Lisa Wilkinson in 'hysterics' when she told Ten's CEO she would have to sell her multi-million dollar home to cover legal fees - as the eye-watering sum of her TV wardrobe is revealed
- Emails released by the Federal Court
- Emails reveal Lisa Wilkinson’s distress
- Believed she would have to sell her home to cover fees
EXCLUSIVE
Emails reveal Lisa Wilkinson was ‘almost hysterical’ when she told Channel Ten’s CEO that she would have to sell her multi-million dollar home if the network didn’t cover her legal fees.
The emails were released by the Federal Court this week amid Wilkinson’s civil case against Network Ten over a $700,000 bill she racked up after hiring her own defence barrister for Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case.
Wilkinson argued that she had to hire top defamation barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC, rather than using the network’s barrister, Matthew Collins KC, because Ten did not have her best interests in mind and would not properly defend her.
The network claimed Wilkinson’s defence was a duplication of its defence, and therefore the fees associated with the hiring of Ms Chrysanthou were unnecessary and unreasonable.
Wilkinson argued the network initially promised to pay her bills – which was evident in an email Bev McGarvey – the CEO of Ten’s parent company, Paramount – sent to lawyer Tasha Smithies, along with PR personnel and an executive.
Emails also revealed Wilkinson had a $100,000 annual wardrobe allowance, which was then reduced to $40,000 after November 18, 2022 when she stepped down as regular host on The Project.
Wilkinson argued the network initially promised to pay her bills – which was evident in an email Bev McGarvey (above) – the CEO of Ten’s parent company, Paramount – sent to lawyer Tasha Smithies
Emails also revealed Wilkinson had a $100,000 annual wardrobe allowance, which was then reduced to $40,000 after November 18, 2022 when she stepped down as regular host on The Project.
On June 7 last year, Ms McGarvey said she called Wilkinson for a welfare check, noting the TV host was ‘very upset’ and describing the conversation as ‘challenging’.
The call took place three days after Wilkinson was shown in an unfavorable light in a 7News Spotlight special featuring an interview with Mr Lehrmann.
Ms McGarvey wrote: ‘I called Lisa and asked how she was given it was a tough week. I was genuinely concerned for her as were have heard she was not in a great place.
‘She was almost immediately upset and started talking about her legal fees and how she would have to sell her house.
‘I would say her tone was almost hysterical.’
According to the email, Wilkinson’s legal bills amounted to $20,000 at that time.
Ms McGarvey pointed out that Wilkinson was ‘still getting paid by us on full salary and lives in a lavish multi-million dollar home with a pool and a tennis court and harbour views’.
The CEO said Wilkinson continually mentioned her fees, to which she said the network would do what it was obligated to do.
‘She said if I actually cared about her, I would make sure we paid her legal fees,’ Ms McGarvey wrote in the email.
Wilkinson made ‘irrational’ claims about the network’s choice of lawyers because they worked for News Corp.
‘She seemed to imply, although it was confusing, that she thought that meant our lawyers were feeding stories to News Corp,’ Ms McGarvey said.
Network Ten hired corporate law firm Thomson Geer to defend it in Mr Lehrmann’s defamation case, which also works for News Corp.
However, Ms McGarvey also pointed out that the lawyers Wilkinson hired to represent her had also worked for Lachlan Murdoch and News Corp.
She accused the network of ‘hating’ her, according to the email, and was so angry and upset at various points that she could not speak.
‘I told her this was not the case; I told her I was concerned about her,’ the email read.
‘She was extremely upset and raised her voice several times about how we have not stopped all the bad press about her, and it has destroyed her reputation.
‘She believes the Logies was the moment it became untenable for her and she blames us for that.’
Ms McGarvey said she tried to stay calm, but became agitated and had to take deep breaths to calm down.
‘She in no way feels she has done anything wrong at all,’ the email said.
By the end of the 30-minute conversation, Ms McGarvey worked out that Wilkinson was concerned about two things – her reputation and her legal fees.
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