Chris Smith sacked by Sky News and 2GB as colleagues condemn his behaviour

Disgraced broadcaster Chris Smith axed by both media employers after his drunken mistreatment of several women.

Chris Smith has been suspended from his role on Sky News and 2GB over inappropriate behaviour.

Disgraced broadcaster Chris Smith has been sacked by both his media employers, Sky News Australia and Sydney radio station 2GB, following his drunken mistreatment of several women at a Christmas party on Saturday.

Smith, 60, was initially suspended on Sunday after reports emerged that he had fondled multiple women at a bar in Sydney’s CBD on Saturday following the official Christmas party for Sky News Australia staff.

Smith also made a series of lewd remarks at the bar to other women, one of whom was left in tears.

On Tuesday afternoon, Paul Whittaker, the chief executive officer of Sky News Australia, announced that Smith’s contract with the network had been torn up.

“Following an investigation into allegations of serious misconduct, we have today advised Chris Smith that his contract with Sky News Australia has been terminated as a result of inappropriate behaviour that is in breach of his contract and company policy,” he said.

“We continue to offer support to affected staff members whose welfare remains our primary concern.”

Smith was the regular host of a Sunday night program on Sky, Chris Smith Tonight, and also made frequent appearances on other shows on the station throughout the week.

He was set to be announced as the new host of a 5pm weeknightly program on Sky in 2023, but that appointment has been rescinded.

Sky News Australia is owned by News Corp, publisher of The Australian.

Smith’s other employer, Nine Entertainment — which owns 2GB — also sacked Smith on Tuesday.

Smith hosted 2GB’s mornings show on weekends, and regularly filled in for breakfast broadcaster Ben Fordham when he was on leave.

A statement released by Nine read: “2GB has today terminated the services of broadcaster Chris Smith. The termination follows the Sky News Christmas party at the weekend, where Chris has conceded his behaviour was unacceptable, ‘apologising profusely’ for his ‘drunken treatment’ of women.”

Nine’s managing director of radio, Tom Malone said: “Chris’ behaviour represents a serious breach of his contract, and is not aligned with the values of 2GB.”

Nine said the company was providing ongoing support to Smith.

The veteran broadcaster apologised on Monday for his behaviour, but stopped short of resigning; he has since checked himself into a mental health facility to seek treatment for his alcoholism.

“I apologise profusely to the women I upset. That’s not the man I am at work ever, as they will all attest. They have been so supportive to me and do not deserve such drunken treatment,” Smith said in a statement released on Monday.

Smith’s sacking on Tuesday came just hours after three of his high-profile colleagues delivered searing on-air condemnations of his behaviour at Saturday’s party.

On Monday night, two of his Sky News colleagues, Andrew Bolt and Rita Panahi, said Smith should be sacked from the network.

Bolt, who hosts a weeknightly show on Sky News, said it was not the first time Smith had behaved poorly toward female colleagues.

“What Chris has done has been done before by him at past Christmas parties, long before we gave him another chance, as did 2GB,” he said on his program on Monday.

“It happened so often in fact — again I stress, in the past — that I am stunned that Chris does still drink at parties.”

Sky News host and columnist Andrew Bolt. Picture: Aaron Francis

Bolt said Smith “should be … sacked”.

“Chris, all the very best to you with getting over what you say is your addiction and your bipolar condition, but your recovery must take place somewhere else, not here,” he said.

“With your record you still choose to drink … and allegedly assaulted and upset young women who must work here.

“Now we are all good people here at Sky, we have a culture of looking after each other and if you betray that trust, besmirch our good name, offend women here, you’re out.”

He finished the three-minute address by saying: “Good luck, but goodbye.”

Bolt’s fellow Sky News host Rita Panahi also addressed Smith’s “totally and utterly unacceptable” behaviour and said he should never appear on the network again.

“What he did on Saturday night, how he made a number of women feel, means that in my opinion he can never be on this network again,” Panahi said on her show on Monday night.

“Women at Sky News are treated with the utmost respect and we will not have the fine reputation of this network and its people besmirched by one drunken man’s actions, that is not who we are.

“The women at this station know we have their back, we stand with them and will never tolerate this kind of behaviour.”

Rita Panahi.

Laura Jayes.

Sky News host Laura Jayes also took aim at Smith on Tuesday, simply posting “good riddance” on her Instagram account beneath an online Sky article titled, “Andrew Bolt address Chris Smith scandal”.

On Tuesday, just hours before Nine Entertainment formally terminated Smith’s employment, 2GB’s mornings host Ray Hadley called for Smith to be sacked from his on-air roles.

Speaking to 2GB’s Mark Levy, Hadley said the radio industry would suffer no loss with Smith’s exit and described him as a “disgraceful person”.

“I’m embarrassed to be a former colleague of his and I hope I never have to work with him again, in fact I know I won’t ever work with him again, so good riddance to bad rubbish,” Hadley said.

“I have no sympathy for him, I’ve heard it all before — ‘I’m bipolar, I drink too much, I’m a monster when I drink’ — we’ve heard that four or five times over the years and there are many other instances I know of that haven’t been reported that should have been reported.”

Smith and wife Susie Burrell. Picture: Richard Dobson

Hadley said while he doesn’t agree with Bolt that often, he agreed that Smith should be sacked from his on-air roles.

“I find myself in total accord with what he said on Sky News last night,” he said.

“It’s never acceptable to monster young women, it’s never been acceptable to monster any women in the method he has over the years.

“He was sacked in 2009 for his performance at (a) Christmas party, I don’t think he should ever return to our network, unfortunately he did.

“I would be very surprised if he ever returned to anywhere ever again.

“Young women should be protected, they shouldn’t be going to Christmas parties and be monstered by drunken fools and that’s what occurred in this particular instance.”