Don Burke - another accused abuser of women

[imastawka]

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.

More here -

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/a-high-grade-twisted-abuser-don-burke-a-sexual-harasser-and...

[davidc4430]

settle petal.

as i said, i have no idea if hes guilty or not.

i just say trial by media is no way to find anyone guilty of anything. in this country we have a legal system.

put him in a court, bring on the acusations and evidence and let him be judged.

i'm not calling any of the women who are saying he did things liers. i just pointed out another story of a person saying another person groped them sexually only to have it proved in a "COURT" to be a LIE!

if mr burke is guilty, then send him to hell.

but we do not have all the facts, only whats been given to us by the media. i will not hang him on a media presentation.

[springyzone]

---

@davidc4430 wrote:

Everyone is given their day in court, lets not convict until then.

is he the scumbag being presented "by the media?" i have no idea.

but reardless of 1 acuser or 50, hes innocent until proven guilty.

please lets not turn this into a reality TV show for ratings.

Vote the celebrity guilty of a crime, 7:30pm tonight!

---

I agree, but this is certainly not the attitude of most on this forum when eg it came to claims against people like Cardinal Pell, even though there was definite proof he was overseas during the period of some of the claims that wre alleged to have taken place in Australia.

My own suspicion is that Don Burke may have been a difficult person, more into the bullying and crude comments than actual rape but it is interesting to look at some of the accusers.

How interesting is this:

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.

In other words, the former chief executive producer knew of a problem with Burke. There were probably several complaints. But did any of those in authority at the station ever go to the police to report his assaults, did they pull him up & caution him about his bahaviour? I don't think so-or maybe not till 2004 anyway.

He was a star, he was earning the station lots of money, so they probably put up with a lot they didn't like before they pulled the plug.

The media get all outraged any time they hear about other cases of sexual abuse & the call goes up to prosecute those who 

knew or had been told about it but did nothing'. Yet do we ever see the same standards placed on themselves? Never.

Do you think David Leckie is shaking in his shoes, worried he will now be prosecuted? Hasn't entered his head or else he would never have said what he said.

My own belief is I think we can only blame those who actually did the deeds. Other people back 20-50 years ago who heard of things or were told things didn't always know how to deal with it. They were different times & the learning curve about it all didn't really kick in till the late '90s.

[givemeaspell]

Pretty sure you dont go to court for being a bully and a jerk . The guy has been named and shamed and I'd say that's the extent of it - no sexual assault claims unless I have missed them? So what could he be charged with? However if the women have found their voices to say hey this kind of behaviour is not appropriate and will not be tolerated anymore then good on them
Regards
Petal

[springyzone]

There is one accusation I've read of where he tried to take a woman's top off, which could be seen as a sexual assault.

And another where he kicked a woman in the backside.

But I think when it comes to adults dealing with adults, things can get a bit blurry. This is true now & definitely true in the past. For instance, if a man made an unwanted pass at a woman, that's not necessarily a matter for a court. A man could claim his misread the signals.

I suspect with quite a few 'celebrities' in the past though, they took liberties and made passes, touched women as a 'right'.

As for bullying, it would seem Burke definitely qualified at least on that front & management were well aware of it but did nothing.

That was par for the course in those days. Times have changed.

I wonder what other media celebrities are out there, worried about past sins coming back to haunt them.

[enigmabear]

Well, he certainly has the 'as' right. However, the next letters are'nt pergers

[davidc4430]

Don Burke accused of using offensive language towards couple who lost family in Bali bombing

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-29/burke-accused-of-using-offensive-language-toward-couple/920307...

Again, i dont know if the things being said are true but if they are it paints a pretty horrible picture of mr burke.

But now we are printing allegations, told by someone who wasnt there when the things were supposedly said. just recounting what someone else had said he said!

maybe in days to come someone who actually was there when he said those terrible things will come forward and say 'yes i heard those things tight out of dons mouth'

so this morning on ABC radio, we had Keri-Anne Kenerly telling everyone how when Don was a guest on her TV show off camera she found Don to be quite foul mouthed (not a crime) but she didnt actually witness anything like the things being said now....but, well, shes not suprised!

funny how shes selling her New Book!

Come on, lets get the real people who he has done things too and give the "ME TOO'S" the boot unless they back it up with more than "so i heard"

[davidc4430]

BTW, i was listening to Don Burke doing little 'filler' bits on radio way before he went on TV, he'd come on in little pre-recorded spots giving handy tips and what to plant now' segments.

how is it this guy who is now being put up as a creepy, weird leche who cant keep his hands to himself guy ever got past those radio bits?

did he suddenly change into werwolf don only after he was on TV?

i dont think men who are like that change from being 'nice' guys, if they are leches they are leches.

its so much like rolf harris, way after his career is over suddenly hes all these terrible things.

Don was being filmed a lot of the time and nothing was ever filmed showing this "other Don Burke"?

TV stations have allways had "out take" videos, i saw some of them once as a relative worked where he had acess to them. they contained all sorts of stuff not ok for broadcast. so if Don said or did something while the cameras were rolling it would have been out these somewhere.

[performance_parts_clearance_centre]

With specific regard to Burke and Hughes, stories were always circulating about them being "difficult". Hughes didn't turn up to his own farewell party when he left "Hey Dad" (which made the front page of "TV Week"), and there was more than one article about Burke being arrogant and hard to deal with.

I doubt many saw Rolf coming, though...

[lyndal1838]

David I saw an interview with the young woman who accused Don Burke of trying to remove her top.  She painted a very graphic picture

of a dirty old man.  She was a researcher and the incident happened on a business trip according to her.

When Don was asked about the incident he looked genuinely surprised and just stated that researchers did not go on business trips.

It seems to me that this incident could be proved either way....it should be easy enough to prove who was on  the particular trip.

[imastawka]

David, when these men are 'nobodies' they can't afford to behave that way.

They don't get the work if they treat people that way.

It's only when they become huge TV stars, they use their power, and no-one will

say anything.  Even TV execs knew about it, but Don Burke was a 'cash cow' for

the 9 Network.

No-one kills the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Other stories are emerging.   They can't all be wrong.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5124161/Don-Burke-BANNED-flying-Qantas.html