Samantha Armytage’s long history of gossiping about other celebrities’ private lives on Sunrise

A fed up Samantha Armytage has expressed growing frustration with ‘rubbish’ media delving into her personal life – amid her blossoming relationship with a new boyfriend.

In a fiery Instagram post on Monday, the Sunrise host took aim at several publications, including the Sunday Telegraph in which she writes a weekly column.

‘The silliness in the tabloids around my private life has now reached peak stupidity,’ she fumed.

And it is not the first time the TV star has gone on a tirade against media who she accuses of fuelling gossip about her private life.

‘Here’s just the latest example of the silly, nasty, tabloid bulls**t that surrounds me most days’, she previously wrote on Instagram .

But Samantha’s well-documented outrage at the so-called gossip media doesn’t appear to extend to regular discussions about celebrities on Sunrise, which she hosts alongside David Koch. 

Since joining Seven’s ratings-winning breakfast show in 2011, the blonde reporter  has regularly delved into the private lives of celebrities and Royals alike.

Burn: On Monday, Samantha doubled down on her claims about ‘rubbish journalism’ by tweeting, ‘There’s a special place in hell for the people who work @WomansDayAus’

Clearly the Sunrise host has had enough of the paparazzi following her and the ‘boring’ stories she claims are ‘made up’ to suit the pictures. 

But no sooner had Samantha posted her latest tirade, than some of her own followers politely pointed out how similar types of paparazzi  photos were splashed on the screen during her own show’s ‘entertainment news’ segments.

Celebrity gossip, particularly about big Hollywood stars including Khloe Kardashian, Amal Clooney and Bradley Cooper, is regular fodder for Samantha and her co-hosts on on Sunrise.

KHLOE KARDASHIAN   

Perhaps the most memorable example of Samantha’s interest in celebrity gossip took place in March 2015, when she was involved in a botched interview with Khloé Kardashian. 

Samantha had asked the reality star a question about North West, the daughter of Khloé’s sister Kim and rapper Kanye West.  

Criticism: Sam lashed out at various media outlets this week for reporting on her private life – including The Sunday Telegraph, for whom she writes a regular column

Whoops! Perhaps the most memorable example of Samantha’s interest in celebrity gossip took place in March 2015, when she was involved in a botched interview with Khloé Kardashian 

Moments after Khloé responded, her minders pulled the plug on the interview and the screen went blank.  

Later on, Samantha and her co-host David Koch told viewers that Khloé had abandoned the interview because of the personal nature of the question. 

Khloé denied this, however, tweeting afterwards: ‘Why would I cut an interview short because of North? Get over your self Sunrise… The call dropped… stop reaching for a story.’

Ouch! Samantha and her co-host David Koch (right) told viewers that Khloé had abandoned the interview because of the personal nature of one of Samantha’s questions

AMAL CLOONEY 

 In June 2017, Samantha ruffled feathers when she took aim at George Clooney’s wife Amal and her post-baby body. 

Entertainment reporter Angela Cox was in the middle of announcing that Amal had delivered twins that morning, when Samantha interjected: ‘Come on – I bet she’s already back to her pre-pregnancy weight today!’

‘By lunchtime,’ added Sunrise newsreader Natalie Barr. 

Remember this? In June 2017, Samantha ruffled feathers when she took aim at George Clooney’s wife Amal and her post-baby body

Not a fan, Sam? During the segment, Samantha claimed that she doubted the human rights lawyer would ever lose her temper, saying: ‘As if Amal would yell!’

During the segment, Samantha also claimed that she doubted the human rights lawyer would ever lose her temper, saying: ‘As if Amal would yell!’

PARIS JACKSON 

A year later, in June 2018, Samantha hit out at Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris for refusing to talk to media about her late father while visiting Australia. 

‘If you’re not allowed to ask her about Michael Jackson, why is she here?’ she asked. 

Continuing to complain about Paris’ antics, Samantha said: ‘She was bragging that she didn’t know what the races [Spring Racing Carnival] were. She’d never been, she didn’t care. You know, some of us enjoy it.’ 

‘If you’re not allowed to ask her about Michael Jackson, why is she here?’ A year later, in June 2018, Samantha hit out at Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris for refusing to talk to media about her late father while visiting Australia

Sam’s feedback: Continuing to complain about Paris’ antics, Samantha said: ‘She was bragging that she didn’t know what the races [Spring Racing Carnival] were. She’d never been, she didn’t care. You know, some of us enjoy it’ 

 BRADLEY COOPER 

In June 2019, Samantha hosted her own segment about Bradley Cooper’s shock split from Irina Shayk. 

During the segment, Samantha discussed rumours published in People magazine about the couple ‘living very separate lives’ prior to their break-up.   

‘[The split was] unsurprisingly around the time he began filming A Star Is Born,’ Samantha said. 

She then weighed in on ‘insider’ quotes published in People claiming that the famous couple’s relationship ‘had changed’ prior to the breakdown. 

