Chris Smith: 2GB radio host sacked by Nine over alleged drunken treatment of women

Nine Entertainment has sacked 2GB broadcaster Chris Smith for the second time following his alleged drunken treatment of women at a Sydney venue after a Sky News Australia Christmas party.

Twenty-four years ago Smith was sacked as chief of staff of A Current Affair after exposing himself to female colleagues in the Nine boardroom after a farewell lunch.

The recent incident involved inappropriate behaviour toward Sky colleagues at the Establishment, an upmarket bar in the Sydney CBD, after the Sky party at the Ivy.

Nine’s managing director of radio, Tom Malone, said: “Chris’s behaviour represents a serious breach of his contract and is not aligned with the values of 2GB.”

Smith has also been suspended by Sky News Australia, which employs him as a presenter.

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“The welfare of our staff is our absolute priority,” a Sky spokesperson said. “We have a zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate conduct and take these allegations very seriously.”

Smith has managed to resurrect his career on several occasions after inappropriate behaviour stretching back to the 1998 incident at Channel Nine.

After a stint working in China on English language radio, Smith was re-employed by Nine as a newsreader. But in 2009 he was stood down from his role on 2GB after allegedly groping a female colleague at a Christmas party.

Nine’s decision to terminate Smith on Tuesday came after his 2GB colleague Ray Hadley said he should not return to the station’s airwaves.

“What happened at the Christmas party last weekend is not wokeness,” Hadley told listeners. “He was sacked in 2009 for his performance at a Christmas party – I don’t think he should ever return to our network.”

Hadley’s sentiments echoed those of Sky News presenters Andrew Bolt and Rita Panahi who said on their programs on Monday night that he should not return.

Bolt told viewers Smith allegedly “got drunk and groped a woman and propositioned several others”.

The News Corp columnist and broadcaster said “he’s done it before, long before we gave him another chance” and “I am stunned he does drink at parties”.

“I say to Chris good luck but goodbye,” Bolt said.

Panahi: “What he did on Saturday night, how he made a number of women feel, means that in my opinion he can never be on this network again.”

Smith apologised on Monday for his “humiliating” behaviour, citing alcoholism and mental health struggles for his inappropriate conduct.

“I am beyond gutted and devastated to know I have upset my colleagues after our Christmas party,” Smith said.

“I apologise profusely to the women I upset. That’s not the man I am at work ever, as they will all attest. They have been so supportive to me and do not deserve such drunken treatment.”