Fired Channel Seven journalist Robert Ovadia has formally launched legal proceedings against his former employer, alleging he was unfairly dismissed.
The veteran police reporter was fired last month following allegations that he allegedly sent a series of bizarre manipulated images to a young female reporter four years ago.
It is known that the junior employee, who no longer works at Channel Seven, never officially complained about the image. She left the network in December 2020.
Ovadia was fired after ABC’s Four Corners program learned of the image and began asking about it as part of an investigation into allegations of a toxic culture at the network.
It has since emerged that Ovadia launched legal action against Channel Seven and the broadcaster’s head of news, Anthony De Ceglie, at the Fair Work Commission a week ago.
He has filed a general protection application and is seeking compensation for his dismissal, financial penalties and reinstatement in his job. The Australian reported.
Ovadia has named John Laxon, a leading media and employment lawyer, who has confirmed that documents have been filed with the FWC.
The network has one week from the date of submission of the request to respond.
Former Channel Seven reporter Robert Ovadia (pictured) has filed a lawsuit, claiming he was unfairly dismissed.
If the matter is not resolved, conciliation between the parties will take place.
“Seven takes any allegations relating to sexual harassment, bullying and other behavior deemed inappropriate in the workplace very seriously,” a spokesperson for the network told the publication.
“We take complaints seriously, handle them confidentially and address any violations decisively.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for further comment.
Ovadia declined to comment on the legal action.
This comes after Daily Mail Australia revealed that Ovadia allegedly took images from a producer’s personal Instagram page and turned them into a “cartoon” before sharing them with her, according to a former colleague.
“The images were not manipulated in a sexual way; they were just weird,” the source told Daily Mail Australia.
‘They showed (the young woman) in a tight cocktail dress holding a glass of champagne in the cartoon and him wearing a cape with a sword and shield as if he were some kind of knight in shining armor.’
Ovadia, who worked at the network for 23 years and was a popular figure among his colleagues, revealed on June 21 that management had fired him.
“Yes, I have been fired and there will be more to say about that in the appropriate forum and at the appropriate time,” he said.
He later revealed that he no longer wishes to work as a journalist.
“I’ve been advised not to speak about my case so I won’t, but if you ask me if I’ll go back to journalism, no, I don’t think so,” Ovadia recently told The Australian.
Sacked Channel Seven journalist Robert Ovadia (above) allegedly sent a series of bizarre manipulated images to a young female journalist before the network dropped him.
Ovadia was first suspended by the broadcaster on June 7 while the investigation was carried out.
The network said: ‘Seven is conducting an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Robert Ovadia.’
On Saturday, sources told The Australian that Ovadia had also allegedly Googled and then sent an image of a flaccid penis to a male colleague.
The colleague had allegedly requested a “dick pic” while covering a court case involving a man named Dick, prompting Ovadia to allegedly send the image as a joke.
There is no suggestion the allegations have been proven and Ovadia has previously said they are unfounded and that he would defend himself.
Ovadia also allegedly Googled and sent an image of a flaccid penis to a male colleague after they allegedly requested a “dick pic” while covering a court case involving a man named Dick.
Meanwhile, the network’s staff bloodbath is set to continue with reports that 150 jobs could be cut following a recent spate of high-profile departures.
Anthony De Ceglie, who recently became Channel Seven’s news director, has told staff he has a “zero tolerance” attitude to bad behaviour in the newsroom amid the fallout from the Bruce Lehrmann Spotlight scandal.
The network announced a shake-up to its news leadership team last Thursday, installing a new news director in Sydney and new executive producers for Sunrise and Weekend Sunrise.
Rival broadcaster Channel Nine has also been battling scandal after The Australian revealed former news chief 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 broadcaster, prompting Nine to conduct its own investigation.
Mr Ovadia declined to comment.