Chris Smith’s three-day News Corp Christmas Party bender before sacking by Sky News and 2GB

Chris Smith attended a News Corp dinner in Sydney Harbor the night before he outraged several women with his drunken behavior at Sky News’ Christmas party last weekend.

Smith made lewd comments that brought one of his colleagues to tears at the Sky News party, and was beaten up by a co-worker for his offensive behaviour.

The 60-year-old approached a woman and creepily commented on one of her Instagram photos from a vacation, saying she “had a lot of side tits.”

Smith was one of the few guests at an intimate Sky performance at the Aria restaurant on Friday night, less than 24 hours before the network’s New Year’s Eve party.

Last Thursday night, Smith had also been to News Corp co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch’s eastern suburbs mansion for the billionaire’s Christmas drinks.

Chris Smith attended a News Corp dinner in Sydney Harbor last Thursday, the night before his now infamous drunken behavior at the Sky News Christmas party. He is pictured last Thursday at the harborside mansion of News co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch.

Smith’s big week included a Sky News Christmas party at the Ivy in Sydney’s CBD (above, file image) on Saturday afternoon before being among a group set to move next door to the Establishment.

Sky News is owned by News Corp, as are the Daily and Sunday Telegraphs.

Aria’s dinner is the missing event in three days of parties sponsored by News Corp, which finally fired Smith from Sky on Tuesday afternoon.

Multiple sources have confirmed that Smith was among the senior staff, including Sky News hosts, who dined at the restaurant run by Matt Moran.

Smith left the restaurant around 11 p.m. after four hours, while others are believed to have continued until 4 a.m.

Presenters Andrew Bolt, Rita Panahi, Paul Murray, Laura Jayes, Chris Kenny, Sky CEO Paul Whittaker and Program Director Mark Calvert were among the attendees.

Also present was Siobhan McKenna, head of News Corp’s broadcast group, head of Nova Entertainment and one of Murdoch’s closest confidantes.

Smith was due to receive his own daily 5pm show on Sky News ahead of last weekend’s events.

Smith left Aria (above, file image) around 11 p.m. after four hours, while others are believed to have continued until 4 a.m. Hosts Andrew Bolt, Rita Panahi, Paul Murray, Laura Jayes, Chris Kenny and the Sky CEO, Paul Whittaker, were among those who attended the dinner.

Paul Whittaker said in a statement Tuesday that Smith had been fired “as a result of inappropriate behavior that violates his contract and company policy.”

Smith has a history of alcohol-fuelled misconduct at work functions that News Corp was well aware of when it gave him a slot on Sky News.

After being suspended by 2GB for allegedly harassing four women at the radio station’s 2009 Christmas party, Smith apologized for his behavior in a featured story in The Sunday Telegraph.

Smith was charged with exposing himself to multiple women, attempting to kiss a co-worker and assaulting then-Network 10 weather presenter Magdalena Roze.

At the time, Smith told The Sunday Telegraph that the incident had destroyed his family and could ruin his career as a broadcaster.

Smith had previously been fired from his role as producer on the Nine Network’s A Current Affair after exposing himself at a farewell party in the late 1990s.

After the 2 GB soiree, Smith admitted to getting drunk on champagne and red wine and said he had also taken “the wrong antidepressants”.

He soon returned to 2GB, where he was most recently a weekend presenter and regular fill-in announcer, as well as presenting a Sunday night show on Sky News.

Smith was taken off the air by Sky and 2GB after his conduct at the network’s Christmas party was exposed. 2GB was the first to fire him.

Nine’s general manager of radio, Tom Malone, said: “Chris’s behavior represents a serious breach of his contract and is not aligned with 2GB’s values.”

Chris Smith has been fired by Sky News Australia and radio station 2GB due to his offensive conduct after a Sky News Christmas party last Saturday. His wife Susie Burrell, mother of his twin sons, left the family home on Sunday.

In a statement issued Monday afternoon, Smith apologized for his behavior and announced that he had checked into a mental health facility.

“I am beyond heartbroken and devastated to learn that I have upset my colleagues after our Christmas party,” Smith said.

I apologize profusely to the women I upset. That’s not the man I am at work, ever, as everyone attests. They have been very supportive of me and do not deserve such drunken treatment.’

Smith blamed the events on bipolar disorder and alcohol addiction, saying: “I have a recurring problem with alcohol … it makes me manic.”

He had joined his colleagues at Sky News’s end-of-year celebrations at the Ivy Sunroom in Sydney’s central business district, which began around 12:00pm on Saturday.

When that formal event concluded in the afternoon, a group that included Smith moved next door to the Settlement.

In a statement issued Monday afternoon, Smith apologized for his behavior and announced that he had checked into a mental health facility. “I am beyond heartbroken and devastated to learn that I upset my colleagues after our Christmas party,” Smith said.

There Smith was accused of touching a young co-worker, making lewd comments and acting inappropriately with other colleagues.

A woman said Smith referred to her Instagram posts when she made offensive comments.

“The photo was not recent, so he went through all of them,” he said. She also brought an innocent young woman to tears with her comments.

‘He was criticized for his behaviour, which was especially appalling given the number of young women who work there.

He’s also been to three work-related functions in three days, all involving alcohol, despite previously saying he has a grog problem. Is incredible.’

Smith reportedly left the establishment around 7:30 p.m.

Ahead of Saturday’s event, Sky’s general manager of human resources, Kath Butler, sent out a memo reminding colleagues at Sky News to behave responsibly on the job.

“This is a work event, so please be as respectful of others as you are at the office,” the memo read.

Since Smith’s behavior in the Establishment became public, several high-profile Sky figures have come out to attack him.

Rita Panahi said Smith should never work for the network again, while Laura Jayes posted ‘Have a good trip’ on Instagram with a link to Andrew Bolt’s scathing assessment.

Bolt called for the suspended broadcaster to be fired during a segment of more than three minutes on his Sky show on Monday night.

“Every organization has people who misbehave,” Bolt told viewers.

We are not judged by the fact that we have one too, you are judged by how you react to what they do. And I say to Chris, good luck, but bye.

Smith’s 2GB colleague Ray Hadley, who is on vacation, was tougher when he called the station to speak with Mark Levy, his summer replacement.

‘I don’t think so [Smith] I should never go back to a network,’ Hadley said.

“I would be very surprised if he ever returns anywhere, and I would say that the radio and television industry will not be any poorer for him.

It will be much better for him to leave him. So bon voyage to the bad junk.