Chris Smith has been suspended in the wake of allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards female colleagues at a Christmas party.
The Sky News and 2GB host has been temporarily taken off the air while the allegations are thoroughly investigated.
Smith was attending a work Christmas function at Sydney’s The Establishment when he allegedly left one female colleague in tears, while another staffer was prompted to strike him.
Ahead of the event Kath Butler, Sky’s general manager of HR, sent out a reminder saying, “This is a work event so please be respectful of others as you do when in the office.”
A Sky News Australia spokesperson said, “The person involved has been suspended while an investigation into the allegations is undertaken.”
“The welfare of our staff is our absolute priority. We have a zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate conduct and take these allegations very seriously.”
A spokesperson from 2GB said Smith had also been stood down pending the investigation by Sky.
“2GB has been made aware of serious allegations against Chris Smith, arising from the Sky News Christmas party … Sky has advised they are conducting an investigation,” the spokesman said.
“Chris has been stood down from his duties at 2GB until the investigation has concluded.”
This is the second time Smith, 60, has been taken off air for his behaviour after a drunken bender at 2GB’s Christmas party in 2009.
At the 2009 event, he said he was drunk on champagne and red wine and “loaded on the wrong antidepressants” at the 2GB staff Christmas party and could not remember harassing four female colleagues.
Image credits: Instagram
