Australia’s Seven Network Slammed For 'Sexy Santas' Dance At Staff Meeting

An Australian news channel is facing criticism after footage of a group of “sexy Santas” dancing during a typical staff meeting went viral. Seven West Media, the parent company of Seven Network, reportedly held the controversial meeting in Perth on Friday. The meeting was to announce Chris Dore as The West Australian’s editor-in-chief, Sarah-Jane Tasker as its first female editor and Adrian Lowe at The Sunday Times’ weekend newspaper as their first LGBT appointment. But that standard meeting appeared to have veered into an unlikely territory when a gaggle of scantily clad female dancers wearing Santa hats and short red dresses came on stage.

The news was first reported by the Australian Financial Review (AFR). As per the publication, the clip sees the four women in front of Deputy News Director Ray Kuka, who is there desk-drumming, before breaking into a can-can line to Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas.

After the event, a picture of the scene was posted online and received harsh criticism, with some claiming it looked like something from the 1980s. Some of the female employees reportedly left in protest after expressing shock.

“This does not belong in any workplace. I would cringe if that happened where I worked. It demeans EVERYBODY,” a user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Seven West Media’s spokesperson defended the dancers, stating they were a part of the “Perth institution” that is the Christmas Pageant, reports news.com.au.

Tasker told Guardian Australia that because the event was “an upfront-style presentation,” complete with pyrotechnics and sizzle reels, rather than a typical staff meeting, the media’s response to it was “way over the top.”

The Christmas-themed exotic dance comes to light just weeks after ABC’s Four Corners program aired an episode claiming a culture of sexual harassment is rampant within Seven.

As per the Sky News, due to legal difficulties surrounding the episode, many scenes were modified prior to broadcast.

The pending edition was edited to take out an interview with ex-Seven CEO Tim Worner’s former mistress, Amber Harrison, even when Harrison is shown in promotionals for the program, the report added.

In June, Seven booted out veteran journalist Robert Ovadia from the company after probing a claim that he acted inappropriately towards another female colleague.

The network’s most senior investigative reporter and fill-in presenter for its flagship Seven News program has also been sacked, although Ovadia reportedly denies the allegation and is taking legal action against Seven over wrongful termination.

News.co.au reports that after the ABC investigation, shares of parent firm Seven Holdings Group and Seven West Media had declined; however, following Wednesday’s financial results, both stocks witnessed early gains.