Don Burke denies sexual abuse allegations
The former host of Burke’s Backyard, Don Burke, has been accused of sexually harassing and indecently assaulting women who worked on the top rating program during the 1980s and 1990s.
A joint investigation by The ABC and Fairfax discovered claims from a number of women who worked alongside Mr Burke.
Two former researchers on the show claimed he groped their breasts and a young actress claimed he told her she would have to do an audition topless, for his TV program.
Another said Mr Burke showed her a bestiality porn video.
“When journalist Tracey Spicer announced that she was investigating the behaviour of powerful Australian men in the media in the wake of America’s now infamous sex scandal involving film mogul Harvey Weinstein, she was inundated with reports. One name kept recurring – Don Burke.”
— Nic Carrington-Sima (@NicCarrington) November 26, 2017
In a statement released on Sunday, Mr Burke said these were “baseless” claims of ex-employees with grudges.
“I also believe that this publication is opportunistic and intended to severely damage my reputation, by trying to link my alleged behaviour with the appalling behaviour of Harvey Weinstein, which has gained a lot of media traction,” he said.
“The bitter irony is that I have had a lifelong opposition to sexism and misogyny. Burke’s Backyard was a lone bastion of anti-misogyny from its inception in 1987.”
