By Erin Doyle For Daily Mail Australia
Published: 00:00 GMT, 21 February 2019 | Updated: 00:00 GMT, 21 February 2019
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The Nine Network has come out swinging against a report on Thursday claiming Today show host Georgie Gardner is perceived as 'cold' and an 'ice maiden' for viewers.
On Thursday, The Daily Telegraph claimed secret focus groups commissioned by Nine had found viewers saw the 48-year-old as a 'smiling assassin'.
Nine's Director of News and Current Affairs, Darren Wick, hit back at the claims, branding them 'outrageous' and accusing the publication of 'bullying'.
'This is one of the most deliberate acts of bullying I've ever seen': Nine issues withering statement slamming report that secret focus groups perceive Today's Georgie Gardner (pictured) as an 'ice maiden' and 'smiling assassin'
'This is one of the most deliberate acts of bullying I've ever seen. There are no facts attached to the claims. And the reporter didn’t bother to contact Nine to put the claims to me or anyone else for comment,' the statement read.
'Nine’s position is that this is an outrageous, false, reckless and defamatory attack on Georgie Gardner and the Today Show.
'The claim by the Daily Telegraph reporter that Nine has conducted focus groups this year is wrong. We haven’t as yet commissioned any focus groups for the Today show, let alone held them in 2019.
'The allegations from the article that Georgie Gardner was perceived as an "Ice Maiden" and is somehow responsible for the poor numbers of the show this year is a fabrication and irresponsible reporting.'
