Producers of Australia's Next Top Model have denied accusations of staging a publicity stunt after supermodel host Sarah Murdoch announced the wrong winner.
Series judge and fashion designer Alex Perry told Sydney radio that Murdoch had made a genuine mistake, denying accusations in media reports that the bizarre mix-up was a publicity stunt in what newspapers said was the country's most awkward TV moment.
"Everybody wants to tag something sinister on it and say it was done for ratings. I know Sarah and I know the executive producer. It's just not their style," Ms Perry said.
Foxtel publicity director Jamie Campbell today blamed a miscommunication between series directors in a broadcasting truck control room and Murdoch on stage.
Murdoch, the daughter-in-law of media baron Rupert Murdoch, was close to tears after realising she had mistakenly announced Sydney 19-year old Kelsey Martinovich as the winner of the Foxtel TV series during the live finale.
Martinovich had completed her acceptance speech before Murdoch backtracked on stage to reveal the real winner from a public vote was 18-year-old Gold Coast rival Amanda Ware.
"I don't know what to say right now. I'm feeling a bit sick about this," Murdoch told a 2,000-strong live audience. "I'm so sorry. Oh my God, I don't know what to say. This is what happens when you have live TV folks, this is insane, insane, insane."
Martinovich may have had a short-lived reign as Australia's Next Top Model, but it wasn't all bad news as Foxtel said she would receive a A$20,000 (€14,260) cash prize and trip to New York as consolation, almost matching Ware's series spoils. Ware won an appearance in Harpers Bazaar magazine, a modelling contract, A$20,000, a trip to New York and a car.
Foxtel is owned by Australian phone company Telstra, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and Consolidated Media Holdings.
Reuters