Channel Nine boss quits high profile position after saying she was going to get ‘drunk’ at the Logies and making X-rated comment about Jimmy Barnes

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The head of Channel Nine, who was in a prominent role as the executive producer of A Current Affair, stepped down following the controversy caused by her intoxicated behavior at the Logie Awards and subsequent social media posts.

In a recent email sent on Thursday, Amy McCarthy announced that she would be taking a break or stepping aside from her duties, which comes after her controversial remarks on Facebook earlier this month.

A newsroom veteran, previously holding a higher position but recently demoted to ‘senior producer’, caught fans off guard with a social media post announcing her arrival at the Logies awards ceremony and expressing that she might indulge in some drinks.

‘I can get drunk now. You thought you’d been spammed before! Standby!’ she said.

McCarthy later added: ‘Luckily my phone died before any evidence could be recorded.’

As an ardent admirer, I simply couldn’t resist sharing the electrifying image of Jimmy Barnes killing it at the awards ceremony. With a heart full of enthusiasm, I penned down my thoughts: “This man deserves a spot on the dance floor! #stillwouldlovehim

In the email to the team at A Current Affair, McCarthy expressed regret for her actions and announced that she would be stepping down from her position as executive producer.

Additionally, she expressed her remorse for potentially tarnishing the reputation of the news program due to the scandal, and acknowledged that it was a thoughtless error on her part.

McCarthy expressed his gratitude to numerous people for the affectionate gestures and encouragement they extended during a challenging week he had experienced.

I regretfully made an unintentional blunder which unfortunately drew unfavorable and undesired focus towards a show I hold dear and the talented team behind it. I sincerely apologize for any negative impact this may have caused.

Based on discussions with my loved ones and consultations with Fiona regarding what suits me best for the future of A Current Affair, I have decided to relinquish my Executive Producer position, with immediate effect.

Over the last year, I’ve put in a tremendous amount of effort to ensure that ACA reaches its peak potential. I dedicated myself wholeheartedly to this project and I am immensely proud of what we have managed to accomplish as a team.

‘I’m not leaving Nine, I’m heading back to the newsroom—a place I’ve loved for over a decade.

I will be part of the news production team, and I can’t wait to dive right back into the work.

On the day following the public disclosure of McCarthy’s controversial remarks regarding Cold Chisel’s lead singer, aged 69, Jimmy, McCarthy decided to take an extended break from her position.

After meeting with Fiona Dear, who headed news and current affairs at Nine, on multiple occasions, she ultimately chose to step down from her role as executive producer. In her absence, Steve Marshall, a seasoned reporter, took over the position.

Earlier this month, McCarthy faced criticism for posts deemed unsuitable on her social media account, which were made during the Logie Awards event.

An individual close to Channel Nine shared with The Australian that McCarthy’s remarks incited anger and appeared to contradict Channel Nine’s extensive cultural evaluation which was still ongoing.

If a news chief, who was a man, had made similar remarks about a female artist such as Delta Goodrem, it would be completely inappropriate, they asserted.

The controversy emerged a few months following reports that Channel Nine allegedly implemented stricter policies towards employees, as a result of dismissing Alex Cullen from his role on Today.

44-year-old Cullen parted ways with his job at the station in January, following his acceptance of a $50,000 offer from Adrian ‘Mr Lambo’ Portelli, a billionaire suitor.

After the surprising update, the network issued a gentle reminder to all staff members regarding their respective work ethics or commitments.

Nine’s director of news and current affairs, Fiona Dear, sent the message via email to all staff.

In a memo seen by the Daily Mail, the head of the network emphasized the importance of both broadcast journalists and on-screen personalities in upholding trust among viewers.

This paraphrase aims to maintain the original meaning while using simpler and more conversational language for easier readability.

In his email, Dear stated that it’s generally understood that many media companies, including Nine, have business relationships such as commercial agreements, sponsorships, and endorsements.

In keeping with both our ethical and legal responsibilities, as well as Nine’s obligations under the law and regulations, these arrangements can be allowed in specific situations when proper disclosure is made and if they follow Nine’s established guidelines and protocols.

In his writing, it was stated that every team member should adhere to both the professional and ethical standards outlined in the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice, as well as Nine’s Social Media Guidelines and Gift Policy.

She wrote, “Every employee at Nine Group should follow these policies and stay informed about any updates.

In addition, it’s worth noting that the Journalist Code of Ethics by MEAA, applicable to their journalist members, offers a helpful reference for the high ethical standards that journalists aim to uphold.

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2025-08-21 09:48