TV Star Don Burke Accused Of Being “A High-Grade, Twisted Abuser” & “Australia’s Harvey Weinstein”

TV Star Don Burke Accused Of Being “A High-Grade, Twisted Abuser” & “Australia’s Harvey Weinstein”

One of Australia’s biggest TV stars of the 90s, celebrity gardener Don Burke, has been accused of serial sexual harassment and bullying of women during his time as the star of Channel Nine’s iconic Burke’s Backyard which ran on the network between 1987 and 2004.

A joint ABC/Fairfax investigation reports on allegations that Burke was a “psychotic bully”, a “misogynist” and a “sexual predator” who sexually harassed and bullied a number of female employees during his time with Nine. The report apparently includes 50 women prepared to make allegations against the now 70-year-old.

Burke has vigorously denied the allegations and apparently has called in high-profile lawyers to mount his defence. During its 17 year history, Burke’s Backyard won six Logie Awards.

The Fairfax article quotes David Leckie, then CEO of Nine, who was damning of Burke’s time at the network.

“I’ve been trying to think of Harvey Weinstein-type people [in Australia] and the only one I can ever come up with is Burke. He was a horrible, horrible man,” Leckie said. Although it’s not clear why Nine’s management didn’t act at the time.

Leckie’s predecessor at Nine, Sam Chisolm, said: “Don Burke was a disgrace because of his behaviour internally and externally” before adding he was a “terrible grub”.

The article also quotes Bridget Ninness, a former producer on Burke’s Backyard, who said: “He was a vile, vile human being. He was lewd and he was crude” before adding the constant talk about sex was “designed to confront you and to demean you”. Ninness later settled with Burke out of court for “sustained and systemic psychological abuse”.

Louise Langdon, a former researcher on the gardening program, was reportedly subjected to ongoing harassment by Burke which included trying to remove her clothing, and on another occasion Burke “put his foot into my rear end, with the view to checking the tone of my … my backside”.

Burke reportedly then told Langdon that the firmness of her “backside” wasn’t “up to scratch”.

Langdon also claims Burke made her watch a video of a woman having sex with a donkey. “Don was getting so much pleasure from seeing my reaction to it … I was just, just … speechless,” she said. “I was really overcome.”

Another unnamed woman said she was indecently assaulted by Burke. “I loathed him, he was just a pig. He was lecherous and sinister,” she said.

In a statement sent to B&T this morning, Channel Nine said of the allegations: The current management of Nine is simply not in a position to comment on these specific allegations or on how these sorts of matters may have been dealt with in the past. 

“The allegations are extremely serious; the behaviour described is completely unacceptable and would not be tolerated at Nine today.

“Nine has zero tolerance of sexual harassment and workplace bullying and no employee should be subjected to this kind of behaviour. Everyone is entitled to come to work confident that our workplace is safe, free from harassment and unacceptable behaviour will be dealt with effectively. 

“Nine has robust policies and procedures for dealing with complaints and to support staff in such circumstances.”




Please login with linkedin to comment

ABC Burke's Backyard Channel Nine Don Burke Fairfax Media

Latest News

It’s Friday Quiz Time Again!
  • Media

It’s Friday Quiz Time Again!

Take B&T's trivia quiz for your chance to win a $100 booze voucher and possible cirrhosis of a major internal organ.

by B&T Magazine

B&T Magazine
Big data technology and data science illustration. Data flow concept. Querying, analysing, visualizing complex information. Neural network for artificial intelligence. Data mining. Business analytics.
  • Marketing

SenateSHJ Launches New Trans-Tasman Practices

SenateSHJ has launched a new digital, data and insights capability designed to help clients tackle the growing complexity of communication challenges. SenateSHJ Digital, Data and Insights (DDI) will combine the firm’s existing Digital and Insights functions to create a Trans-Tasman capability focused on digital communication, and the generation and use of data to improve communication. […]

New BrandStory Format From Bonzai Allows 3x More Ad Space on Mobile
  • Media

New BrandStory Format From Bonzai Allows 3x More Ad Space on Mobile

Creative technology platform Bonzai has announced the launch of BrandStory – a new premium mobile ad format. BrandStory offers triple the ad space and 2.8 times greater time in view than single scroll ad formats, addressing the surging demand from brands worldwide for more real estate to drive real results by seamlessly intertwining awareness, exploration […]

B&T’s Search For Australia’s Greatest Ad Heads To Channel 7
  • Advertising

B&T’s Search For Australia’s Greatest Ad Heads To Channel 7

B&T went through the looking glass this morning, with editor-in-chief David Hovenden (above) appearing on Channel 7’s The Morning Show to get the general public involved in our search for Australia’s Greatest Ad. Hovenden chatted with Kylie Gillies and stand-in host Matt Doran about what makes a great ad and showcasing some of our favourites […]

by B&T Magazine

B&T Magazine
Opinion: The Tall Planner’s Kate Smither On The DBA Dilemma
  • Opinion

Opinion: The Tall Planner’s Kate Smither On The DBA Dilemma

The science is not in question – smarter people than I, with far more data, have codified it. The logic is not up for grabs…it makes sense that creating mental shortcuts to your brand keeps you at the top of your mind. Lead image: Kate Smither – Owner, The Tall Planner I wouldn’t even take […]

Opinion

by B&T Magazine

B&T Magazine
African woman using a cellphone in an office alone
  • Marketing

Ortto & Tall Bob Partner To Deliver Better SMS & MMS For Australian & NZ Businesses

Two Australian-born technology providers have joined forces to bring more power and choice to marketers in Australia and New Zealand with mobile messaging that is more local, cost-effective, and integrated. It’s a partnership that sees two Australian software companies come together to deliver a world-class mobile-first solution for marketers building data-driven, personalised, omnichannel campaigns. While […]

Slew Of New Hires At Snap Inc.
  • Media

Slew Of New Hires At Snap Inc.

Snap Inc. has announced a number of new recruits. B&T unaware if it positively impacted SEEK's share price.

Reddit Gets Playful Brand Refresh
  • Technology

Reddit Gets Playful Brand Refresh

This will be of interest to any Reddit fans, graphic designers or lovers of an orange so bright it burns the retinas.

Zitcha & Broadsign Partner To Drive Global In-Store Retail Media Market
  • Advertising

Zitcha & Broadsign Partner To Drive Global In-Store Retail Media Market

Zitcha and Broadsign have teamed up to integrate the Broadsign out-of-home (OOH) advertising platform with Zitcha’s retail media platform. The collaboration empowers retailers to maximise and monetise in-store digital display networks and enables advertising partners to easily view and book available in-store inventory and review campaign performance alongside the retailer’s other media channels. With the […]

Double Rainbouu & 7-Eleven Launch Exclusive Summer Fashion Label
  • Marketing

Double Rainbouu & 7-Eleven Launch Exclusive Summer Fashion Label

Today, 7-Eleven has announced a one-of-a-kind collaboration with the popular Sydney-based anti-resort wear label Double Rainbouu. Dropping tomorrow, December 1, just in time for summer, this limited-edition capsule will infuse the fashion brand’s rebellious spirit with a distinctly iconic 7-Eleven flavour. The unisex collection features five must-have styles comprising two signature Hawaiian shirts, a peaked cap, a bucket hat […]