‘Almost hysterical’: Lisa Wilkinson feared selling home to cover her legal fees
Lisa Wilkinson was so upset, Channel Ten was ‘concerned for her state of mind’ and recommended professional care, newly released documents show.
Lisa Wilkinson was “almost hysterical” that she might have to sell her multi-million dollar harbourside mansion at one point last year, according to Ten Network chief Bev McGarvey, who rang the TV presenter’s agent to say “we are concerned for her state of mind”.
In documents just released by the Federal Court, Ms McGarvey recounts her attempts to ensure the TV presenter was receiving “professional mental health care.”
Ms McGarvey called Ms Wilkinson in June last year after the Seven Network’s Spotlight program aired “to check in to see how she was given how challenging it has been for her this week”.
That episode, in which Bruce Lehrmann was interviewed, featured an embarrassing leaked audio recording from a pre-interview meeting between Ms Wilkinson, her producer, Brittany Higgins and Ms Higgins’ partner David Sharaz.
Ms Wilkinson and Ms Higgins could be heard war-gaming how to recruit prominent politicians and media figures who could help give momentum to their upcoming interview on The Project, as the TV host made suggestions to the former Liberal staffer about how to frame her story.
On Wednesday lawyers for Ms Wilkinson asked to have references to the affidavit by Ten lawyer Tasha Smithies redacted but Justice Michael Lee rejected the attempt to suppress the evidence, citing principles of open justice.
On June 7 last year, Ms McGarvey made notes of a call she made to Ms Wilkinson “for a welfare check”, describing her as “very upset and emotional and it was a very challenging call.”
“She was almost immediately upset and started talking about her legal fees and how she would have to sell her house. I would say her tone was almost hysterical.
“(I have subsequently confirmed … so far we have invoices for 20k from her lawyers and she is still getting paid by us on full salary and lives in a lavish multi-million dollar home with a pool and a tennis court and harbour views so I hope this is not a real risk.)
Ms McGarvey said Ms Wilkinson had asked if Ten would pay her legal fees and that this came up over and over again in the conversation.
“She said if I actually cared about her, I would make sure we paid her legal fees.’
“She was very angry at times and very upset at others, sobbing so much she could not talk.
“The recurring theme was she did not believe we were supporting her and in fact she went so far as to accuse us of hating her (she may have used a different but equally strong word).
“She was extremely upset and raised her voice several times about how we have not stopped all the bad press about her, and it has destroyed her reputation. She believes the Logies was the moment it became untenable for her and she blames us for that.
“I told her I found her comments offensive, and we did care about her and our brand. I generally stayed calm, however, in several moments, found myself agitated and had to take a breath to calm down.”
“She is either not across the legal detail from her team or misunderstands the parameters of the process as she is so upset by the whole matter. She in no way feels she has done anything wrong at all.”
Emails from Ms McGarvey to Ms Wilkinson’s agent Nick Fordham reveal that Ten did not reduce the star’s salary when it removed her from The Project, but Ms Wilkinson agreed to reduce her clothing allowance from $100,000 to $40,000 a year
A ten executive then reminds Fordham that the clothes must “remain on N10 premises.“
“You will appreciate that this requirement is to ensure that neither Network 10 nor Lisa is in breach of applicable taxation law requirements,” he wrote.
On June 7 last year Ms McGarvey sent Mr Fordham an email after speaking with Ms Wilkinson, “concerned for her state of mind’ and asking if she was “getting professional mental health care.”
“I have just spoken to Lisa to check in to see how she was given how challenging it has been for her this week. As you are well aware she is not really in a great place, and I hope she is taking some professional mental health care? Let me know if she is not currently obtaining ongoing professional support, and we can assist in providing access to our independent, confidential support services.”
“I just wanted to let you know we are concerned for her state of mind and appreciate this is difficult for her, noting that Ten’s lawyers are taking all the actions in response to the fall out from the [Channel Seven] Spotlight story [in which Bruce Lehrmann was interviewed] that are legally available given the restraints of the current defamation proceedings.”
The following week Ms McGarvey sent another email to Mr Fordham: “Can you please come back to me on the note I sent last week on how Lisa is doing; we are concerned the strain these last few weeks are putting on her mental health.”
It appears Ten then offered to pay for counselling sessions for Ms Wilkinson.
In an email to Stuart Thomas, Ten’s VP Legal and Corporate Affairs, on 14 Dec 2023, Ten’s National Health & Wellbeing Manager Kathy Fernandez writes : “Network 10 has funded counselling sessions for Lisa Wilkinson (15 sessions at a cost of $5,500). The clinician has asked if Network 10 will fund additional sessions or if she should ask Lisa to self-fund. From a legal perspective, is there any issues with asking Lisa to self-fund, or do you suggest funding additional sessions during this time due to the current legal cases/media coverage? Thanks Kathy”
It is not clear whether Ms Wilkinson took up the offer of counselling.
