TV veteran Georgie Gardner has slapped a junior producer with a crushing outburst, telling her to “grow up!” during an argument over scripts.
Nine sources have revealed new details of the fiery explosion that took Gardner off air after a complaint was made about the incident in the studio last month.
The star news anchor, who earns $600,000 a year for presenting the news twice a week, became enraged at his junior colleague during the Saturday evening news bulletin on August 31.
A television source told Daily Mail Australia that the alleged incident was sparked by the way Gardner’s scripts had been prepared before going on air.
“Georgie showed up in a very bad mood,” they said.
‘She didn’t think the summary was satisfactory or the way the introductions were written and basically said it was crap.
‘The atmosphere was tense and she insisted on rewriting the introductions herself.
‘The junior producer (whose name Daily Mail Australia chose not to reveal) said she wasn’t finished with them yet, prompting Georgie to walk up behind her and shout at her to “grow up.”‘
According to the source, the heated discussion continued in the studio as the scripts were loaded onto the teleprompter.
At least part of the exchange was allegedly recorded and handed over to management for an internal investigation following an official complaint.
“It was intense but there were a lot of people there and they witnessed the argument,” the source said.
Above, Georgie Gardner presents the Nine news bulletin on the night of her alleged on-set tirade.
Gardner was seen looking distraught and disheveled on Monday following revelations she is being investigated at Nine over the alleged spraying.
Gardner disappeared from her regular duties as a weekend news anchor for two weeks following the alleged altercation.
However, he was reportedly on scheduled leave and returned to work last Friday night.
Nine has declined to comment publicly on the complaint filed against Gardner.
However, the broadcaster’s director of news and current affairs, Fiona Dear, said in a statement: “Georgie Gardner is a long-standing and highly respected member of our Nine News team.
‘We offer no further comment’
The internal investigation could not come at a worse time for the highly paid Gardner.
The veteran news anchor’s contract is one of those being closely scrutinized by the company’s financial controllers as the cash-strapped network desperately tries to rein in costs.
Gardner’s exorbitant salary is a legacy of her brief reign as co-host of the network’s Today show in 2019, alongside fellow news anchor Deb Knight, following Nine’s failed experiment with a new all-female line-up.
Georgie Gardner and Deb Knight co-presented Nine’s Today breakfast show for a year (alongside then news presenter Tom Steinfort) in 2019 before the experiment was deemed a failure.
The news anchor was spotted wearing a ProCare “post-op” shoe on her left foot while drinking coffee on Monday, fueling speculation that her recent leave is related to medical dramas.
Senior sources at the network said the deal was “no longer justifiable” and that she was among several key stars expected to take massive pay cuts in the coming months.
Gardner remained under wraps Sunday as news of the internal investigation into his alleged conduct became public.
There is no suggestion that Gardner engaged in any misconduct, only that a complaint has been filed and an investigation is underway.
The star ventured out on Monday morning to walk her dog through the tree-lined streets surrounding her Mosman home.
At one point, the high-profile presenter was seen crying in her car during a lengthy phone conversation.
The indictment is not the only battle Gardner is currently facing.
The news anchor was spotted wearing a ProCare “post-op” shoe on her left foot while drinking coffee on Monday, fueling speculation that her recent absence is related to medical dramas.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Gardner and Nine for comment.
