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Don Burke admitted he was 'difficult' to work with in 2005 interview
On Monday, Don Burke was forced to deny multiple allegations that he was a "sexual predator" and "psychotic bully" but it turns out he has previously admitted to being "difficult" to work with.
In a throwback interview with Andrew Denton on his ABC chat show Enough Rope, the now-70-year-old was asked about "rumours" he wasn't the easiest person to have a working relationship with.
"I would be the first to admit that," Burke told the host in 2005.
"[Other] presenters do what they're bloody told," he said. "I didn't and I think they hated me for it and they still do. And when it was successful, I think they hated me all the more."
Burke also admitted he would go "a long way to get even" with colleagues.
"I go a long way to get even with people," he said in the interview. "If I could give one of them a leg in, I'd have gotten even with all those bastards that never gave me a chance."
The host also discussed his anger from the cancellation of his gardening program after 17 seasons in 2004.
"Channel Nine has lost quite a number of weeks of ratings this year," he said in the interview with Denton.
He branded the cancelling of his show "a stupid mistake".
A scathing report was released by Fairfax Media on Monday was describing Burke as a "sexual predator" and "psychotic bully" who allegedly harassed female employees during his time on his popular gardening show.
It is believed more than 50 women have been interviewed as a part of the investigation claiming he sexually harassed, indecently assaulted and bullied a number of female employees in the late 1980s and 1990s.
The host has strongly denied the allegations and has hired a top defamation lawyer, Patrick George of Kennedys Australia, to defend him.
"I am deeply hurt and outraged at the false and defamatory claims made in your correspondence," Burke said in a statement. "It is evident that these baseless claims concern statements from a few ex-employees of CTC Productions who bear grudges against me."
"I also believe that this publication is opportunistic and intended to severely damage my reputation, by trying to link my alleged behaviour with the appalling behaviour of Harvey Weinstein, which has gained a lot of media traction," he added.
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