Apology, investigation as Channel 7 newsreaders Rebecca Maddern, Mike Amor caught labelling Novak Djokovic a ‘lying, sneaky, a***hole’

Channel 7 launches investigation into ‘illegal recording’ as newsreader apologises for comments about Novak Djokovic that were never meant to go to air.

Channel 7 is investigating the release of an “illegal recording” of an off-camera moment in which two Melbourne newsreaders labelled Novak Djokovic a “lying, sneaky a***hole”.

The leaked footage of the “hot mic” exchange between Rebecca Maddern and Mike Amor, purportedly captured as they prepared for Tuesday night’s 6pm news bulletin in Melbourne, shows Amor openly accusing Djokovic of lying about testing positive for Covid-19 on December 17 in order to claim a medical exemption.

Maddern has apologised and Seven Melbourne managing director Lewis Martin told The Herald Sun that an investigation was already well advanced.

“There has been an illegal recording of a private conversation,” Martin said.

In the exchange between the pair of newsreaders, Amor says: “He got a bulls*** f*****g excuse and then fell over his own f*****g lies. It’s just what happens, right? That’s what happened.”

The newsreaders’ foul-mouthed rant has been picked up by European news websites and on social media and adds to the controversy surrounding the world no.1.

Djokovic remains under the constant threat of deportation if determined by the Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, with Border Force officials investigating whether he lied on his entry form for Australia.

Mike Amor and Bec Maddern forgetting the camera/mic is always on 🤣🤣🤣 #Djokovicpic.twitter.com/shre3hZpH8

— #OkBoomers🥉 (@MelbTigerTalk) January 11, 2022

Maddern began the exchange as they were settling into the presenters’ chairs just before the prime time news, believed to be on Tuesday evening, saying: “Whatever way you look at it, Novak Djokovic is a lying, sneaky, a***hole.” But she later says: “It is unfortunate that everyone stuffed up around him” and added “I don’t think anything was gained by putting him in immigration hotel”.

Amor calls Djokovic an a***hole on three occasions.

The leaking of the exchange appeared to divide opinion, with many believing it was a staged stunt to boost ratings for the network. Rival network, Channel 9 is the broadcaster for the Australian Open.

The full exchange is:

Rebecca Maddern: “Whatever way you look at it, Novak Djokovic is a lying, sneaky a***hole.”

Mike Amor: “He’s an arsehole.”

Maddern: “Like, whatever way you look at it, it’s unfortunate that everybody else stuffed up around him.”

Amor: ‘That’s it, I mean he’s an arsehole. He got a bulls*** f*****g excuse and then fell over his own f*****g lies. It’s just what happens, right, that’s what happened.”

Maddern: “Yeah. And then, he now then ticking he didn’t go to Spain.”

Amor: “Yeah, yeah.”

Maddern: “It’s just like …”

Channel 7 Melbourne newsreaders Mike Amor and Rebecca Maddern. Picture: Josie Hayden

Amor: “I think he’s going to get away with it.”

Maddern: “Oh, he is. He’s going to get away with it.”

Amor: “I think most fair minded people would say, ‘Look, the bloke’s an a***hole’. Did we, did they do the right thing by him? I don’t know.”

Maddern: “No. I don’t think so.”

Amor: “They f****d it up. That’s the problem, isn’t it?”

Maddern: “I don’t think, I don’t think anything was gained by putting him in (an) immigration hotel.”

Amor: “No, but the trouble is, how do you justify the person (who is) also on the same plane with him who also has …”

Maddern: “You can’t justify it, but the fact is, life is never fair.”

Amor: “Yeah.”

Maddern: “Some people fly first class and some people, do you know what, it’s never fair.”

Amor: “Yeah. But that poor Czech girl [Renata Voracova] that was f*****g sent home. Hunted down and sent home.”