Sacked Channel 7 journalist Robert Ovadia allegedly sent an image of a flaccid penis to a colleague before being dumped by the channel.
Ovadia, who has worked at the chain for 23 years, revealed on Friday that he had been fired by management.
“Yes, I have been sacked and there will be more to say about it in the appropriate forum at the appropriate time,” he told The Australian.
Ovadia was first resigned by the network on June 7 while the investigation was ongoing.
The network said: “Seven is investigating allegations of inappropriate behavior by Robert Ovadia. »
Channel Seven senior reporter Robart Ovadia (pictured) has been resigned while an allegation of inappropriate behavior by him towards a woman is investigated. He has since been fired
On Saturday, sources told The Australian that Ovadia allegedly sent an image of a flaccid penis to a male colleague.
A male newsroom colleague reportedly asked for a “dick pic” while Ovadia was covering a trial involving historic child molestation accusations against former Australian swimming coach Dick Caine.
It was reported days earlier that the allegations related to emails exchanged between Ovadia and a former Seven colleague four years ago.
It was also alleged that a photoshopped image of a young female producer was at the center of the decision to fire Ovadia, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The image is believed to depict a cartoon version of the producer, but it was not done in a sexual manner.
According to Daily Telegraph sources, Ovadia was fired after ABC’s Four Corners became aware of the image and began inquiring about it.
It appears that the young producer, who no longer works at Channel 7, has never officially complained about the image.
However, the image was sent to Four Corners, which is investigating newsroom cultures for an upcoming programme.
There is no indication the allegations are proven and Ovadia has previously said they are unfounded and that he will defend himself.
It is understood Ovadia has engaged legal representation.
Channel Seven has not commented on the dismissal revealed by Mr Ovadia (pictured: Seven Network headquarters in Melbourne)
Anthony De Ceglie, who recently became Channel Seven’s news director, told staff he had a “zero tolerance” approach to bad behavior in the newsroom after a number of high-profile male employees, including his predecessor Craig McPherson, have left the channel amid the fallout from the Bruce Lehrmann Spotlight scandal.
Taylor Auerbach, former lead producer of Spotlight, alleged in documents filed in Federal Court that they took drugs and partied with sex workers, and that more than $10,000 was billed to Seven, which which the channel denied.
The court also heard the company’s expenses had gone towards expensive meals, golf trips and a year’s accommodation for Lehrmann, which reportedly cost more than $100,000.
Rival network Channel 9 is also battling scandal after The Australian revealed that former news boss Darren Wick left the station following a complaint by a female employee.
Other staff have since made allegations of bullying and sexual harassment within the network, prompting Nine to conduct its own investigation.
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