Channel 7 issues statement after anchors caught ripping Novak Djokovic

Get our Pub Quizzes and latest news straight to you by clicking here »

Channel 7 has pledged to 'find an outcome' from the 'illegal' leak

An Australian news channel has vowed to find an outcome after a video of two news anchors criticising Novak Djokovic off-air went viral on social media. 7News Melbourne presenters Rebecca Maddern and Mike Amor were discussing the current saga surrounding Serbian tennis star Djokovic and the controversy of him being allowed into Australia without a Covid-19 vaccination. However, while the pair were off-air, the camera was still rolling and somebody was able to record every word that they said about the world number one. The video was then posted on social media and has since gone viral, with Channel 7 furious at what has occurred. Seven Network Director of News and Public Affairs, Craig McPherson, has issued a fierce statement against the individual or individuals who recorded the video and uploaded it online. He said:

"The illegal recording was of a private conversation between two colleagues. It was an underhanded, cowardly act in breach of the Victorian Listening Devices legislation the perpetrator of which will be accordingly dealt with when found."

Channel 7 managing director, Lewis Martin, added to 3AW Radio: "There has been an illegal recording of a private conversation. It is something that is going to be looked at and is being looked at thoroughly.

"We are going to have an outcome. What has happened here is illegal." https://twitter.com/CouchNish/status/1481102083072102400

'A bulls* f*ing excuse'

During the off-air rant, Maddern turned to Amor and said: "Whatever way you look at it, Novak Djokovic is a lying, sneaky a***hole."

Amor replied: "He's an a***hole."

Maddern added: "Like whatever way you look at it, it's unfortunate that everybody else stuffed up around him."

Amor then reiterated: "That's it, I mean he's an a***hole." Maddern also claimed that Djokovic had a 'bulls*** f***ing excuse' and 'fell over his own 'f***ing lies'.

This prompted Amor to say the Serb believes 'he's going to get away with it' - a point that Maddern agreed with. Following this, Madden continued, saying: "I think most fair minded people would say, 'Look, the bloke's an a***hole'. Did we, did they do the right thing by him? I don't know." Maddern replied: "No. I don't think so."

After Amor stated that 'they f***ed it up' and that 'that's the problem', Maddern said: "I don't think, I don't think anything was gained by putting him in [an] immigration hotel."

He then said: "No, but the trouble is, how do you justify the person [who is] also on the same plane with him who also has..."

His colleague argued that 'you can't justify it', replying: "But the fact is, life is never fair".

She then followed this up by claiming: "Some people fly first class and some people, do you know what, it's never fair."

Amor replied: "Yeah. But that poor Czech girl that was f***ing sent home. Hunted down and sent home." After winning his appeal against deportation from Australia, Djokovic has since admitted to attending an interview the day after he tested positive for Covid-19, and has blamed his agent for declaring he had not travelled in the two weeks before his flight to Australia. Related links:

Top Story

Ireland’s top five greatest sports stars of all time

So many to choose from. Katie Taylor’s era-defining farewell show at Croke Park has once again put the question of Ireland’s all-time greatest sportsperson at the forefront of online debate. And to many, it is a cut-and-dried topic, with the Bray icon the undisputed, pound-for-pound No. 1. But it’s not that simple, and is slightly […]

Football

1 month ago