Senior Channel Seven journalist Robart Ovadia has stepped down while an allegation of inappropriate behavior by him towards a woman is investigated.
A spokesperson for Seven confirmed that the veteran presenter had been placed on leave.
‘Robert Ovadia is on leave. Seven is conducting an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct by Robert Ovadia,” the spokesperson said.
Ovadia has reportedly hired a lawyer to represent him while the investigation is conducted.
“Seven has informed me that no current or former colleagues have filed a complaint against me,” Ovadia said in a statement The age on Friday.
Senior Channel Seven journalist Robart Ovadia (pictured) has stepped down while an allegation of inappropriate behavior by him towards a woman is investigated
‘As far as I know, I have not been fired by the company. Any suggestion that I have acted inappropriately at any time is false and malicious and will be defended.”
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that any allegations of inappropriate behavior against Ovadia are true.
Anthony De Ceglie, who became Channel Seven’s director of news just five weeks ago, recently told staff he is taking a “zero tolerance” approach to bad behavior in the newsroom after a number of senior male employees, including his predecessor Craig McPherson , had left the network. amid the fallout from the Bruce Lehrmann Spotlight scandal.
Taylor Auerbach, a former senior producer at Spotlight and Lehrmann’s “babysitter”, alleged in documents tendered to the Federal Court that they took drugs and partied with sex workers, with a further $10,000 recovered from Seven.
The court also heard that operating costs had been spent on expensive meals, golf trips and a year’s worth of accommodation for Lehrmann, which were said to have cost more than $100,000.
Judge Michael Lee later found at the civil level that Lehrmann had raped Brittany Higgins. He is appealing against the decision.
The revelation about Ovadia followed an unrelated claim made on Thursday evening that the chairman of rival network Nine Entertainment, Peter Costello, allegedly pushed over a reporter from The Australian.
Mr Costello, a former federal treasurer in the Howard government, has denied the allegation, saying: “There is no sexual assault.”
“I didn’t lay a finger or a fist or anything on him,” he said.
A Channel Seven spokesperson confirmed that Robert Ovadia has been placed on leave. Channel Seven’s Melbourne headquarters are pictured
Mr Costello said reporter Liam Mendes was walking backwards during filming and tripped over a billboard.
“I’ve seen it happen a million times… reporters fall back into the posts and fall over,” he said outside Parliament House on Thursday evening.
“I didn’t hit him.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for further comment.