‘I felt worthless’: Seven is forced to pay compensation after a House Rules contestant suffered ‘psychological injury during filming which left her suicidal and unable to find a job’
Channel Seven has been ordered to pay compensation to a former House Rules contestant who suffered ‘psychological injury’ during filming that left her suicidal.
Nicole Prince, who featured on season five in 2017 with her friend Fiona Taylor, said she had lost work after being portrayed as a bully on the renovation show.
She took legal action through the Workers Compensation Commission, which has published its findings in a damning 27-page report.
Seven has been ordered to pay compensation to House Rules contestant Nicole Prince (right, with her friend Fiona Taylor) after she suffered ‘psychological injury’ during filming in 2017
As first reported by TV Blackbox, the Commission’s Arbitrator Cameron Burge ruled that Nicole was an ’employee’ during her time on the show and that, during the course of her employment, she suffered a ‘psychological / psychiatric injury’.
Seven has been ordered to compensate Nicole for her medical treatment in relation to the injury.
In her statement, Nicole said she felt ‘harassed and bullied’ during filming.
She wrote: ‘During every camera interview, both myself and Fiona complained on film that we were being subjected to isolation, bullying and harassment by the other teams.
‘On one occasion I witnessed Fiona be physically assaulted. When I complained to Channel Seven, I was then threatened that Fiona and I would be portrayed negatively.’
Damning findings: The Workers Compensation Commission published its findings in a 27-page report, which ruled that Nicole was an ’employee’ during her time on the show and that, during the course of her employment, she suffered a ‘psychological / psychiatric injury’
Trolled: Fiona and Nicole (pictured) faced an onslaught of abuse on social media following their appearance on House Rules, with Nicole unable to return to work as a result
Best friends Fiona and Nicole faced an onslaught of abuse on social media following their appearance on the show, with Nicole unable to return to work as a result.
In her statement, Nicole wrote: ‘Since our episode and program aired I have not been able to obtain work and have been informed this was due to how I was portrayed as a bully.
‘I feel devastated and worthless about the loss of my career and working life. After my episode aired, I wanted to kill myself and I started drinking more alcohol in an attempt to self-medicate my injury.’
Out of work: In her statement to the Workers Compensation Commission, Nicole wrote: ‘Since our episode and program aired I have not been able to obtain work and have been informed this was due to how I was portrayed as a bully’
Seven’s defence team claimed that Nicole was not an employee of the network but the arbitrator ruled against them.
This was despite a clause in the contestants’ contracts declaring there is no ’employer / employee relationship’ during their time on the show.
In the arbitrator’s conclusion, he also criticised Seven’s lack of action in response to hateful comments being posted about contestants on its social media accounts.
He wrote: ‘I find it extraordinary, in circumstances where the respondent was made aware by the applicant of hateful comments posted on its social media platforms, that it did not take steps to either remove those comments or to close the comments on its own posts.
‘The failure to do so represents, in my view, a factor to which the applicant has reacted and which has contributed to her injury.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for comment.
Winners: Aaron and Daniella Winter won season five of House Rules in 2017