Australians are divided over Bruce Lehrmann’s upcoming television interview – with some commentators arguing that featuring an alleged rapist is unethical, while others say he deserves to tell his story.
Mr Lehrmann is set to break his two-year silence during an extended episode of 7News Spotlight at 7pm on Sunday.
The feature, which network producers say he was not paid for, promises to shed light on his life after Brittany Higgins accused him of raping her in Parliament House in March 2019.
So far, Mr Lehrmann’s side of the story has only been told via his trial in the ACT Supreme Court last year, when his interview with police was played before a jury.
The former staffer strongly denied having any sexual contact with Ms Higgins during that interview, but he has never divulged his version of events to the media.
Channel Seven announced the interview on Tuesday night, which prompted a flurry of tweets by Australians with differing opinions.
Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) will break his two-year silence in a television interview on Sunday
Melbourne-based activist and former political staffer Sally Rugg wrote: ‘Bruce Lehrmann is free to speak publicly and media companies are free to engage him to do so.’
‘I wonder how many companies who advertise on prime time will be happy to have their brands associated with this interview? Will we see companies pull their ads?’
Performer Christie Whelan Browne, who accused actor Craig McLachlan of sexual assault in 2014, responded: ‘Seen this sh*t before. It’s hideous.’
McLachlan was acquitted by a magistrate of all charges in December 2020.
Others claimed – incorrectly – that Mr Lehrmann refused to tell his side of the story in court.
Mr Lehrmann’s police interview was played before the court, during which he told his version of events. He was not called as a witness during the trial.
However, some jumped to Mr Lehrmann’s defence – pointing out that he was never found guilty of a crime.
Australians were divided over Bruce Lehrmann’s upcoming interview on Channel 7 (tweets pictured)
‘A court is there to work out beyond reasonable doubt if a crime has been committed,’ another user wrote.
‘Bruce Lehrmann or anyone accused of any crime does not have to give his side, as it’s up to prosecutors to prove guilt.’
A third user said: ‘I don’t know if Bruce Lehrmann is guilty or not, but he deserves the presumption of innocence until he is.’
Meanwhile, someone else offered unsolicited advice for the furious masses: ‘If you don’t agree with Bruce Lehrmann interview with Channel Seven, here’s a novel idea – don’t watch it.’
According to a Channel Seven media release, Mr Lehrmann will ‘answer questions about what happened when he entered a ministerial suite with Brittany Higgins in the early hours of Saturday 23 March 2019.’
‘Nothing is off limits,’ it said.
It is understood Mr Lehrman will broach a host of topics, including how he felt when Ms Higgins first aired her allegations against him in an interview with Lisa Wilkinson on The Project in February 2021.
Brittany Higgins (left) first made her allegations against Mr Lehrmann during a TV interview with Lisa Wilkinson (right)
He is also expected to speak about the moment former Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologised to Ms Higgins over the allegations.
Despite speculation that Mr Lehrmann was paid to do the interview, a network spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that was not the case.
‘7NEWS Spotlight made no payment to Bruce Lehrmann for the interview, however the program assisted with accommodation as part of the filming of the report,’ they said.
Mr Lehrmann was tried in a 12-day hearing in October last year, but a mistrial was declared after a jury member brought banned reading material into the court.
Shane Drumgold, the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions, dropped the case altogether in December due to concerns over Ms Higgins’ mental health.
