Opinions divided. Haussegger: “Bimbo.” Armytage: “Bully.”
Seven presenter hits back at criticism from ABC presenter following that Sunrise sketch.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News, Top Stories
Samantha Armytage has responded to criticism from ABC presenter Virginia Haussegger following last week’s much-denounced Sunrise sketch with Kristin Davis.
Haussegger presents the ABC News in Canberra.
Here are excerpts from two print media columns today. You can click on either to read them in full.
What the hell is wrong with those daft women on commercial breakfast TV! Why are they winding up the ditzy dial? And why are they so dead keen to present themselves as mindless bimbos?
As a woman who has spent 25 years on television, believe me, I ask these questions with great reluctance. And frustration.
But seriously, what on earth is going on in Samantha Armytage’s head? Not much it would seem, given the pitiful episode she and her gal pals put actress Kristin Davis through on Sunrise on Thursday. It was gender-cringe TV at its worst.
The waste of time was one thing. But the mindless treatment of Davis as little more than a girly play-thing is what the women on this show ought to be ashamed of.
Their nonsense nattering does a major disservice to feminism. If Armytage and Co. don’t give a hoot about feminism – fine. But perhaps they should think about women like themselves – glamorous, privileged women who are in positions of power and influence – and how hard others have fought for such women to be taken seriously. To be heard. And to have their views considered worthy of prime time, serious discussion.
There are plenty of pretty women on Australian TV. But when it comes to the important stuff of the day – the stuff that makes the news – there is a screaming lack of representation of women’s knowledge, wisdom and expertise.
Which only makes the Sunrise bimbo brigade’s antics all that more depressing.
Why is it that some of those who shout the loudest about feminism are the most unkind to other women?
Feminism means different things to different people. To me, it has always been about empowering and supporting other women. For most, it happens naturally. Not all wear it like a badge of honour.
Whatever your interpretation, it does not provide a license to attack — personally and professionally — another woman.
To use petty barbs such as “bimbo”, “dumb”, “ditzy”, “daft” to prove a point, does not make you a feminist.
It makes you a bully.
I am eternally grateful and in awe of the women who paved the way for people like me to receive a good education, pay off a HECS debt and work bloody hard.
I have many, many wonderful girlfriends and I adore the women I work with — I have been mentored by incredible women, and in turn mentored some amazing female colleagues myself.
I have many female friends throughout this industry.
I was raised by an extremely strong and capable working mother, and my sister and I are extremely strong and capable working women.
I get on with the job. And I give back as much as I can. I’m not perfect, but I am most certainly not a “mindless bimbo”.
22 Responses
Even in most of her sentences Armitage uses “I” to begin.
Says it all really.
I, Me, My (or derivative) count.
Hausegger: 1 Armitage: 17
Usually i am one of the commenters who defends Sam Armytage. However on this instance i cant. She unfortunately was part of a skit which was offensive to Kristin Davis and her current work. that skit was ill thought out and ill conceived, also self indulgent and unprofessional. I completely understand where Virginia Housseger was comming from. Sam is pretty smart but that skit was not. This could backfire for 7 because they wont be able to get a decent celeb who does similar serious work now. They have just given Today a free kick, bad business. the reason why Sam has copped the brunt of the criticism is because she is one of the faces of the Network and a high profile the other two are just footnotes and thus not worth mentioning.
Hausseger raised legitimate points, none of which Armytage actually addressed. Instead, Sam’s only defence was “you can’t attack me because I’m a woman”, which is not as persuasive. Additionally, she starts enumerating all the women in her life, like a racist who says “I have a black friend!”
If you do not wish to be perceived as a ‘bimbo’….don’t behave like one..
She was playing a character. People who call her a bimbo don’t seem to get this.
It was a comedy skit.why is that so hard to comprehend
Breakfast TV and Radio have been conducting stupid stunts and humiliating guests for a long time. It’s not just Armytage. There would be producers, talent finders and the director all involved. They clearly lie to guests then try to pressure them into doing things they don’t want to on air to generate novel entertainment and one up each other. The 2DAY affair was the inevitable consequence.
It’s got nothing to do with Feminism, except to an ABC reporter. It’s just embarrassingly bad TV.
Sam missed the point of Virginia’s article, which proves the point of what Virginia was saying.
Virginia is just grandstanding commercial breakfast tv is full of comedy skits.its not the first time this has been done on breakfast TV.shame on Virginia.her attack was uncalled for.
I don’t blame Sam for this skit- I blame a Michael Pell. Sam was just doing her job.
Yes it was bad but Michael Pell being such an “experienced” producer should of had better judgement..
No, Sam still does not get it. She is a person who always think the story is all about her.
It is no coincidence that there are always so many stories about Sam’s behaviour being leaked to the media. David, why not ask Chris Bath for a comment about this? Or many of the others who have worked with Sam?
Sam always makes it about herself. Her interviewing skills are poor, and she always has an excuse. I can’t do that my skirt is too tight, not in high heels. She knows what segments are coming up from the 5pm production phone hookup the previous day, dress appropriately.She must be loving all the extra people on set these days, doing her job. More time for her to bludge and look good. Sam just missed the point of Virginia Haussegger’s article. It wasn’t a woman attacking women, it was about women not performing and I quote ” there is a screaming lack of representation of women’s knowledge, wisdom and expertise” Maybe Sam should get some copies of ABC New Breakfast and see how Virginia Trioli performs.
In her defence I see media frequently writing Armytage stories, because it gets them clicks. Today there is one on how she once used a men’s loo. I specifically asked her about this trend last year, you can read here.
Was the skit stupid? Yes. But there were 2 other Sunrise presenters that were part of it, and Sam has been singled out because she’s an easy target.
Did Kristin get the platform to spread the message about her refugee work – absolutely. I think she just misunderstood the context of the skit.
Isn’t it funny how the tides of opinion turn – when Mel was hosting she was the ‘tired, mumsy’ host, and Sam was the breath of fresh air. Now Sam’s the ‘tired, ditzy’ host and Edwina is the breath of fresh air (these are not my opinions – just what I’ve gauged from comments around the place.
I agree with Sam, she is just doing what she is told/paid to do, hey for $8,000+ a week I’d happily be a ‘bimbo’… Some of these women who are vicious and relentless in attacking others (men and women) just comes off as feral and unnecessarily unlike able
Sam just missed the point of Virginia Haussegger’s article. It wasn’t a woman attacking women, it was about women not performing and I quote ” there is a screaming lack of representation of women’s knowledge, wisdom and expertise”
Tall poppy syndrome if you ask me. What did Sam do that was so wrong> A few minutes of bad TV. OMG, lets hang her. For goodness sake people. For Virginia to call Sam a mindless Bimbo is so offensive and extreme.
I am no Armytage fan but Haussegger was brutal. The skit was ridiculous but that comes down to the producers not Armytage. The thing about Armytage that paints her in such a bad light is her inability to take responsibility for anything. Her comment “you’re not the one sitting here in an ugly wig” when Davis expressed her displeasure about the skit added fuel to the fire as did her interview later that day where she was flippant. A response of “I am truly sorry if Davis was upset. It certainly wasn’t our intention” would have seen all this put to bed immediately. Instead Koch leads the apology the following day while Armytage and co sat there playing the victim.
It’s a tired old record when it comes to Armytage. The fall out with Bath is a prime example. As too the situation with the stylist.
With all of these Sam stories that keep popping up I always think: where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
She brings it on herself with her almost weekly gaffes.