Channel 7’s chief footy reporter Mitch Cleary has spoken of his regret and mission to win back the trust of his partner after he was accused of cheating with a Collingwood staffer on an overseas trip.
The Herald Sun revealed the incident on Monday, and chose not to name the parties involved. Cleary’s fiancee, racing.com presenter Kate Watts, shared a post to her Instagram story after an anonymous person on X made the bombshell claim.
Cleary apologised for “a terrible error in judgment”.
“My only concern from here is for my fiancee and winning back her trust,’’ Cleary told the Herald Sun.
“The whole incident has been completely unfair on her as well as my family and those closest to me.
“It’s caused incredible stress for my loved ones. It’s not something I ever imagined I would be involved in.
“I am dealing with the consequences privately – and my family is my focus right now.”
Cleary was overseas last November with the Collingwood staffer — who is not in the media department — and some star players when they were part of a celebratory night out at a bar.
It’s understood they had only met then for the first time.
On Instagram, Cleary wrote: “I am sorry for the hurt and embarrassment I have caused for all parties.
“The kiss was a terrible error in judgment for which I am incredibly sorry, and I am dealing with the consequences privately with my family and those closest to me. I don’t want to diminish my actions, but most of what has been suggested about the circumstances is not accurate.”
Sources close to Channel 7 said Cleary was remorseful and it happened during private time, and that no further action would be taken against him.
He will be front and centre of the AFL coverage this September.
Watts named the staffer who she believed he cheated with, and deleted it after about an hour on Sunday night.
A Collingwood source said: “A consensual kiss took place during personal time in an off-season trip last year. The staff member regrets the incident and apologises for the impact their actions caused.
“Rumours circulating online stating that the staff member is a member of the media department are completely false.”
Cleary and Watts share a daughter who was born in February.
They got engaged two years ago and have been together for about five years.