If you ever want to know how a TV star is viewed behind the scenes, pay close attention to what happens when they’re going through a crisis.
Whichever way you look at it, it’s a tough time to be Lisa Wilkinson right now.
Within 24 hours she went from riding high on a Logies win to facing possible jail time.
The speech she gave after winning the Silver Logie for Most Outstanding News Coverage Or Public Affairs Report has not only destroyed her credibility, it has delayed the very trial that was a result of her report.
But while there are many news articles focused on the fallout of that speech, one thing I’ve noticed is the lack of public support for someone who is usually a media darling.
In fact, some of those who have worked with her have taken the extraordinary step of coming out publicly to criticise Wilkinson over her choice to ignore advice from the DPP and others have brought up past issues that have put noses out of joint.
In the world of TV people have long memories and hold grudges.
The first salvo came from 10’s former Sydney weatherman Tim Bailey. In a now-deleted post the likeable larrikin said:
Hey Lisa, pull ya head in,’
I know this might be difficult, because it is a very big head. But please try.’
That was in response to her speech, but things got really interesting when he added the hashtag #carparkthief.
It’s a reference many would not understand, but it’s one that speaks volumes.
In 2020 Woman’s Day published a story claiming Wilkinson had sparked a bitter war with Sandra Sully by continuously parking in her space. Despite multiple complaints to security Wilkinson is alleged to have continued the practice.
TV Blackbox has independently verified these reports and can reveal many within 10 were left confused as to why Wilkinson was ‘targeting’ Sully, who is loved by all inside the Pyrmont headquarters.
Wilkinson’s actions towards Sully were seen by some as tantamount to bullying.
One person who has not forgotten (or forgiven) is Sully’s former workmate Tim Bailey. After being made redundant by 10 Bailey has nothing to fear by speaking up and he is very loyal to the newsreader he stood beside for decades.
The inclusion of the #carparkthief hashtag speaks volumes.
Another former colleague has also spoken up against Wilkinson. Neil Breen was the Executive Producer of the TODAY show during part of Lisa’s time on the show.
Yesterday Breen blasted his former colleague on his 4BC Breakfast show in Brisbane, saying her actions were ‘shameful’.
His stance is very unusual considering many in the media will just keep quiet rather than speak out.
As first reported in the Daily Mail, Breen didn’t hold back during an editorial on Monday morning:
‘As a journalist of three-and-a-half decades, I don’t want a judge saying that about me. And that’s what the judge has said about Lisa Wilkinson and her unfettered behaviour,’ he said.
‘It’s disgraceful, and I’m ashamed of our profession that this has occurred.
‘To make it worse, Lisa Wilkinson is expected to be a witness in the case … what a shameful episode for the profession that I love.’
As I said at the beginning, if you ever want to know how a TV star is viewed behind the scenes all you have to do is look at what people in the industry say during a crisis. That will tell you everything you need to know.
When the supposed ‘star’ becomes a liability and an embarrassing joke, it could be time to cut your losses, Network 10.
Hang your head in shame Lisa Wilkinson, your utter narcissism and stupidity has sabotaged an alleged victim of a chance for justice. Go retire somewhere so the Australian public doesn’t have to see or hear your stupid and shallow view.
She knew EXACTLY what she was doing! Been in the game forever so no excuses for her speech!
She is more than a liability…she needs to go too full of her own importance she needs to remember she is not above the law…. EVEN HER!!!
I thought she should have know better, especially with a court case coming up.
Lisa Wilkinson would have ben the first to want the scalp of any other journalist that behaved in this way.
Channel 10, you need to have serious discussions as to whether or not this journalist, in total contempt of the process of law, is still worthy of being allowed on air. For some reason she has the attitude of being crowned queen of Australian journalism. She is nothing more than a self promoter.
Absolutely, she was warned not to say what she did because of the Court case but arrogantly ignored it, driven by ego by the sound of things, I will no longer have any respect for her, very poor orm, maybe she should face charges!!
