Lisa Wilkinson is stepping down from The Project, citing “targeted toxicity” from parts of the media as contributing to the decision, and becoming the second female presenter to leave the show in as many months.
Addressing the audience during the Sunday night show, Wilkinson said the past six months have not been easy and have taken a toll on her and those around her. While she is leaving the show, she will continue with Ten for what she described as “exciting work ideas ahead”.
“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.
“Sitting at this desk and working with this incredible team – both in front of and behind the camera – has been an absolute privilege,” she said.
“I have had a ball.”
Wilkinson is the latest of a number of high-profile women in television news media stepping down from their roles in recent months, including Leigh Sales as host of ABC’s 730 following the election, and Tracy Grimshaw who leaves A Current Affair this week. Carrie Bickmore also announced she was leaving The Project back in October.
Wilkinson joined The Project in 2017, following a highly publicised pay dispute with her previous employer Nine, where she was co host of the Today show.
Wilkinson has been the target of media criticism over the past couple of years and particularly more recently following the delay in June of the trial of Bruce Lehrmann, the man accused of raping Brittany Higgins.
Wilkinson’s Logie acceptance speech regarding her award-winning interview with Higgins and work on the story — as well as other comments in the media — saw the judge in the trial ruling that she would have to “regrettably and with gritted teeth” vacate the trial. For separate reasons, the jury was eventually discharged in the trial that later did take place, with a new trial scheduled for early next year. Lehrmann denies the allegations.