Any slim chance disgraced broadcaster Chris Smith had of saving his career has been torpedoed by a parade of influential colleagues lining up to unload on him before he was fired by both of his employers.
After media personalities including Laura Jayes, Rita Panahi, Andrew Bolt and Ray Hadley all slammed him over his disgraceful conduct at a Christmas party, Smith was fired by 2GB on Tuesday afternoon.
Just hours later, he was fired by Sky News.
Sky News Australia CEO Paul Whittaker said in a statement that Smith’s contract had been terminated due to allegations of ‘serious misconduct’.
‘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’, Mr Whittaker said.
‘We continue to offer support to affected staff members whose welfare remains our primary concern’.
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.’
Respected Sky News journalist Laura Jayes is understood to have lobbied in support of the women offended by Chris Smith at the TV station’s now-infamous Christmas party, then pressured management
Veteran broadcaster Chris Smith (pictured) has been suspended from his duties at Sky News and sacked by 2GB. He claimed he couldn’t recall the incidents that led to his downfall blaming his behaviour on polar disorder and alcohol addiction
He says the media company provided support to Smith in recent days, and will continue to offer that support as required.
The death knell was his drunken behaviour at the Sky News Christmas party on Saturday, during which he allegedly made comments so lewd that one female co-worker was reduced to tears, while another slapped him.
Hadley described Smith as a ‘disgraceful person’ with a track record of ‘monstering’ young female co-workers and trotting out the same excuses.
Smith claimed he couldn’t recall the incidents that led to his downfall blaming his behaviour on polar disorder and alcohol addiction.
He gave the same explanation in 2009 after allegedly harassing four female colleagues at the 2GB Christmas party.
Jayes is understood to have lobbied for the women affected by Smith’s behaviour at The Ivy Sunroom and The Establishment on Saturday night.
Sky presenter Rita Panahi (above) also laid into Smith during her show. ‘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
‘I am beyond gutted and devastated to know I have upset my colleagues after our Christmas party,’ Smith (pictured above at a previous function) said on Monday afternoon
Smith’s fellow Sky commentator Rita Panahi posted this tweet on Monday afternoon
Jayes is also said to have approached Sky News management to express her disgust over Smith’s behaviour.
Panahi also insisted Smith’s days at Sky should be over.
‘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.’
She also tweeted ‘good riddance to bad rubbish’, a phrase also used by Jayes on an Instagram post when she shared Bolt’s take on the scandal.
Bolt called for the suspended broadcaster to be sacked during a segment lasting more than three minutes on his Sky program on Monday night.
‘I don’t think [Smith] should ever return to a network,’ Hadley said on Tuesday.
‘I’d be very surprised if he ever returns to anywhere ever again, and I’d say the radio and the TV industry won’t be poorer for him leaving it.
Then on Tuesday, Hadley who is technically on leave, phoned into 2GB to give a blistering assessment of Smith’s behaviour and character, labelling him ‘a drunken fool’.
Hadley described Smith, 60, as ‘a disgraceful person’ after Smith allegedly made lewd comments at the end-of-year party on Saturday, reducing a female co-worker to tears.
He called into his show, temporarily hosted by Mark Levy, to eviscerate Smith, alleging Smith had a history of ‘monstering young women’.
Chris Smith has apologised for his drunken behaviour towards female colleagues at the Sky News Christmas party and revealed he has checked himself into a mental health facility. Smith is pictured with wife Susie Burrell, who left the family home on Sunday
Although Ray Hadley is on leave from 2GB, he called into the station to eviscerate Smith on alleging Smith a history of ‘monstering young women’
‘It’ll be much better for him leaving it. So good riddance to bad rubbish,’ Hadley said.
‘I’m embarrassed to be a former colleague of [Smith’s], and I hope that I never have to work with him ever again.’
‘My sympathy lies with the young women who have been monstered by him not just this time but previously as well. He’s a disgraceful person.’
Smith has since apologised for his ‘humiliating’ behaviour and checked himself into a mental health facility.
His wife, celebrity nutritionist Susie Burrell, is understood to have moved out of the family home with their twin boys.
He blamed addiction and bipolar disorder for his actions, the same excuse the veteran broadcaster used for inappropriate conduct at a 2GB Christmas party 13 years earlier.
In a statement released on Monday afternoon, Smith apologised for his behaviour and said the incidents at the party did not reflect his behaviour at work.
TV and radio host Chris Smith (pictured with wife Susie Burrell) has been suspended following allegations of inappropriate behaviour at the Sky News Christmas party
‘I am beyond gutted and devastated to know I have upset my colleagues after our Christmas party,’ Smith said.
‘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 blamed the events on bipolar disorder and alcohol addiction, saying ‘I have a recurring problem with alcohol… it sends me manic’.
Hadley blasted Smith for using the same excuses again when he called into 2GB on Tuesday.
‘Young women should be protected, they shouldn’t be going to Christmas parties and being monstered by drunken fools and that’s what occurred in this particular instance and I have no sympathy for him, I’ve heard all [his excuses] before: ‘I’m bipolar, I drink too much, I’m a monster when I drink,’ Hadley explained.
‘We’ve heard that four or five times over the years.’
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