‘Not OK’: Channel 7 reporter calls out shock act during TV news

A Melbourne news reporter has called out the horrific comments strangers left on a recent TV reports, stating “it’s just not OK”.

An Australian news reporter has called out the horrific comments strangers have made about her appearance, stating “it’s just not OK” to comment on someone’s looks.

Channel 7 journalist Cassie Zervos was recently covering a “curious” Melbourne court case involving a mum who admitted to stealing two human toes from a dead person to sell on the black market.

But Zervos has revealed she was “shocked” when footage of her reporting on the incident, which saw the accused woman Joanna Kidman sentenced to a community corrections order for 18 months and 150 hours of unpaid community service, was flooded with nasty comments about her own appearance.

“The case I was covering that day was a particularly bizarre one and I was curious to see what people were saying about it online, so I decided to read the comments - which I never usually do,” Zervos told news.com.au.

“When I saw the focus was on my appearance, and the way my eyes looked, rather than the story, I was genuinely shocked.

“It was comment after comment, and mostly from women.”

The discovery left the 7News Melbourne reporter reeling, despite the fact that most journalists “develop thick skin”.

“I remember sitting in the court room thinking, ‘jeez... it was only two weeks ago we were celebrating International Women’s Day’,” she recalled.

“Usually I’d just ignore it, but for whatever reason that day, I just thought nope, not today. Especially because I see a lot of other women in the industry, many who are my friends, have similar experiences.”

After finishing the job, the weight of the horrific remarks felt heavy on her, and Zervos decided to take out her phone and record her thoughts from the seat of her car.

She then posted the video online.

“I was covering a really awful story... now, instead of people focusing on what I was reporting on, they thought it was OK to comment on how I looked,” she shared on her personal TikTok account.

“People said my eyes ‘didn’t look right’, that I’d ‘had a big weekend’, that my ‘eyelashes were too long’, my make-up artist ‘did me dirty’.

“Firstly, this is my face, this is who I am.”

‘This is my face’: The reporter called out people who left nasty remarks on this video of her. Picture: Channel 7

Zervos went on to explain she felt the need to “call this behaviour out”, adding that although she is “proud of the skin I’m in”, she’s still human.

“I believe we can be better and as human beings we can be kinder to one another,” the journalist said.

“It’s 2025, we shouldn’t be commenting or focusing on how people look, it’s just not OK, it can make people feel really sad.

“I’m human with feelings and I was left feeling pretty crappy about it.”

Since sharing her message, the popular TV reporter said she has had “an outpouring of messages from friends and viewers who have only kind words to say”.

“It felt amazing,” she told news.com.au.

“My inbox was inundated with words of support, so it goes to show... the good in humanity definitely outweighs the bad.”

Many supported the Channel 7 journalist, stating she was a ‘great role model’. Picture: Channel 7

Others shared their support online, agreeing women shouldn’t have to cop any feedback on their appearance – especially at work.

“100 per cent. Go you for calling it out, great role model for my daughter and other girls growing up in this evil world,” one said.

“Spot on Cass, ignore the haters, keep doing what you do, we love you the way you are,” another agreed.

As another shared: “We should be able to go to work and not be attacked for something irrelevant to the job we’re doing. It’s totally uncalled for.”

Others claimed those leaving hateful remarks were “jealous” and reminded Zervos she was “beautiful”.

“They’re projecting because they’re insecure,” one stated.

“They are just jealous trolls Cass,” mused someone else.

The hateful comments shared by Zervos have since been deleted from the video, shared on the 7News Melbourne TikTok page.

It’s sadly not the first time the journalist has been on the receiving end of online abuse, with the chief crime reporter previously opening up about death threats that landed in her inbox after covering a Melbourne protest.

“I’ve interviewed accused murderers, devastated victims and countless furious and grieving families,” she wrote in September after covering a violent anti-war protest in Melbourne’s CBD.

“None of their reactions come close to the vitriol that myself and my colleagues endure during a protest such as Wednesday’s. Just for doing our jobs.”

Originally published as ‘Not OK’: Channel 7 reporter calls out shock act during TV news