Chris Smith calls media figures who attacked him over Sky Christmas party disgrace ‘hypocrites’

Chris Smith has criticized broadcast industry figures who portrayed him as a “freak” for harassing his female colleagues at a Sky News Christmas event.

Smith lashed out at some of his critics, whom he did not name, after announcing he had found a new job in radio, two months after Sky and 2GB fired him.

“Let’s summarize what I did,” the 60-year-old told Daily Mail Australia. “I made nasty comments to a woman about her vacation photos and pinched another in the rear.

‘None of them filed an official complaint and yet I am called a monster by people whose own record is barely shining.

“That’s the biggest hypocrisy I’ve ever witnessed in the industry.”

Smith even compared the coverage of his conduct to the media attention given to notorious murderer Chris Dawson when he was jailed for 24 years in December for the 1982 murder of his wife Lynette.

“I have to say I got eight days of negative coverage, maybe I deserved it, but the killer Chris Dawson only got five,” he said.

‘There were some people who were trying to play the moral card on the monster that I was. I don’t want to mention any names, but some of those people are big hypocrites considering their own records.

Smith has received a professional lifeline from the international digital talk station TNT Radio, where starting Monday he will host an afternoon show five days a week.

He lost his jobs as a weekend 2 GB announcer and presenter of a Sunday night Sky show due to his drunken behavior at a Sky show two weeks before Christmas.

Smith joined his colleagues at Sky’s New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Ivy Sunroom in Sydney’s central business district, which began around 12pm on December 10.

When that formal event concluded in the afternoon, a group that included Smith moved into the nearby Establishment around 5:00 p.m.

“There were some people who were trying to play the moral card on the monster that I was,” Smith told Daily Mail Australia. “I don’t want to mention any names, but some of those people are serious hypocrites given their own records.” Smith is pictured with his wife Susie Burrell

was there smith commented on a colleague instagram photos from a vacation, saying she ‘had a lot of side tits’, and groped another’s butt.

Smith has apologized profusely for his actions, which he blamed on mixing alcohol with the medication he takes for bipolar disorder, causing him to pass out.

Leading broadcasting figures criticized the father-of-two, pointing to his previous misconduct while drunk and saying he should no longer work in the industry.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Smith again expressed extreme remorse for his offensive behaviour, saying: “I think I deserve a lot of flak.”

“But gosh, there are some hypocrites in our industry who want to moralize about what I shouldn’t have done,” he said.

Smith said he was encouraged by the support he received from other quarters, particularly on social media.

“I’ve had around 5,000 followers and listeners contact me and wish me all the best and that has kept me going through some tough mental times,” he said.

“Basically complete strangers have sent me notes of support and I never want to let them down again.”

Smith compared the coverage of his ‘disgusting’ conduct to the media attention given to Chris Dawson (above) when he was jailed for 24 years in December for the 1982 murder of his wife Lynette.

Smith said his wife, nutritionist Susie Burrell, had supported him through his ongoing recovery, describing her as “an absolute tower of strength”.

He hasn’t had a drop of alcohol in 75 days and has vowed never to drink again.

Smith said that after spending time in rehab and consulting with psychiatrists and psychologists, he realized that he was incapable of drinking responsibly.

“In earlier times when I had been drinking heavily, I never had the guts or probably the guidance to be able to stop drinking,” he said.

I never had the advice, never had the guts to do what I should have done, which was to give up completely.

I have never given up more than three weeks. I could never do it. I thought I could control it, like I thought I could control it in December, but I can’t.

When asked if he would ever drink again, Smith said: “Never, never.”

I do not need it. I’m mad at it. It’s not just the big incidents that have happened in my life. It is also the almost daily alcohol dependency that I have also had.

‘It negatively impacts my family, my wife, my children. I don’t need that anymore.’

Smith said removing the “wild card” perspective of blackouts from his life meant he could avoid “acting like a teenager.”

“It’s a huge relief for me and it’s a great start to another leg of a drama-free career,” he said.

The Chris Smith Show will air on tntradio.live from 15 to 17 hours from Monday to Friday and will focus on international affairs in its first hour.

The next hour will have a more local focus and Smith will be able to take calls from all over the world.

“He’s terribly lucky,” Smith said. ‘It’s a huge lifesaver for me and I intend to grab it with both hands. I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated a job more in my life.

Smith, who has a history of alcohol-induced misconduct at work functions, celebrated 50 days without drinking with this Facebook post in January. He has already reached 75 days without alcohol.

Prior to his dismissal, Smith was about to host his own daily 5pm show on Sky News before he was sacked, and that role was given to Sharri Markson.

Smith was previously suspended by 2GB for allegedly harassing four women at the radio station’s 2009 Christmas party.

He had also been demoted on the Nine Network’s A Current Affair after allegedly 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 until December he had been a weekend presenter and regular replacement announcer.

The Chris Smith Show will air on tntradio.live from 3pm to 5pm Monday through Friday and will focus on international affairs for its first hour. The next hour will have a more local focus and Smith will be able to take calls from all over the world.