Channel 7 amused at prospect of lawsuit over Edwina Bartholomew tweet about Seb Costello
It’s safe to say Channel 7 are not quaking in their boots over rumours Channel 9 might sue over a tweet made by Edwina Bartholomew about Seb Costello. Sources say they are amused at the idea.
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Channel 7 have laughed at the idea of a lawsuit over comments Sunrise reporter Edwina Bartholomew made about Channel 9 reporter Seb Costello.
Heavily pregnant Bartholomew replied to a video of Costello reporting outside the Victorian state parliament on Thursday with a comment that she later deleted.
It was then reported that Channel 9 were in talks to decide how to proceed legally, with a possible defamation suit in the works.
But sources at Channel 7 say there was no way their rival would want to take this to the courts.
“There is no way in God’s earth Nine will have this play out in a courtroom,” the source said. “They are bluffing by saying they will take legal action.”
The tweet stayed up for 50 minutes before it was deleted.
Bartholomew, who is on assignment in London, said the tweet was due to fatigue and jet lag and she meant no offence.
“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.”
A Nine spokesman did not confirm or deny legal action but said: “Seb and Nine are devastated and shocked at the damaging and false nature of this personal attack on a public platform.”
Costello is the son of former Australian treasurer Peter Costello, who is currently the Chairman of Channel 9.
His 32-year-old son made headlines in 2017 when he went on holidays for several weeks after missing a number of live crosses, with reports saying even his cameraman had no idea where he was.
Channel 9 said Costello was simply taking some “well-earned” leave as the European correspondent.
Originally published as Channel 7 amused at prospect of lawsuit over Edwina Bartholomew tweet about Seb Costello
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