Television Host Liz Hayes Offers Her Sympathy On Lisa Wilkinson Months After She Quit Today Following Pay Gap Battle

Lisa Wilkinson made headlines last October after taking a stand over the gender pay gap with presenter Karl Stefanovic and leaving the Channel Nine. And now, the Australian television presenter Liz Hayes has addressed her saying it was a brave step. The 61-year-old Channel Nine presenter Hayes praised the former Today host Lisa, 58, while talking with the Herald Sun and called her a 'very capable woman' who is 'really resilient.'

Australian Television Presenter Liz Hayes Offers Sympathy On Lisa Wilkinson's Pay Gap Debacle: 'It's Not Easy Having These Battles Play Out In Public'

• Television host Liz Hayes has offered her sympathy to Lisa Wilkinson while talking with Herald Sun.
• Hayes, 61, addressed the gender debacle that Wilkinson faced saying 'it's not easy to have a controversial exit.'
• Hayes also gave some words praising Wilkinson as a 'very capable woman' who is 'really resilient.'
• Wilkinson, 58, left the Channel Nine last October following payment dispute with presenter Karl Stefanovic.

Lisa Wilkinson made headlines last October after taking a stand over the gender pay gap with presenter Karl Stefanovic and leaving the Channel Nine. And now, the Australian television presenter Liz Hayes has addressed her saying it was a brave step.

The 61-year-old Channel Nine presenter Hayes praised the former Today host Lisa, 58, while talking with the Herald Sun and called her a 'very capable woman' who is 'really resilient.'

Liz told,

Lisa is a very capable woman. Always was and always will be.

She continued,

It's not easy having these battles play out in public but I think she's really resilient, and incredibly hardworking woman, and she'll be fine. That's what I said to her, to be deadly honest.

In October 2017, Lisa resigned as the Today's host following her negotiations battle with presenter Stefanovic. In December, Lisa spoke about her payment debacle where she said she felt pushed beyond her limit when she decided to defect to Network 10. She said,

When you feel that there's a pattern being repeated that's when you have to take a stand.

She continued,

You draw a line in the sand, you work out this far and no further, and I got to that line in the sand and said ''this far and no further''. And it was a really simple decision in the end.

She further told,

I had to be true to myself and if it did reignite the conversation, I'm thrilled because I just didn't want to live a lie anymore.

Meanwhile, Liz also expressed her views on the male dominant culture and the sexual harassment cases sweeping the entertainment industry.

Lisa said,

I've been a journalist since I was 17 and if we hadn't gone forward by now, I would be a bit distressed, I have to say.

Liz claimed the entertainment industry is 'far more level' now and added she has never faced the situation [sexual harassment] and refused to 'tolerate' any inappropriate behavior.