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Lisa Wilkinson leaves The Project after the ‘toxic’ media environment has become too much

''I’m not above criticism.''
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Lisa Wilkinson has announced she will be leaving The Project just a month after her co-host Carrie Bickmore.

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After five years at the desk, Lisa revealed the “toxicity” emitting from the media was impacting herself and those around her.

Lisa has hosted The Project for five years.

(Image: Instagram)

“The last six months have not been easy and the relentless, targeted toxicity by some sections of the media has taken a toll not just on me but on people I love,” she said.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m not above criticism. Far from it. I’m human, and I don’t always get it right. None of us do. But by god I’ve tried. I’ve given this job everything I have.”

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“These people are genuinely… are some of the most talented and decent humans I know.

“And you, our passionate, engaged audience, have been so kind in making me feel so welcome in your homes. I’ve had a ball, but for me, right now, it’s time for a change.”

Lisa announced her departure not long after Carrie.

(Image: Instagram)

However, Lisa affirmed she will not be leaving Channel Ten: “I have had a ball. But for me right now it’s time for a change. To be clear. I’m not leaving Ten and we’re looking at some very exciting work ideas ahead.”

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The “criticism” Lisa pointed out could be a result of her memoir, It Wasn’t Meant To Be Like This which explored her contract negotiations with Nine and her relationship with former Today co-host Karl Stefanovic.

Lisa was dismissed from Nine in 2017, after reportedly asking for a salary increase to close the gender pay gap between herself and Karl.

“We were a show turning over $60million a year, with well over half of that in profit. But it was the massive gap between Karl and me that was at issue,” Lisa wrote in her memoir.

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“By staying quiet, I would be complicit in perpetuating the gender pay gap for every woman who came after me.”

Nine’s at-the-time CEO Hugh Marks said Lisa asked for $2.3 million per year which surpassed Karl’s $2 million annual base salary.

Lisa was subjected to further backlash in June 2022 after her acceptance speech for a TV Logies Award resulted in the trial of Bruce Lermann, who was accused of sexually assaulting Brittany Higgins, being delayed.

Lisa received backlash following her acceptance speech.

(Image: Instagram)
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Lisa was awarded for the coverage of Brittany’s allegations when she thanked The Project and highlighted a changing national conversation regarding sexual abuse.

However, Bruce’s lawyers argued the speech was a potential “contempt of court”. Meanwhile Chief Justice Lucy McCallum said: “What concerns me most about this recent round is that the distinction between an allegation and a finding of guilt has been completely obliterated.”

As a result, the court case was delayed until October and has since been further delayed until February 20, 2023.

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