Sam Armytage Worst week
Th The b brave SunriseS i star is feeling the pressure – and it’s not the first time she’s had to deal with rivals Sam and Kathy were at odds on air.
It was the moment usuallysunny breakfast TV anchor Sam Armytage snapped and had a “hissy fit” in wardrobe over a jacket earmarked for Melissa Doyle, who used to sit in Sam’s seat at Sunrise.
The outburst came after weeks of tension internally over co-stars’ salaries and past bitter rivalries at Seven. “Sam had a massive meltdown over one particular jacket,” reveals an insider.
“The wardrobe department bought it for Mel, and Sam saw it and loved it – and wanted it – and let everyone know she felt she should have it. It was all a bit awkward. I think Sam is feeling under a lot of pressure.”
On the surface Sam, 41, almost always appears cool, calm and collected, but there have been rumours of clashes over the years with both Mel and former Seven newsreader Chris Bath when the pressure got too much.
But with Chris having left the network, Mel sidelined to hosting Sunday Night, and Sam now Seven’s undisputed leading lady – with a rumoured salary of $1.2 million – she should be riding high on her success.
Yet insiders say she’s anything but her usual happy self, unsettled by Lisa Wilkinson’s dramatic exit
‘I think Sam is feeling under a lot of pressure’
from Nine, “miffed” she wasn’t seen as a frontrunner for the vacancy – and feeling underpaid after the revelation Nine offered Lisa $1.8 million to stay.
“There’s been a fair bit of tension since it all went down at Nine, with everyone wondering what the person next to them is earning,” our source says. “There have been all sorts of wild rumours circulating.”
Sam has also had to endure yet another vitriolic spray from US comedian Kathy Griffin, who’s had her in her sights since the Sunrise star labelled her “unwell” following an on-air tiff.
In August, Sam called Kathy out live on TV over the stunt where she held up a fake severed head resembling Donald Trump – and it didn’t go down well.
Acid-tongued Kathy was quick to attack Sam on air at the time, saying, “You’re full of crap… No I got it. I got your number. You’re like a white Trump voter in America. I got your thing.”
Now Kathy has woven her spat with Sam into her comedy show, reigniting tensions all over again.
And it didn’t end there – as Kathy continued her round of Aussie interviews, she challenged the Sunrise presenter to a fight.
“I’m happy to challenge her to a cage match. Two dogs enter, one dog leaves,” Kathy said to KIIS FM radio hosts Kyle and Jackie O. “I’m little, but I’m scrappy. I’m a float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”
Sam has refused to be dragged back in, and won’t bow down to the bullies spreading rumours about her diva behaviour, telling friends she’s just getting on with the job and ignoring her critics.