The Daily Mail Australia have issued an apology to Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage for the cruel online story about her wearing ‘granny panties’ that caused the internet explode with disgust.
The article has been amended and an apology has been added at the bottom of the article.
The original headline read: “Sunrise host Sam Armytage dares to bare with granny panties showing a visible line as she steps out in Sydney … after slamming rumours she’s dating Channel Seven colleagues.”
It has now been changed to: “Casual Sunday! Sunrise host Samantha Armytage goes solo as she heads out on a shopping trip after slamming rumours about her dating life.”
A line in the article noting that “the TV personality’s granny panties showed through the garment with a clearly visible line” has also been removed.
At the bottom of the article an apology has been added in.
“An earlier version of this story contained critical statements regarding Samantha Armytage’s appearance. While the story has since been amended, we apologise for any distress caused to Ms Armytage or readers more generally.”
The apology comes after the TV presenter threatened legal action if the website did not retract the story and issue an apology.
In a letter issue by her lawyers, Sam argued that her private life, dating history and choice of underwear should not “be the subject of media exposure and comment”, according to News Corp.
“Ms Armytage is at a loss to understand the reasons why Daily Mail Australia has chosen to publish this article, which represents a gross invasion of her privacy,” argues Addisons’ partner, Justine Munsie in the letter.
RELATED: Aussie Celebrities Show Their Support For Sam Armytage After Internet Harassment
“Ms Armytage accepts that she is a public figure and it follow that she is subjected to a great deal of media attention, including by way of rumour and innuendo, such as the misinformation as to whom she is “dating” which is also referred to in the article.”
But, says the TV star “retains a reasonable expectation that intimate, private information which is not known by and is of no interest to any other person would not be the subject of media exposure and comment”.
The publication was widely condemned for claiming that she ‘dared to bare’, and criticising her for being ‘makeup free’. Australian celebrities including Rebecca Judd, Rebecca Gibney and rival breakfast show host Lisa Wilkinson have all joined the conversation and voiced their support of Sam.
RELATED: Rebecca Judd Responds To Backlash Over Going Back To The Gym
Australian actress Rebecca Gibney also shared her support, after experiencing intrusive reporting from Daily Mail over a selfie she posted in bed. She wrote,
“So I posted a pic a few weeks ago when I was having a sleep in and reading a book (apparently naked according to an indepth article pretending to be journalism)
“Just thought you should know Daily Mail IM WEARING GRANNY PANTS IN THIS SHOT #imwithher @sam_armytage #cutoutthecrapguys #canwepleasestartbeingkind @jane_l_kennedy agree with you totally.
“For those that don’t know Sam she is a fabulous, funny, intelligent, glorious woman with a great heart AND she’s GORGEOUS. Can we please remind ourselves that people on the Tele deserve a private life? Ok – thanks. That is all.”
Bec Judd has also experienced her fair share of criticism from the publication over her weight, and came to Sam Armytage’s defence with a powerful Instagram post.
“Thanks Wendy Tuohy and the Herald Sun for calling out the worst excuse for “journalism” I have ever seen. You expect these rubbish stories from tabloid magazines but not from a business which peddles itself as “news”.
“How the Daily Mail’s behaviour is even legal beggars belief (I could go on with this point). And isn’t it unfortunate that most of these stories are written by young women. So much for supporting the sisterhood… pffft. It’s a sad state of affairs when the Daily Mail “journalists” have become the biggest trolls of all. #imwithher #dontclickonthatshit #loveyousam”
This is great to see from Aussie celebs – we are more powerful when our voices come together!
