Fallout from Chris Smith’s Sky News Christmas party scandal as wife Susie Burrell walks out

Chris Smith’s high-profile nutritionist wife Susie Burrell walked out of their family home hours after he was suspended over allegations about his behaviour at the Sky News Australia Christmas party on Saturday evening. 

Details have emerged about the fallout from the 2GB and Sky broadcaster’s alleged disastrous evening at the weekend where he is accused of reducing a Sky colleague to tears and making lewd comments. 

Smith, 60, was pulled from the airwaves by both of his employers amid investigations into what happened at the network’s end-of-year celebrations at The Ivy Sunroom in Sydney.

Daily Mail Australia has been told that Smith is set to release in a statement in the coming hours, and it is expected that he will issue an apology. 

Smith’s wife Ms Burrell left him behind at the family home with their young twin boys on Sunday after news broke that he was being suspended from air by both networks.

Chris Smith’s high-profile nutritionist wife Suzie Burrell (pictured) moved out of the family home with their sons on Sunday following his alleged conduct at a work Christmas party

Smith, (pictured above at a previous function) is said to be at ‘rock bottom’, a friend told media on Monday morning 

‘Chris is at rock bottom. I’ve never seen him this fragile,’ one friend told the Daily Telegraph on Monday. 

‘He’s just bought a house and is supporting four kids. Suddenly he’s heading into Christmas with the prospect of losing both his jobs.’

Smith is said to be desperate to apologise over what happened that night and has told friends he will issue a statement on Monday afternoon. 

Less than 48 hours before the Sky party, Smith attended News Corp co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch’s exclusive Christmas party at his Sydney harbourside mansion.

The Australian Financial Review’s Rear Window column said that he cut a hasty exit, leaving shortly after the party began, at 7.30pm. 

Smith had otherwise spent the past week working as normal – weighing in on Twitter over the death of his ‘childhood crush’, US actress Kirstie Alley, 71 following a short battle with cancer. 

He noted that she had struggled with alcohol and cocaine earlier in life, sparking criticism from some users after his own alleged behaviour at the Sky Christmas party was revealed.

‘How was your work Christmas party this year, Chris?’ one person commented.

TV and radio host Chris Smith (pictured with wife Susie Burrell) has been suspended following allegations of inappropriate behaviour at the Sky News Christmas party

Veteran broadcaster Chris Smith (pictured) has been suspended from his duties at Sky News and 2GB while an investigation takes place

Chris Smith’s comments about Kirstie Alley following her sad death six days ago have come back to haunt him

Prior to the Saturday’s event, Sky’s general manager of HR Kath Butler sent out a memo reminding Sky News colleagues to behave responsibly at the function.

‘This is a work event so please be respectful of others as you do when in the office,’ the memo stated.

Smith was due to host a 5pm nightly television show on Sky News Australia as part of the network’s 2023 line-up before he was pulled off-air on Sunday.

He has also been stripped off his duties filling in on 2GB breakfast’s show from this week over the Christmas break after broadcaster Ben Fordham went on holidays. 

‘2GB has been made aware of serious allegations against Chris Smith, arising from the Sky News Christmas party,’ a spokesperson said.

‘Sky has advised they are conducting an investigation. Chris has been stood down from his duties at 2GB until the investigation has concluded.’

Veteran broadcaster John Stanley will fill in as 2GB breakfast presenter while Fordham is on leave.

Smith’s television program on Sky News scheduled to air on Sunday night was replaced with a repeat episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored.

A Sky News Australia spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘The person involved has been suspended while an investigation into the allegations is undertaken.’

‘The welfare of our staff is our absolute priority. We have a zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate conduct and take these allegations very seriously.’

It’s not the first time Smith has been suspended following allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

He was suspended from the Macquarie Radio Network in 2009 following allegations from female colleagues at a 2GB Christmas party.

Smith was accused of exposing himself to several women, trying to kiss a female co-worker and assaulting then-Network 10 weather presenter, Magdalena Roze.

The veteran broadcaster was with Sky News colleagues at The Establishment on Saturday where it’s alleged he acted inappropriately towards several female co-workers

He was fired as a producer from A Current Affair in the late 1990s after he exposed himself to two female colleagues at a work party.

The incident was initially laughed off by Smith’s bosses but the women complained to the Nine Network and Smith was sacked.

Both women left the show and were rumoured to have secured big payouts.

Sky News presenter Paul Murray smoked a cigar at end-of-year celebrations with colleagues 

In a separate incident, Smith fondled a senior journalist’s breasts. 

It comes after new details have emerged about Saturday night’s wild celebrations after Sky News Australia’s employees took to social media to splash videos and images from the high-profile event on Instagram.

While the night allegedly ended on a sour note for some, the collection of Instagram highlight reels reveals the night began with a bang as media personalities sipped on beverages and enjoyed close-quarters dancing with colleagues. 

Columnist and TV host Rita Panahi posted clips to her Instagram story showing two female co-workers smiling and giggling as they danced on either side of Outsiders co-host James Morrow to Latto’s ‘Big Energy’.

As the night progressed, Panahi added more photos of her posing up with her colleagues like Gabriella Power and Jules Bradley. 

Panahi also showed off the booze-abundant bar, with shelves lined with spirits and bottles of wines and glasses covering the counter.