An ugly war of words has broken out between controversial radio host Chris Smith and his former colleague Ray Hadley.
Smith, who was sacked from Sky News Australia and 2GB for inappropriate behaviour at a Christmas party last year, ripped into Hadley on the first day of his new gig on the online talkback station TNT Radio describing him as a “shocking hypocrite”.
“One critic in particular, the former bully boy colleague of mine at 2GB who shall remain nameless, he apparently described me as a monster I’m told,” Smith said during his program.
“What a hypocrite, what a shocking hypocrite, he spent decades at two radio stations bullying staff … I know these people well.”
In 2019 Hadley apologised to former colleague Chris Bowen over bullying accusations.
Smith crowed that Hadley was sober when he was accused of bullying, while his indescretions were done when he was drunk.
“He didn’t need to be sloshed to carry out his vendettas, he didn’t do it smashed, he did it sober … he did it in the daylight hours, he did it willingly,” Smith raged. “And he calls me some of monster for doing what I did that night, well I’ll wear what I did much easier than having to wear his record of behaviour.”
Smith returned serve after Hadley took a cheeky swipe at him last week. On Hadley’s show, a caller asked the broadcaster if TNT Radio host Christmas parties.
“I’ve got absolutely no idea whether they have Christmas parties, they might have to suspend them in view of recent events,” Hadley said.
Hadley famously lashed Smith last year when news broke of his axing: “Young women should be protected,” he said during his morning show in December.
“They shouldn't’ be going to Christmas parties and being monstered by drunken fools. I have no sympathy for him.”
Sordid past
On Twitter Smith refers to himself as a “broadcaster under reconstruction. We can rebuild him”.
He checked himself into a mental health facility in December after apologising profusely for his “humiliating” behaviours.
He was publicly ousted from a number of high-profile positions in the media – at Sky News and 2GB – due to misconduct at a work Christmas party.
“I put my head down and bum up and forgot about getting jobs and sorted myself out once and for all,” he said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated a job more in my life because it is a lifebuoy that has come just at the right time for me.
“I put my head down and bum up and forgot about getting jobs and sorted myself out once and for all.
“I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated a job more in my life because it is a lifebuoy that has come just at the right time for me.
The Daily Telegraph spoke to sources at the party who described what they saw.
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The event was held at The Ivy Sunroom on George Street in the Sydney CBD at lunch time, from noon to 5pm, with guests kicking on later at The Establishment.
One source said Smith walked in “like a dinosaur with a huge ego”. “He was actually thinking these women would be interested in him,” they told the Telegraph. “It is revolting.”
Smith then allegedly grabbed one female colleague on the bum as the party was winding up before she turned around and punched him twice on the shoulder and told him to “f**k off”, according to a Sky News employee who wished to remain anonymous.
