Previews for Lisa Wilkinson’s ‘intense’ interview with Serena Williams on The Sunday Project promised an explosive and uncompromising tell-all.
But it seems that the 58-year-old veteran TV presenter failed to deliver when the segment finally aired over the weekend.
Fans took to Facebook to criticise Lisa for avoiding the tough questions relating to Serena’s behaviour at the US Open, branding the interview ‘weak journalism’.
‘Six minutes of my life I will never get back’: The Project viewers have slammed Lisa Wilkinson for ‘weak journalism’ and avoiding tough questions after her interview with Serena Williams
One fan wrote on social media: ‘RIP Lisa’s journalistic career! The hardest hitting question was, “How did you know my bra size?” Just like Channel 10 going south, The Project advertises something and delivers rubbish.’
Some users dismissed the interview as an ‘infomercial’.
‘Softest interview ever. Didn’t care to ask about her disrespect and abuse of tennis officials? Lisa Wilkinson has proven she’s not a hard hitting journalist, she’s an infomercial host, go buy those Berlei bras folks…’ one unhappy viewer wrote.
‘RIP Lisa’s journalistic career!’ The Sunday Project viewers were left unimpressed by Lisa’s interview with Serena Williams, taking to Facebook to complain about the lacklustre questions
One Project fan asked: ‘Intimidated much Lisa? That was a pathetic interview!’
Meanwhile, another wrote: ‘What an incredibly disappointing and pathetic piece of television.’
‘Totally pathetic it was six minutes of my life I will never get back. What a total waste of space and air time,’ read a similar comment.
One Facebook user even described it as one of ‘the worst interviews ever’ writing: ‘The build-up all week had us believe the tough questions would be asked. That was five minutes of my life I will never get back.’
Anticlimactic: One Facebook user even described it as one of ‘the worst interviews ever’ writing: ‘The build-up all week had us believe the tough questions would be asked. That was five minutes of my life I will never get back’
On Sunday, Lisa explained that she was warned some questions would result in Serena walking out of the interview – particularly those relating to the controversial cartoon by Mark Knight depicting her having a tantrum at the US Open.
The cartoon made global headlines and was widely accused of being racist and sexist in its representation of Serena.
‘I was told in no uncertain terms that if I asked about the Mark Knight cartoon, Serena would get up and walk. There would be no ifs or buts. She did not want to discuss it,’ Lisa said on The Sunday Project.
Off limits: On Sunday, Lisa explained that she was warned some questions would result in Serena walking out of the interview – particularly those relating to the controversial cartoon by Mark Knight depicting her having a tantrum at the US Open
‘I know that would make great tabloid TV, to have a walk-off from Serena Williams, but I was actually more interested in her answers to the US Open questions.’
During the encounter, Serena perfunctorily answered a few questions about her dispute with an umpire at the US Open women’s final almost two weeks ago.
Lisa asked whether the violation was warranted after Serena’s coach admitted to coaching her from the sidelines.
Refusing to discuss: Serena did not want to discuss this controversial cartoon, drawn by Australian artist Mark Knight, which was widely described as racist and sexist
Serena replied: ‘I just don’t understand what he was talking about… We don’t have signals, we’ve never had signals. He said he made a motion, so I was like, “Okay, you made a motion and now you’re telling people you were coaching me? That doesn’t make sense, why would you say that?”‘
Lisa asked whether Serena had a ‘tough conversation’ with her coach later, and Serena responded: ‘Yes, because we’ve never had this before. I was on the other side, I didn’t see the motion. It was just a really confusing moment, I think for him. You know, I was like, “It’s okay… but, like, don’t, yeah…”‘
After Lisa asked the sportswoman whether she regretted smashing her racket, Serena’s publicist intervened and requested she change topic, having already asked four questions about the US Open incident.
Unanswered: Lisa asked whether Serena regretted smashing her racket at the US Open, prompting her publicist to intervene
Lisa then asked Serena whether she was comfortable before asking another question about the support she had received from champion tennis players.
Last week, Lisa wrote an article for Ten Daily revealing that the moments leading up to her conversation with Serena were rather awkward.
She explained small talk was ‘difficult’ as the athlete looked at the carpet intensely.
‘That’s four questions about the US Open, so…’: Serena’s publicist asked Lisa to change topics
Tense: Last week, Lisa wrote an article for Ten Daily revealing that the moments leading up to her conversation with Serena were rather awkward