Veteran TV host Susie Elelman claims Rolf Harris sexually harassed her
‘He pushed his hand into my crotch’: Veteran TV host Susie Elelman claims Rolf Harris sexually assaulted her and reveals how common ‘the casting couch’ was in explosive autobiography
She graced Australia’s TV screens for over two decades, brought viewers the news on Good Morning Australia and hosted her own daytime talk show.
Now, Susie Elelman is releasing a tell-all book about the dark side of Australia’s entertainment industry.
In her autobiography, 15 Minutes of Fame: The Dark Underbelly of Celebrity, the 64-year-old discusses the wide-spread casting-couch mentality – where bigger opportunities are offered in return for sexual favours – and makes claims about allegedly being sexually assaulted by Rolf Harris.
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‘He pushed his hand into my crotch’: Veteran TV host Susie Elelman claimed Rolf Harris sexually harassed her and revealed how common ‘the casting couch’ was in explosive new autobiography
In an excerpt published by The Courier Mail, Susie revealed that during the 70s she worked as a guest greeter on the Tonight Show, which Harris appeared on.
As she escorted the then mega-star out of the building she claims he sexually assaulted her.
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‘When I took him to reception and we said goodbye, he slid his hand down my back when he hugged me and pushed his hand into my crotch from behind,’ she said.
In 2014, Harris was found guilty of twelve historical sexual offences involving minors, but at the time Susie says there was nothing anyone could do about his behaviour.
Conviction: In 2014 Harris was found guilty of twelve historical sexual offences involving minors
She mentioned it to her bosses, but says there was not enough evidence to call the police, adding that she believes Harris planned his attack at a time he knew he would get away with it.
Inspired by the #metoo movement, Susie’s autobiography also reveals how common the casting-couch was and the fear that was inflected on victims so they stayed silent.
‘The casting couch was huge. It does exist,’ she said. ‘It isn’t something that everyone talks about because we were all very frightened of losing our jobs so even if you didn’t succumb to the casting couch, you didn’t talk about because of that fear.’
While she was writing her manuscript, the TV presenter named and shamed the famous men who she had encounters with over her years in showbiz.
Tell-all: Inspired by the #metoo movement, Susie’s autobiography also reveals how common the casting-couch was
However, many of the names didn’t make the final copy, as Susie claims her publisher instructing her to redact them.
‘I was quite happy to back up what I said with absolutely everybody, but my publisher was the one to decide who was to stay and who wasn’t. It was for legal reasons, but also in some cases they figured it was more interesting if people try and figure out who it is.’
Susie first rose to fame after being crowned Miss NSW at the age of 18.
She went on to read the nightly news on Channel 7, work as a roving reporter on Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton and host her own national TV show, SUSIE.
A life on TV: Susie first rose to fame after being crowed Miss NSW at the age of 18
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