruce Lehrmann emerging from court after Justice Michael Lee ruled in favour of Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson in his defamation case. Picture: Don Arnold/Getty Images

Further, news.com.au understands Ms Wilkinson’s words outside court were sanctioned by Ten’s legal representatives involved in the defence of Mr Lehrmann’s lawsuit.

Supporters have also pointed to the high level of public support Ms Wilkinson continues to enjoy, especially after Monday’s legal victory.

A post she shared to Instagram that night – a photograph of her and her family – was flooded with thousands of positive comments praising her work.

On Friday night, Ten was sent a list of specific questions that went to the heart of the claims about her request to appear on The Project and the apparent fractured relationship between the network and Ms Wilkinson.

News.com.au understands Ms Wilkinson’s words outside court were sanctioned by Ten’s legal representatives involved in the defence of Mr Lehrmann’s lawsuit. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jane Dempster

Aside from a brief statement confirming she remains employed with Ten, a spokesperson declined to comment further.

On Saturday, after the claims had been published, the spokesperson said: “Network 10 can confirm that Lisa did not request an appearance on The Project and accordingly there could be no refusal to her request.”

News.com.au has been told that those in power at Ten want “nothing” to do with Ms Wilkinson and she will formally exit the network when her contract ends in December.

The breakdown in relations is said to stem from the fallout of her speech at the TV WEEK Logie Awards in 2022, which was criticised by the judge overseeing the criminal trial against Mr Lehrmann that was taking place at the same time.

It subsequently emerged that several senior figures inside Ten, including its legal counsel, had approved the wording of the speech.

In addition, at the beginning of Mr Lehrmann’s defamation proceedings, Ms Wilkinson engaged her own high-profile legal team after feeling Ten didn’t have her best interests at heart.

A separate stoush erupted when Ms Wilkinson filed a claim in court against Ten, seeking that it pay the cost of her representation, which included high-profile barrister Sue Chrysanthou.

Ms Wilkinson ultimately won her bid for Ten to foot the bill for her lawyers, which is rumoured to have cost up to $2 million in the end.

It’s understood Ten will now seek to recoup costs from Mr Lehrmann following his defeat in the defamation proceedings.

Ms Wilkinson stepped away from The Project in November 2022 and has not appeared on air since.

Ms Wilkinson was approached for comment for this story via her agent.