Channel Seven senior journalist Robart Ovadia has been stood down while an allegation of inappropriate behavior on his part towards a woman is investigated.
A Seven spokesperson confirmed 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 takes place.
“Seven has told me that no current or former colleagues have filed any complaints against me,” Ovadia said in a statement to Age on Friday.
Channel Seven senior journalist Robart Ovadia (pictured) has been stood down while an allegation of inappropriate behavior on his part towards a woman is investigated.
‘As far as I know, the company has not rejected me. Any suggestion that I have behaved inappropriately at any time is false, malicious and will be defended.’
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that any allegations of inappropriate behavior made against Ovadia are true.
Anthony De Ceglie, who became Channel Seven’s news director just five weeks ago, recently told staff he has a “zero tolerance” approach to bad behavior in the newsroom after several senior male employees , including his predecessor Craig McPherson, will leave the network. amid the fallout from the Bruce Lehrmann Spotlight scandal.
Taylor Auerbach, a former Spotlight senior producer who was Lehrmann’s “babysitter”, alleged in documents filed in Federal Court that they did drugs and partied with sex workers, and Seven was charged more than $10,000.
The court also heard that company expenses had been spent on expensive meals, golf trips and a year’s accommodation for Lehrmann which allegedly cost more than $100,000.
Judge Michael Lee later determined, under a civil standard, that Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins. He is appealing against the decision.
The revelation about Ovadia followed an unrelated claim made on Thursday night that the chairman of rival network Nine Entertainment, Peter Costello, allegedly shoved a reporter from The Australian.
Costello, a former federal treasurer in the Howard government, has denied the allegation, saying: “There is no aggression.”
“I didn’t put a finger on him, or a fist, or anything else,” he said.
A Channel Seven spokesperson confirmed that Robert Ovadia had been placed on leave. Pictured is the Channel Seven headquarters in Melbourne.
Costello said journalist Liam Mendes was walking backwards while filming and tripped over an advertising billboard.
“I’ve seen it happen a million times… journalists go back to the bollards and fall,” he said outside Parliament on Thursday night.
“I didn’t hit him.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for further comment.