She and her idiot husband both think they are above all others, but in reality they are nobody’s and need to disappear from public life.
Absolutely!
💯%
Absolutely
I don’t even know what Lisa Wilkinson said in her Logies night speech, but am surprised at the level of vitriol inherent in the comments made ~v~ her.
The parking space story if true does sound pretty ‘off,’ I must say, all the same.
Lisa knew exactly what she was doing and saying.She is an experienced journalist who was also warned before getting up on stage not to say anything and then is upset and threatening because her industry turns on her along with a telling off by the judge. Everyone is innocent until guilty, and we should stop this ongoing issue of trial by media that Lisa is part of.
This is what happen when people have big egos and are full of themselves! Great journalists out here, she is not one of them!
I agree with Tim, Lisa Wilkinson and
her pirate husband, should disappear
from public media altogether, as they
both think they are above most
people in general!
Irma Van Eyssen
What else do you expect when you’re dealing with a narcissist? Lisa Wilkinson and her idiot husband see themselves as morally superior to everyone else. Perhaps Channel 10 should read the room and dump her!
I wholeheartedly argee with all of the above 11 comments especially the comment referring to her husband.
She needs to go I can’t stand her she is nasty women and she thinks she is better than anyone else I didn’t like her on the today show and she just doesn’t fit the project.
I stopped watching that show on Channel 10 when Lisa Wikinson joined the show. The nonsensical self promoted whatever she thinks she is worth is shameful. Her husband gets on his bike on just about anything unjust, so where was he then & now. Why then did he not provent her from what she did at the Logies. Both are narcisict hypocrits and are now Dead People Walking. I refuse to watch any show that features either of them.
I totally agree!
Wake up Channel 10!!!!
Agree with comments of Leonard. The relentless , look at me , hear me speak , see my support of females is all very well , but , get your political bias out of your reporting Lisa, purportedly caring about victims of sexual abuse. Time and time again, sexual offending , or abusing the trust of young, teenage male students , by adult female teachers gathers no serious attention or condemnation by the likes of Wilkinson. Examples of female teachers getting off ever so lightly, despite the offending harming the lives of many male students. Where is the outpouring of support , care and outcry for young male victims of sexual offending channel 10.
Hi Doug – while these issues you raise are indeed important they have nothing to do with regard to the case at hand. They are also in the single digit percent compared to male teachers offending.
The comments directed at Lisa Wilkinson can be applied to just about everyone in the commercial media. They are under qualified and massively overpaid. A bunch of talking heads from trendy suburbs who tell the masses how to think. A cavalcade of pumped up dumbed down dopes.
You only have to be woman and successful. Some men in media behave deplorably but get let off time and time again.
Those speaking in support of Lisa Wilkinson , or make comment, “poor Lisa, when men are let off or don’t cop this amount of criticism “ , is so far from the truth, when male journalist , politicians or afl footballers ate hounded, shamed and by enlarge, pressured into leaving their employment. The same should apply to a journalist, having poor ethical judgment and inability to accept that it is up to our Courts to make judgment and that one is innocent until proven guilty. Wilkinson doesn’t talk poorly or call out offending within the labor or Greens party, but anything involving the Liberal party channel 10 ‘s the project & the abc just can’t hide their unhinged , hypercritical leftist bias!
Lisa is not a political jurno but loves to give her option on everything the previous government was doing or not doing. Her story about Britney is a story about an alleged rape in Parliament House. It’s not a political story like she has made it out to be. Yes the workplace should be safe for all staff. It’s a workplace story. But every opportunity Lisa brings it up. So Lisa is making the story about herself. Every time she can mention it it’s about her. At the Logies she new she had to be careful. That’s why she read it word for word off paper. Why would an experienced presenter have to read off notes. But the smile on her face said that it is a serious story. The smile said it was All about Lisa. That smile made me sick!
I found the car park story above fascinating. But not surprising.