>
Disgraced broadcaster Chris Smith recently gave advice on career survival, bragging about how he got to “the top” by “learning from his mistakes”, before being shot down yet again by another controversy with the women.
Reflecting on his 40-year career in March, Smith declared: ‘Survival doesn’t just require doing the right thing and staying out of conflict, which I’ve struggled with at times, it requires humility, reinvention and networking.
But within a year, Smith was sacked from two high-profile jobs after inappropriate behavior towards women at Sky News’ Christmas party and now the broadcaster is locked up in rehab dealing with his long-term drinking problem.
“The era of the media bully is over… Being able to take direction and work hard and respectfully on a team is still important,” he said. radioinfo in March.
“I’ve been able to stay near the top for so long because I tried so hard to learn from my mistakes, I was able to improve to take advantage of other opportunities, and I stayed humble.”
Mr. Smith’s words came back to haunt him, as he repeated many of the mistakes he made early in his career just eight months later.
At the Sky News party, Smith, 60, made lewd comments that brought a colleague to tears at the Sky News party, and was beaten by a co-worker due to his offensive behaviour.
According to a Sky News employee, he allegedly grabbed a female colleague by the behind, prompting her to tell him to fuck off.
He also reached out to a woman and creepily commented on one of her Instagram photos from a vacation, saying she “had a lot of side tits.”
Three days after his inappropriate behaviour, Mr Smith was sacked by Sky News Australia and 2GB.
It was the third time he had received an official reprimand for inappropriate conduct in his 40-year career.
In 2009, Smith was suspended by the Macquarie Radio Network for exposing himself to multiple women at the 2GB party, attempting to kiss a female colleague and allegedly groping weather presenter Magdalena Roze.
Then, in 1998, he was fired from his role as chief of staff on A Current Affair for allegedly exposing himself to four women at a farewell party for Nine.
Disgraced broadcaster Chris Smith recently gave advice on career survival, bragging about how he got ‘to the top’ by ‘learning from his mistakes’, before being shot down yet again by yet another controversy with the women.
Respected Sky News journalist Laura Jayes is believed to have lobbied in support of the women offended by Smith at the network’s Christmas party.
“I am beyond heartbroken and devastated to learn that I have upset my colleagues after our Christmas party,” Smith (pictured above in an earlier feature) said Monday afternoon.
Senior Sky News Australia staff turned on Smith, including Laura Jayes (centre of photo). Pictured from left to right are Ashley Gillon, Jaye, Sharri Markson and Jenna Clarke.
Smith later apologized for his conduct at the Sky News Christmas party and is understood to be seeking treatment for alcohol addiction at a rehab centre.
Smith’s behavior in them, which came after he attended three New Year’s Eve parties on consecutive days, resulted in counseling being offered to network staff.
“We continue to offer support to affected staff members whose well-being remains our primary concern,” said Paul Whittaker, chief executive of Sky News Australia at the time of Smith’s dismissal.
“I am committed to ensuring a safe and healthy environment where everyone is treated fairly, with dignity and respect at all times.”
Smith’s then-colleague, host Rita Panahi, said that “the way he made a number of women feel means that, in my opinion, he can never be on this network again.”
One of the channel’s top political reporters, Laura Jaye, is believed to have approached Sky management to complain about Smith’s treatment of her female colleagues.
Sky presenter Rita Panahi (above) also referred to Smith during her show, saying he “can never be on this network again”.
Smith was sacked from his roles at Sky News Australia and 2GB three days after alleged inappropriate behavior at Sky’s Christmas party.
Smith, who was sacked by Sky News and radio station 2GB on Tuesday, has checked himself into a mental health facility. He is pictured with his wife Susie Burrell, the mother of their six-year-old twins.
Friends say Smith, who recently bought a home with his wife Susie Burrell, has hit rock bottom and is as psychologically fragile as anyone has ever seen.
He was about to have his own daily 5pm show on Sky and is now jobless less than two weeks before Christmas.