EXCLUSIVE
Sacked Channel Seven journalist Robert Ovadia is alleged to have sent a series of strange doctored images to a young female reporter before he was dumped by the channel.
The veteran crime reporter allegedly took images from a producer’s personal Instagram page and turned them into a “caricature” before sharing them with her, according to a former colleague.
“The photos weren’t edited in a sexual way – they were just weird,” the source told Daily Mail Australia.
‘They showed [the young woman] in a slinky cocktail dress with a champagne flute in hand in cartoon form and he in a cape with a sword and shield as if he were some kind of knight (in) shining armor.’
Ovadia, who has been with the network for 23 years and was a popular figure among his colleagues, announced last Friday that he had been fired by management.
“Yes, I have been dismissed and there will be more to say about that at the appropriate time in the appropriate forum,” he said.
He has since confirmed that he wants to work as a journalist for longer.
Ovadia was fired after the ABC’s Four Corners program heard about the image and began inquiring about it.
Sacked Channel Seven journalist Robert Ovadia (above) is alleged to have sent a series of strange doctored images to a young female reporter before being dumped by the network
Ovadia allegedly took images from a producer’s personal Instagram page and turned them into a ‘caricature’ before sharing them with her
It is understood the junior staffer, who no longer works at Channel Seven, never officially complained about the image. She left the network December 2020.
However, the photo found its way to Four Corners, which is examining editorial culture in Australia for an upcoming exposé.
Ovadia was first withdrawn by the broadcaster on June 7 while the investigation took place.
The network said: ‘Seven is conducting an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct by Robert Ovadia.’
On Saturday, sources told The Australian that Ovadia also allegedly googled and then sent an image of a flaccid penis to a male colleague.
The coworker allegedly asked for a “dick pic” while covering a lawsuit involving a man named Dick — prompting Ovadia to send the image allegedly as a joke.
There is no indication the allegations have been proven and Ovadia has previously said they are unfounded and that he would defend himself.
The Sydney-based reporter has enlisted the help of high-profile employment lawyer John Laxon.
Ovadia also allegedly Googled and sent an image of a flaccid penis to a male colleague after they allegedly asked for a “dick pic” while covering a lawsuit involving a man named Dick
Meanwhile, the carnage of staff at the network is set to continue with reports that 150 jobs could be cut following a recent series of high-profile departures.
Anthony De Ceglie, who recently became Channel Seven news director, told staff he is taking a “zero tolerance” approach to bad behavior in the newsroom amid the fallout from the Bruce Lehrmann Spotlight scandal.
The network announced a reshuffle to its news leadership team last Thursday, installing a new news director in Sydney and new executive producers for Sunrise and Weekend Sunrise.
Rival network Channel Nine is also dealing with a scandal after the Australian revealed that former news boss Darren Wick left the station following a complaint from a female employee.
Other staff members have since made allegations of bullying and sexual harassment at the network, prompting Nine to launch its own investigation.
Mr Ovadia declined to comment.