‘We all picked up on that, didn’t we?’ Samantha cheekily asked. 

‘We all picked up on that, didn’t we?’ In June 2019, Samantha hosted her own segment about Bradley Cooper’s split from Irina Shayk. During the segment, Samantha discussed rumours published in People magazine about the couple ‘living very separate lives’ before the break-up

ROYAL FAMILY 

However, it’s not just Hollywood A-listers who have piqued Samantha’s interest over the years. She has also delved into the lives of the Royal family on several occasions. 

In August this year, the ‘royal budget flight’ saga sparked debate on Sunrise. 

Samantha said that Kate and William were ‘mean’ for taking a budget flight after Meghan and Harry were blasted for flying on a private jet. 

‘William and Kate are the mean ones!’ she laughed as paparazzi footage of Kate and William boarding the commercial flight was played on the screen. 

‘That is like, ‘How do we get Harry and Meghan?” she added.

Royally intrigued? It’s not just Hollywood A-listers who have piqued Samantha’s interest over the years. She has also delved into the lives of the Royal family on several occasions

Remember this? Samantha has previously weighed in on various Royal scandals

She has also weighed in on other Royal scandals, including reports about racy photos of Megan Markle being used in a case about Kate Middleton being photographed topless in 2018.

Meanwhile on Monday, Samantha doubled down on her claims about ‘rubbish journalism’ by Tweeting: There’s a special place in hell for the people who work @WomansDayAus.’

Unfortunately, many of her followers didn’t agree with the sentiment. 

‘That’s the kettle calling the pot black’:  Meanwhile on Monday, Samantha doubled down on her claims about ‘rubbish journalism’ by Tweeting: There’s a special place in hell for the people who work @WomansDayAus

‘That’s the kettle calling the pot black,’ one person responded. 

‘You said Woman’s Day is ‘rubbish journalism’, and you work for Sunrise? Woman’s Day is garbage, but so is Sunrise,’ added another. 

‘Coming from someone who is one of the faces of Sunrise?’ a third person Tweeted. 

New interest: Samantha’s private life has recently piqued media interest thanks to her new romance with equestrian businessman Richard Lavender (left). They were recently spotted shopping for expensive jewellery together, while celebrating Samantha’s birthday (pictured) 

Samantha’s private life has recently piqued media interest thanks to her new romance with equestrian businessman Richard Lavender.

Things seem to be going well for the pair and they were recently spotted shopping for expensive jewellery together, while celebrating Samantha’s birthday. 

The journalist’s new role as an ambassador for WW (Weight Watchers) has also attracted significant attention from the public and paparazzi. 

The weight is over! The journalist’s new role as an ambassador for WW (Weight Watchers) has also attracted significant attention from the public and paparazzi

It’s not the first time Samantha has lashed out at the media and paparazzi for intruding into her private life. 

In August 2017, Samantha took aim at News Corp over an article speculating about her love life. 

Taking to Instagram, the reporter slammed the piece and described a recent experience she’d had with a journalist at Myer’s annual spring fashion show. 

‘Here’s just the latest example of the silly, nasty, tabloid bulls**t that surrounds me most days. I don’t go out much, but as I arrived for the Myer fashion parade yesterday (for a bit of fun) I was accosted,’ she fumed. 

‘silly, nasty, tabloid bulls**t’: In August 2017, Samantha took aim at News Corp over an article speculating about her love life

She continued: ‘Not about spring fashion (although I don’t know anything about that anyway) or any other vacuous or even slightly interesting topic. It was about my relationship status. And ex boyfriends (both real & fictional.) Hence a mean (& b**chy!) half-page story on, literally, nothing.’  

‘I politely (but internally rolling my eyes) answered the questions. But next time, I won’t. I’m one of the country’s senior female journalists,’ she continued. 

Samantha went on to describe her various professional achievements and educational accolades, before adding: ‘if you ever want to ask me any intelligent questions (including but not limited to; our politicians’ citizenship, the state of the Australian cricket team, beef prices…) I’d be happy to answer them.’ 

‘I’m one of the country’s senior female journalists’: Samantha went on to describe her various professional achievements 

She also launched a blistering attack on tabloids for speculating about her love life in December 2016. 

Taking to Instagram, she uploaded a photo of a woman wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words: ‘No, I’m not dating anyone. No, I don’t know what I’m doing with my life. Yes, I do want another slice of pie.’

In the caption, she criticised the ‘gossips’ reporting rumours about her dating colleagues and people she hasn’t met. 

‘I urge all of you half sensible people out there not to read/buy this rubbish. And certainly not to believe it. Where’s the integrity in ‘journalism’ these days? If I stand next to someone, it DOES NOT MEAN I’M DATING THEM,’ she complained.  

‘No, I’m not dating anyone. No, I don’t know what I’m doing with my life. Yes, I do want another slice of pie’: She also launched a blistering attack on tabloids for speculating about her love life in December 2016