Leaked 'sexy Santa' dance at Australian media house sparks outrage, company defends act

The company's Deputy news director was addressing future plans when the performance began. (Image: PeterWMurphy1/X)

Leaked footage of a controversial "sexy Santa" dance performance at an Australian media company event has sparked widespread outrage, fuelling criticism Seven West Media’s work culture. The provocative display, intended to celebrate a milestone for the company, has instead become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over workplace behaviour and corporate ethics in the country’s media industry.

The incident unfolded last Friday at Seven West Media's Perth town hall meeting, where female dancers, clad in revealing Santa outfits and high heels, took the stage during what was meant to be a celebratory event.

The gathering, intended to mark the appointment of Sarah-Jane Tasker as the company's first female editor and Adrian Lowe as LGBT editor, quickly descended into controversy when the dancers performed a routine to Mariah Carey’s classic holiday anthem, "All I Want for Christmas."

The spectacle left many female staff members in attendance "dumbstruck and horrified," with some reportedly walking out in disgust.

The leaked footage and photos of the performance have since gone viral, drawing sharp criticism from within and beyond Australia. Social media erupted with condemnation with one user expressing disbelief, stating, "If they thought that was even slightly appropriate given everything we've found out about them, the cultural makeup of that organisation is badly broken."

The network has recently been in the spotlight due to allegations of inappropriate behaviour and a toxic work environment. Veteran Sydney reporter Robert Ovadia, who was stood down in June following an investigation into allegations of unprofessional conduct, has launched legal action against the network. The allegations against Ovadia include sending lewd messages to a female colleague and circulating a photoshopped image of a female coworker depicted as a pole dancer.

A company spokesperson also downplayed the controversy, telling the Australian Financial Review that the dancers were part of the upcoming Christmas Pageant, a beloved tradition in Perth that the network broadcasts annually. However, the explanation did little to quell the mounting criticism.

Ryan Stokes, managing director of Seven Group Holdings Ltd, addressed the broader issue of misconduct in the media, acknowledging that inappropriate behavior is an "industry-wide problem." Stokes expressed disappointment over the perception that such behaviour is tolerated at Seven, asserting, "We don't tolerate any inappropriate behaviour."