Chris Smith sacking: his Sky News Australia and 2GB colleagues unleash on disgraced broadcaster

Any slim chance disgraced broadcaster Chris Smith had of saving his career has been torpedoed by a parade of influential colleagues who lined up to unload on him before his two employers fired him.

After being criticized by media personalities including Laura Jayes, Rita Panahi, Andrew Bolt and Ray Hadley for his disgraceful conduct at a Christmas party, Smith was fired by 2GB on Tuesday afternoon.

Just hours later, Sky News fired him.

Sky News Australia chief executive Paul Whittaker said in a statement that Smith’s contract had been terminated due to allegations of “serious misconduct”.

“Following an investigation into allegations of serious misconduct, we are today informing Chris Smith that his contract with Sky News Australia has been terminated as a result of inappropriate behavior in breach of his contract and company policy,” Whittaker said.

“We continue to offer support to affected staff members, whose well-being remains our primary concern.”

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.”

Respected Sky News journalist Laura Jayes is believed to have lobbied in support of the women offended by Chris Smith at the TV station’s now-infamous Christmas party, and then lobbied management.

Veteran broadcaster Chris Smith (pictured) has been suspended from his duties at Sky News and sacked by 2GB. He claimed that he could not remember the incidents that led to his downfall and blamed his behavior on polar disorder and alcohol addiction.

He says the media company has provided support to Smith in recent days and will continue to offer that support as needed.

The death knell was his drunken behavior at a Sky News Christmas party on Saturday, during which he allegedly made such lewd comments that one female co-worker broke down in tears, while another slapped him across the face.

Hadley described Smith as a “disgraceful person” with a history of “cheating” young female co-workers and trotting out the same excuses.

Smith claimed that he could not remember the incidents that led to his downfall, and blamed his behavior on polar disorder and alcohol addiction.

He gave the same explanation in 2009 after allegedly harassing four female colleagues at the 2GB Christmas party.

Jayes is understood to have lobbied for women affected by Smith’s behavior at The Ivy Sunroom and The Establishment on Saturday night.

Sky presenter Rita Panahi (above) also spoke about Smith during her show. “What she did on Saturday night, how she made a number of women feel, means that, in my opinion, she can never be on this network again,” she said Panahi.

“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.

Smith’s fellow Sky commentator Rita Panahi posted this tweet on Monday afternoon.

Jayes is also said to have approached Sky News management to express his disgust at Smith’s behaviour.

Panahi also insisted that Smith’s days at Sky should end.

“What she did on Saturday night, how she made a number of women feel, means that, in my opinion, she can never be on this network again.”

He also tweeted “bon voyage to the bad crap,” a phrase Jayes also used in an Instagram post when sharing Bolt’s take on the scandal.

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

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

“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.

Then on Tuesday, Hadley, who is technically on leave, phoned 2GB to give a searing assessment of Smith’s behavior and character, labeling him “a drunken fool.”

Hadley described Smith, 60, as “a disgraceful person” after Smith allegedly made lewd comments at a New Year’s Eve party on Saturday, bringing a co-worker to tears.

He called his show, temporarily hosted by Mark Levy, to disembowel Smith, claiming that Smith had a history of “cheating young women.”

Chris Smith has apologized for his drunken behavior towards his female colleagues at the Sky News Christmas party and revealed that he has checked himself into a mental health facility. Smith is pictured with his wife Susie Burrell, who left the family home on Sunday.

Although Ray Hadley is on leave from 2GB, he called the station to eviscerate Smith claiming that Smith has a history of ‘cheating young women’.

It will be much better for him to leave him. So bon voyage to the bad trash,” Hadley said.

‘I am ashamed to be a former colleague of [Smith’s]and I hope I never have to work with him again.’

‘My sympathy is with the young women who have been monstrous for him not only this time but also before. He is a shameful person.

His wife, the famous nutritionist Susie Burrell, is believed to have moved out of the family home with their twins.

He has since apologized for his “humiliating” behavior and checked himself into a mental health facility.

He blamed addiction and bipolar disorder for his actions, the same excuse the veteran broadcaster used for inappropriate conduct at a 2GB Christmas party 13 years earlier.

In a statement released Monday afternoon, Smith apologized for his behavior and said the incidents at the party did not reflect his behavior at work.

TV and radio presenter Chris Smith (pictured with wife Susie Burrell) has been suspended following allegations of inappropriate behavior at the Sky News Christmas party.

“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.”

Hadley criticized Smith for using the same excuses again when he called 2GB on Tuesday.

‘Young women should be protected, they shouldn’t go to Christmas parties and be tricked by drunken fools and that’s what happened in this particular case and I have no sympathy for him, I’ve heard it all. [his excuses] before: “I’m bipolar, I drink too much, I’m a monster when I drink,” Hadley explained.

We’ve heard it four or five times over the years.