For almost two decades Don Burke was one of the most powerful men in Australia's entertainment industry. His popular gardening program Burke's Backyard was a ratings juggernaut for the Nine Network until it was unceremoniously axed in 2004.
But now a major Fairfax Media/ABC investigation can reveal that behind the scenes those who worked with Burke claim he was a "psychotic bully", a "misogynist" and a "sexual predator" who indecently assaulted, sexually harassed and bullied a string of female employees.
"He was a vile, vile human being," said Bridget Ninness, a former producer on Burke's Backyard, who later launched legal action against Burke for psychological abuse. "He was lewd and he was crude" and his constant talk of sex was "designed to confront you and to demean you", she said.
Louise Langdon, a former researcher, was subjected to ongoing harassment by Burke which included trying to remove her top, and on another occasion Burke "put his foot into my rear end, with the view to checking the tone of my ... my backside". He then stated that the firmness of her "backside" wasn't "up to scratch".
"I loathed him, he was just a pig. He was lecherous and sinister," said another former researcher who alleges she was indecently assaulted by Burke.
Even David Leckie, the former chief executive of the Nine Network, said he wasn't surprised to receive our call about Burke. "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," he said.
Unlike Weinstein, Burke is not accused of rape, but the more than 50 people interviewed during this investigation have made serious allegations about Burke's actions.
"Don Burke was a disgrace because of his behaviour internally and externally," said Sam Chisholm, Leckie's predecessor at Nine.
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@kopenhagen5 wrote:Don Burke, Rolf Harris, Robert Hughes.
All seemingly and supposed to be respected Australian father figures...................I shake my head in disappointment.
I wouldn't be so quick to be disappointed. It could be people who felt slighted....maybe didn't get hired for so and so job, a woman that liked him but the feelings weren't mutual. I'm seeing these reports on a daily basis and am disgusted by them. How low will the media sink? Are the stories true? Don't know, but the accusers should held responsible to be able to back up their stories.
And why wasn't it reported at the time? Here it is over a decade later and these people are willing to trash a persons reputation for their 15 minutes of fame. Easy to do these days....just throw it out there and wait for your payday. Who can I destroy to get my nice fat check?
Weinstien looks like a dirtbag, I've always thought that. Can't judge a book by it's cover? I did. Am I right? I think so. But with such a bad reputation I'm 99.99% sure everyone knew about him. Yet all these women went to his hotel rooms to discuss a script? He'd answer the door in a robe and they'd go in anyway?
What do they all have in common? They all reaped the rewards of going into his room and became rich famous actresses. Now they want to complain?
I shouldn't need to say it...but FTR, I don't agree with using a position of authority to pressure a woman into doing....anything. Never have. But you can bet on this...in this sue happy world if I ever strike it rich I'll be wearing hidden body cams and record every....everything. BS that anyone could make these claims 10 plus years later, even 40 years later without a shred of proof.
