Lisa Wilkinson slams Aussie writer over Sylvia Jeffreys report

“Today Show” host Lisa Wilkinson did not mince words when she belied the reported tension between her and newsreader Sylvia Jeffreys.

The 56-year-old host took to Instagram to clarify about the issue, posting a selfie of her and Jeffreys together. “As you all know @sylviajeffreys and I are great mates and love working together. But for some bizarre reason, a journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald decided to report on supposed "rumours of a rift" between us this weekend,” Wilkinson wrote on her page. “So let me tell you here what I told him – and I quote – “complete bull---”

Wilkinson also brought up the theory that the rumour could have come from someone who is not happy with the Today Show “now being the Number One breakfast show in the country.” Whilst the journalist agreed with her, the story was printed anyway, she ranted. Wilkinson also complained that other media organisations, such as The Daily Mail, also published similar reports. She also did not appreciate that the report was accompanied with “suitably frozen moment headshots of Sylvia and me on camera looking like ‘mean girls.’”

Announcing that she’s not going to sit meekly by and take it, Wilkinson set things straight about her working relationship with Jeffreys. “Sylvia and I couldn't enjoy working together, be more supportive, or respect each other more. THAT, in fact, should be the headline! But obviously that sort of good news - or the crazy idea of women supporting women - doesn't sell newspapers these days.” Wilkinson also used the hashtag #girlpower to end her post.

On Friday, the Sydney Morning Herald published an article that told about a supposedly professional rift between Wilkinson and Jeffreys. The piece, however, cited sources who denied the rumours, including Sydney agent Nick Fordham who manages the two. “Quite the opposite in fact, they really like each other,” Fordham told Sydney Morning Herald.

To date, Wilkinson's post has reached more than 7,000 likes and has earned supportive comments from Instagram users.