Beloved Australian television personality and Channel Nine veteran Kerri-Anne Kennerley has revealed she was once sexually harassed at a network party.
The TV host, actress and singer, 64, claimed a ‘really important person in the network’ acted inappropriately with her at a gathering between the 80s and 90s.
Speaking to MIX102.3 FM’s Jodie And Soda on Thursday, Kerri-Anne openly recalled the incident with the male.
‘It was a really, really, really important person in the network’: Kerri-Anne Kennerley claims she was sexually harassed and had her dress UNZIPPED at a party
‘I stood at a party once and the back of my dress was being unzipped, as I turned to swing around and hit said person I realised it was a really, really, really important person in the network,’ she said.
The Logie Hall of Fame inductee added while she was shocked, she quickly put the ‘important person’ in his place.
‘I said “zip it up or I’ll deck ya” simple as,’ Kerri-Anne told the radio hosts.
‘I said “zip it up or I’ll deck ya”‘: The Logie Hall of Fame inductee added while she was shocked, she quickly put the ‘important person’ in his place
The identity of her accused harasser was not disclosed on air, nor the specific network she was referring to.
Kerri-Anne has worked for Nine, Seven and Ten over the years, with her most notable appearances occurring on the Nine Network.
Daily Mail Australia have reached out to Channel Seven, Channel Ten and Channel Nine for comment.
‘Sexism, the discrimination and appalling behaviour went on for years… the difference between the 80’s and 90’s was there were no laws, so it is fabulous that a lot of women are acknowledging this behaviour because who wanted to talk about it before… you more than likely got fired,’ she added.
‘Because who wanted to talk about it before… you more than likely got fired’: Kerri-Anne has opened up about her experiences with sexism, discrimination and appalling behavior in the industry within her new book, A Bold Life
Meanwhile, disgraced Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein sent shockwaves around the world last month, when rape and sexual assault allegations were brought to the fore.
And a little closer to home, Kerri-Anne claimed that women in the Australian media industry haven’t been immune to suffering similar types of sexual harassment.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the Cosmopolitan Women of the Year Awards, the 64-year-old admitted there are ‘plenty of Harvey Weinsteins in Australia’.
‘Plenty of Harvey Weinsteins in Australia’: Speaking to Daily Mail Australia this week, Kerri-Anne Kennerley (left) admitted women in the local media industry have faced behaviour similar to that the disgraced Hollywood movie mogul (right) is accused of
Comparing some local media players she’s come in contact with to the ostracised American movie executive, Kerri-Anne said there are ‘Plenty of Harvey Weinsteins in Australia and there have been right through the 80s and 90s.’
The media doyenne went on to claim that she had personally experienced ‘many’ instances of sexism and harassment during her decades working in the industry.
‘During the 80s and 90s, discrimination, sexism, sexual harassment – absolutely rife and there were no laws,’ Kerri-Anne said.
Noting that her upcoming book, A Bold Life, details her own personal unsavoury experiences, the TV personality added: ‘It happened. Without question.’
‘It happened. Without question’: The TV personality added that sexual harassment and sexism was ‘rife’ in the media industry in the 80s and 90s and ‘probably still is’
She explained in those days, there was limited protection for people who suffered unwanted attention in the workplace but things have changed legally since then.
‘Now there are actually laws and if someone behaves in a terrible fashion, there are people you can go to and report to and there are courts for that,’ she explained.
‘But there are laws now that weren’t then. So yes, it was rife and it still probably is.’
‘Now there are actually laws’: Kerri-Anne said there was limited legal protection for victims in those days
Kerri-Anne also weighed in on Australian journalist Tracey Spicer’s bid to ‘name and shame’ perpetrators of this type of behaviour in the Australian media industry.
‘If she wants to name and shame those guys, I hope she’s got her facts right because it could get very expensive for her if she hasn’t,’ Kerri-Anne noted.
‘You’ve got to be able to prove it.’
‘I hope she’s got her facts right’: Kerri-Anne also weighed in on journalist Tracey Spicer’s (pictured) bid to ‘name and shame’ local perpetrators