The sex scandal engulfing the Seven Network has taken another turn after three women who it had been alleged had a relationship with the CEO, Tim Worner, have threatened media outlets with legal action denying the claim and saying they’ll sue if their names are made public.
Over the weekend, former Seven employee Amber Harrison (pictured above) made her affair with Worner, which apparently lasted 18 months from 2012, public following claims she was not paid the full amount promised to her to keep the relationship quiet. It’s believed Harrison received as much as $350,000 from Seven – but wanted as much as $2 million – but has since spent a large portion of that on legal bills.
Both Seven and Worner have admitted the affair took place, however it was before Worner became the network’s CEO. Seven has also backed Worner and said he would continue in the job describing the affair “as unacceptable but a private matter”.
Harrison took her complaint to the Human Rights Commission and in her affidavit alleged Worner had sexual relations with at least four other women at the network – including a high profile actress and on-air presenter.
The Australian is reporting that it is three of these four women who deny any relationship with Worner and are threatening legal action if their names are made public. News Corp, publisher of The Australian, has received a letter from the women’s lawyer stating they had never had “any sexual or other inappropriate encounter with Mr Worner” and would pursue defamation proceedings if outed.
In her complaint to the Human Rights Commission – published on Fairfax Media sites – Harrison claimed Worner was having a sexual affair with one of the network’s presenters. She claimed the relationship deteriorated and “Mr Worner and Ms [name withheld] having verbal arguments in the office which were witnessed by senior and support staff”. However, soon after the woman was promoted onto a (unnamed) top-rating show, something Harrison described as “significant and unusual career advancement”.
Meanwhile, the erstwhile Daily Mail have published lewd text messages said to have been sent by Worner to Harrison during their affair. In one of the texts, Worner allegedly says of one evening of sex between the pair: “I think my performance was drug assisted and if you can go dirtier I am slightly scared, but you are F hot so I will take the chance” which appears to validate Harrison’s claims the two regularly used cocaine to enhance the intimacy.
