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Clementine Ford has unloaded on Sky News presenter Chris Smith over his drunken behavior towards female colleagues at the network’s Christmas party, saying the broadcaster should have been sacked years ago.
The outspoken feminist author says there is a double standard that supports men when they harass women but limits the careers of women who complain about harassment.
Ms Ford shared her comments on Facebook before Smith was sacked by 2GB and Sky News Australia on Tuesday for his vulgar behaviour.
Smith made lewd comments that reduced a female colleague to tears at the Sky News shindig, with a co-worker even hitting her for his offensive behaviour.
The 60-year-old approached a woman and made a creepy comment about one of her Instagram photos from a holiday, saying she had ‘a lot of side boob going on’.
Feminist author Clementine Ford says female victims are often seen as ‘troublemakers’ and fired or ‘stifled’ from jobs while male abusers are ‘protected’
Ms Ford predicts disgraced broadcaster Chris Smith will be sacked, but will get a payout and a behind-the-scenes apology from his bosses
Ms Ford said female victims tended to be seen as ‘troublemakers’ if they complained.
‘How many women and POC have lost their jobs for simply sharing an opinion the establishment didn’t like?’ Ms. Ford said.
‘How many women quit their jobs after being sexually harassed?
‘How many women are stuck at work because they are not taken seriously, or seen as troublemakers?
‘Yet Chris Smith, a veteran ‘journalist’ with platforms in both print, radio and TV media, has been the subject of not one, not two, but three complaints of sexual harassment and groping, the first of which occurred of late of the 1990s .’
In 2009, Smith was suspended by the Macquarie Radio Network for allegedly exposing himself to several women at a 2GB party, attempting to kiss a female colleague and allegedly groping weather presenter Magdalena Roze.
In 1998 he was sacked from his role as chief of staff on A Current Affair for allegedly exposing himself to four women at a Nine farewell party.
Rumors of Smith’s inappropriate behavior went back further, with a comment made by a retired telecommunications consultant under Ford’s post: ‘I remember Smith as a rookie radio announcer on 2VM in Moree, he hasn’t changed.’
Ms Ford wrote that Smith’s behavior was not seen as ‘dangerous enough’ for her to be sacked, and instead, she was ‘protected against consequences while her female colleagues were sent a clear message’ that they are not important’.
In 2009, Smith was suspended for exposing himself to several women at a 2GB party, attempting to kiss a female colleague and allegedly groping weather presenter Magdalena Roze (pictured)
He used the issue to remind his followers that Smith had suggested on air that he should lose his job over a tweet in which he called Scott Morrison a ‘f***head’.
He then accused Smith of hypocrisy, saying: ‘You will notice that the Sky pundits’ usual calls for “free speech” do not extend to criticizing government ministers. Then it’s ‘Disgusting stuff. A sackable offence.’
He said ‘Drunk groping women? All seems well in Smith’s world.
‘My guess is he will be [sacked]but will receive a massive payout and a ‘sorry man, it’s just bloody culture these days’.’
Ms Ford herself has been at the center of work-related scandals in the past, mostly due to her inflammatory use of social media.
In 2020 he tweeted ‘honestly, the corona virus doesn’t kill men fast’.
In 2016 he was temporarily banned from Facebook for abusing another user.
He also called conservative commentator and journalist Miranda Devine an ‘ac***’ on live television, and a ‘f***ing c***’ on twitter.
In 2017, Melbourne students at Aquinas College walked out of a speech Ford gave when he refused to answer any men.
Ms Ford left Fairfax in 2019 after the company threatened to fire her over her trolling of Scott Morrison.
Before he left he fired off a series of brutal tweets, including claims his working conditions were ‘s***y’ then signed off ‘Anyway, bye Fairf***ed’ .
In a statement released Monday afternoon, Smith apologized for his behavior and announced that he had checked himself into a mental health facility.
‘I was beyond gutted and devastated to find out that I was upset with my colleagues after our Christmas party,’ said Smith.
Veteran broadcaster Chris Smith (pictured) has lost his job at Sky News and 2GB. He said he could not remember the incidents that led to his collapse blaming his behavior on polar disorder and alcohol addiction.
‘I was very depressed and saddened to find out that I had upset my colleagues after our Christmas party,’ Smith (pictured above at a previous function) said on Monday afternoon
‘I apologize to the women I angered. That’s not the man in my employ, ever, as they will all attest. They have been so supportive of me and don’t deserve such drunken treatment.’
Smith blamed the events on bipolar disorder and alcohol addiction, saying ‘I have a recurring problem with alcohol… it sends me manic’.
He joined colleagues at Sky News’ end-of-year celebrations at the Ivy Sunroom in Sydney’s central business district which started at around 12pm on Saturday.
After that formal afternoon event, a group including Smith moved near the Establishment.
‘He also went to three work-related events in three days, all involving alcohol, despite previously saying he had a grog problem. Unbelievable.’
Smith is said to have left the Establishment around 7:30pm.
Chris Smith has apologized for getting drunk with female colleagues at the Sky News Christmas party and revealed he checked himself into a mental health facility. Smith is pictured with wife Susie Burrell, who left the family home on Sunday
Ahead of Saturday’s event, Sky’s general manager of HR Kath Butler sent out a memo reminding Sky News colleagues to behave responsibly at the function.
‘This is a work event so please be courteous to others as you would be in the office,’ the memo stated.
Since Smith’s behavior in the Establishment became public knowledge, several high-profile Sky figures have come out to attack him.
Rita Panahi said Smith should never work for the network again while Laura Jayes posted ‘Good riddance’ on Instagram with a link to Andrew Bolt’s scathing assessment.
Bolt called for the suspended broadcaster to be sacked in a segment lasting more than three minutes on his Sky program on Monday night.
Although Ray Hadley was on leave from 2GB, he called the station to fire Smith accusing Smith of a history of ‘monstrous young women’
‘Every organization has people who behave badly,’ Bolt told the audience.
‘We’re judged not by the fact that we have one as well, you are judged by how you react to what they do. And I say to Chris, good luck, but goodbye.’
Smith’s 2GB colleague Ray Hadley, who was on holiday, struggled when he called the station to speak to Mark Levy, his summer replacement.
‘I did not expect [Smith] should go back to a network,’ Hadley said.
‘I’d be very surprised if he came back anywhere, and I’d say the radio and TV industry wouldn’t be any harder for him to leave.
‘He’d better leave it. So it’s good to get rid of the bad trash.’
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