Photo of 'sexy Santa' dancers at Channel 7 staff meeting shocks
The Christmas-themed dance number took place during a routine staff meeting and comes as the network fends off allegations of a toxic, male dominated culture.
Major Australian media group Channel 7 has raised eyebrows after footage emerged of a group of female "sexy Santas" dancing in short red dresses that was captured during a routine 'town hall' style staff meeting this month.
The "bizarre" move, which reportedly took place at the network's parent company headquarters in Perth on Friday, has garnered particular backlash in the wake of ongoing allegations of inappropriate behaviour at the network, largely by men toward female employees.
According to the Australian Financial Review, the quartet of women donning red Santa hats and dresses, performed for seated staff during an assembly to introduce new appointments to the network. Deputy news director Ray Kuka was detailing upcoming programming when Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas started playing, when the female performers came forward.
Images of the incident quickly began circulating after being shared by perplexed staff with one photo later published online by the AFR.
While some online argued such routines are common in offices around Christmas time, many felt the decision was "stupid" and "cringeworthy", particularly given the intense scrutiny currently facing the network in the wake of a Four Corners investigation by the ABC which detailed allegations of a "toxic culture" and poor treatment of women at the network.
A spokesman for Seven West Media defended the dancers, telling the AFR it as all part of a Christmas Pageant which they claimed was a "Perth institution".
Shock at dance number 'right out of the 80s'
Reports suggest some female staff even walked out of the meeting after viewing the dance number while the AFR reported complaints to HR were "rolling in".
Online, many Aussies expressed disbelief at the choice of workplace entertainment.
"This is a clip from the new Australian version of The Office right? This can't be real how is this real omg its real," one person said online.
And now we have a picture of Seven's staff meeting last week, accompanied with sexy Santa dancers. This was a 11:15am all hands. Hearing HR complaints rolling in.https://t.co/czNnz0Y07X pic.twitter.com/bYGhSKdHMv
— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) August 26, 2024
"OMG — 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," one woman wrote. "Sounds as if they need wholesale clearing out of management level."
Seven earlier said it takes any allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and other behaviours deemed to be inappropriate "seriously".
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