Em Rusciano has sensationally lashed out at the ‘Sydney media’ and accused them of doing a ‘hatchet job’ on her after she was accused by multiple sources of being difficult to work with.
In the past week, the 39-year-old radio presenter has been plagued with allegations that she is a ‘diva’ and is responsible for a ‘toxic’ work environment at the already-struggling 2Day FM.
She has also reportedly upset her colleagues and bosses after making negative comments about co-hosts Ed Kavalee and Grant Denyer in a recent podcast.
‘This time last year I was burying my son. If I can survive that, I can get through this’: Em Rusciano has accused the media of doing a ‘hatchet job’ on her as she addressed claims she’s ‘toxic’ to work
Em addressed the negative headlines in a since-deleted Facebook post on Friday, telling her fans: ‘Guys, thank you for your concern over the hatchet job some of the Sydney media are attempting on me, but this time last year I was burying my son.
‘If I can survive that, I can certainly get through this.’
Em suffered a miscarriage last year when she was 13-weeks pregnant. On Tuesday, she write a poignant tribute to her unborn son, Ray, on the anniversary of his death.
Hitting back: She wrote in the now-deleted Facebook post: ‘Guys, thank you for your concern over the hatchet job some of the Sydney media are attempting on me, but this time last year I was burying my son’
Fierce feminist or workplace menace? It comes after Em Rusciano thanked fans for their ‘supportive messages’ after being accused of making 2Day FM a ‘toxic environment’ for staff
‘It’s been one year since we lost Ray. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about him,’ Em wrote. ‘Stolen milestones pass us by, I can’t help but think about how old he’d be and what he’d look like.
‘They still catch me off guard, the small bolts of grief. They seem to come from nowhere, they sting my eyes and take the air from my lungs.’
The former Australian Idol contestant shares two daughters – Marcella and Odette – with her husband Scott Barrow.
Vocal: Referencing reports of her diva behaviour, Em captioned an Instagram post on Thursday: ‘My husband said to me today: “You draw the heat and you pave the way”‘
It comes after Em thanked her Instagram followers for their ‘supportive messages’ on Thursday and also thanked husband Scott for being a pillar of strength.
‘My husband said to me today: “You draw the heat and you pave the way”. Thanks for all the fierce, strong and supportive messages you’ve sent my way,’ she wrote.
An earlier social media post also saw Em appear to poke fun at the widely-spread industry rumours claims that she is difficult to work with
She posted a video of herself in a Wizard of Oz T-shirt while rehearsing for her upcoming Adelaide Cabaret Festival show.
She included the telling hashtags, ‘Difficult woman’ and ‘ironic’.
Having the last laugh? An earlier Instagram post also saw Em appear to poke fun at claims that she’s difficult to work
Remarks: The mother-of-two added in the hash-tags #DifficultWoman and #Ironic
Em has been slammed on social media amid claims staff reportedly ‘quit the network’ due to her ‘diva’ behaviour.
One Twitter user accused Em of jeopardising her own show, after she recently complained about her co-hosts Ed Kavalee and Grant Denyer.
Another bluntly called for her to be taken off air following B&T magazine’s unconfirmed report that media personality Ash London is tipped to replace her.
Speculation: It comes after Em garnered backlash from fans amid reports she is ‘difficult’ to work with and critics are now speculating whether she could be replaced
‘There is something seriously wrong with you! if you can’t get on with one of the all time nice guys ed kavalee. Everyone loves him,’ one Tweet read.
On Facebook, one user wrote: ‘Can’t stand this woman! Get her off the airwaves.’
2Day FM declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia.
Not impressed: Fans have not held back on Twitter about what they think about Em
Blunt: One user accused Em of jeopardising her own show with her ‘diva behaviour’
Over it: A Facebook user called for Em to be taken off air
The Daily Telegraph also reported on Wednesday that Ed reportedly refused to speak to Em off-air on Tuesday.
The former Triple M breakfast presenter – who is widely known in the industry for his likable personality – did not say a word to Em throughout their three-hour show when they were not recording, according to an insider.
‘Things are at breaking point, people just cannot work with her energy. There have been… casualties at the hands of Em Rusciano,’ a source told the publication.
Replacement in the works? B&T magazine reported on Wednesday that media personality Ash London (far right) is tipped to replace Em
Last week, Em spoke perhaps a little too candidly about her difficultly adjusting to working alongside Ed and Grant.
Ed was announced as Em’s new co-host in November following the abrupt departure of Harley Breen, amid rumours of mounting tensions.
The following month, Family Feud presenter Grant was confirmed as a third co-host.
Is tension brewing? Former Triple M presenter Ed Kavalee – who is widely known in the industry for his likable personality – apparently did not say a word to Em when they were not recording recently
‘I, all of a sudden, got two co-hosts that I’d never really met or spoken to, and then I’m expected to have this instant chemistry with,’ she told the Wilosophy podcast.
‘And it was just hectic. And it was The Em Rusciano Radio Show. It was my show, and all of a sudden Ed’s anchoring.’
Em added that she was ‘hurtling towards an implosion in the next six months’ and said the solution to her problems could be to ‘leave’ breakfast radio for good.
‘It was MY show!’ Last week, Em spoke perhaps a little too candidly about her difficultly adjusting to working alongside new co-hosts Ed Kavalee and Grant Denyer