A TV commentator who was a regular panellist on Sunrise has revealed why she abruptly quit Australia’s number one breakfast program after three years.
In a social media video shared overnight, Amanda Rose did not hold back as she outed the Channel 7 show for giving her an “ultimatum” if she wanted to continue to appear on the panel’s weekly Hot Topics segment.
In her post, Rose – a renowned speaker – said she was told in an email that she could still be part of the panel if she agreed to be exclusive with Sunrise, meaning she could not appear on other media programs, all while remaining unpaid for her services.
Rose – who is also the founder and CEO of Entrepreneurial & Small Business Women Australia (ESBWA), Women-Owned Business Australia and Western Sydney Women – was shocked by the request and did not hesitate to cut all ties from the program.
“After three years on Hot Topics, unpaid, I was given a choice: be exclusive to them, still unpaid, or have my appearances pulled back. I chose to walk away,” she revealed on Instagram on Saturday. “Because being grateful for an opportunity doesn’t mean accepting an ultimatum that limits your value elsewhere.
“Small business owners hear ‘but you’ll get exposure’ far too often. Exposure isn’t a substitute for respect. Know your worth.”
In a statement sent to news.com.au, a Seven spokesperson said: “Like many commentators, Amanda’s appearances were unpaid.
“She was absolutely welcome to continue appearing on other morning programs and remain part of the broader rotation of Sunrise guests, just not weekly. She chose what worked best for her and we respect that.”
In a video, which begins with Rose fake crying, the seasoned media personality had slammed Sunrise for its “audacity” to expect her to work of free while knocking back opportunities elsewhere.
“Everyone loves small business because it helps them connect with the community. But when it comes to walking the walk, it’s another story – whether it’s politics, media organisations, businesses in general,” she began in the lengthy video.
“I’ve been doing Hot Topics on Sunrise for three years. That’s a lot,” she reflected. “Recently, I was told, ‘Hey, I noticed that you’re doing other media’ – which, news flash, you all know I have been for three years. ‘We would like you to be exclusive.’”
Rose said she was initially excited at the thought, likening it to a romantic partner who wants to date you exclusively. But then came the catch: she would need to offer her services exclusively but she would not be compensated for it.
“It’s kind of like, ‘I don’t want you dating anyone else, but I won’t marry you’ vibes,” she said in the video, continuing her dating analogy. “Essentially, I was told, ‘Be exclusive with us unpaid, or we’ll pull back your appearance.’ It’s an ultimatum.
“The audacity of wanting me to be exclusive, then limits my ability to build my profile elsewhere. So the commercial benefit sits with a larger organisation and I’m carrying all the risk.
“Being a small business and an advocate for women, it was my absolute duty to walk the walk and say, ‘Excuse me, huh?’”
The classic Nancy Sinatra song These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ then plays in the background of the video as Rose scoffs at the thought.
“I was told, ‘We give you a platform’. I think I have an issue with that,” Rose said.
She then showed screenshots of clips posted on social media of her Sunrise appearances, which had clocked up a whopping amount of views.
“The person who cares the least has the most power in a negotiation,” she continued. “I was like, ‘Wow, look at my care factor just starting to drop. And now it’s in the depths of Hades’. So I said, ‘Sure, you can have your exclusivity with someone else. I quit.’”
In another mic-drop moment, NSync’s break-up banger Bye Bye Bye then plays in the background.
“It’s also the double standards,” Rose added. “Imagine asking a politician. You know what they’re going to tell you? They’re going to tell you to get f***ed … So why is it that with small business you’re very comfortable to say, ‘We’re giving you an ultimatum. You don’t really have a choice. If you don’t do what we want, we’re gonna punish you.’”
“So this just wasn’t just me standing up for myself. This was me standing up for women in Western Sydney, the working class and the small business community.”