‘I was under huge pressure’: Seb Costello on toilet chase and leaving Nine
Former Nine reporter Seb Costello has publicly addressed his controversial exit from the network in an awkward interview with former footballer Sam Newman.
The A Current Affair reporter resigned from Nine earlier this month, in the midst of a network investigation into a November 2024 incident where he chased an interviewee into a women’s toilet and filmed him over the cubicle door.
Mo Ahmed, an executive from Oak Capital, alleged assault and Costello was stood down. He did not return to work after the incident, and resigned two weeks ago.
Talking to Sam Newman on the football personality’s You Cannot Be Serious podcast, Costello said he’d “been there 13 years and it’s time for a change.” After making him declare as much down the barrel of a video camera, Newman pushed him further on the toilet incident.
Notably agitated, Costello called Newman “weird”, saying he was not being defensive but was simply “on alert, for when you decide to make me feel uncomfortable”. When pushed further on the toilet incident, he said “I’m not allowed to talk about it, I’m not here to talk about that.”
Sam Newman and Seb Costello
Despite Costello’s reticence to open up — and Newman’s less-than-incisive questioning — he did speak about claims of nepotism he received at the network, and the pressure this placed on him to behave perfectly.
Newman asked Costello about an incident in 2017, where he was placed “on leave” after disappearing mid-broadcast while reporting on the Barcelona terror attack as the network’s foreign correspondent.
“I felt at times during my employment at Nine that I was under huge amounts of pressure,” Costello said. “Part of that was because my dad was in the company as well.
“I felt like his position created an atmosphere of resentment towards me internally from some people who would say: ‘Seb only got this because of his dad’.
“I felt like I had to be perfect because I knew if anything went wrong it would end up in the newspapers – which is the incident you’re referring to.”
The closest thing to a scoop that Newman managed was the hint that Eddie McGuire may have suggested that Costello resign and work for him.
Costello admits to talking to McGuire on the day he decided to tell the network of his decision, to which Newman asks, “Did he suggest ‘why don’t you resign and come and work for us?'”
After deciding he’s “probably allowed to talk about that”, Costello said “we had a conversation along those lines.”
When asked the same question again, Costello said this suggestion was “in line with the conversation we had”, before explaining he has “plenty of offers on the table” for employment, including “some very interesting weird things”, such as interest from “somebody in the political space” who wants Costello as their spokesperson.
When Newman asks if Clive Palmer was his political wooer, Costello didn’t answer directly, instead speaking on how Palmer has bought up a lot of billboard space and is “having a real crack”.
Listen to the entire interview here.
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I was with Seb Costello at the Intercontinental Hotel in Melbourne when he attempted to interview Mohammed Ahmed from Oak Capital. This was the third time I had met Seb for an interview about Oak Capital’s conduct. I appreciate Seb’s efforts in asking the essential questions that need to be answered, especially given the impact of Oak Capital’s actions on many businesses and families. It’s puzzling why Mr Ahmed chose to take refuge in the women’s toilet cubicle when I approached him. I can confirm there was no assault, as no authorities have reached out to me. I was the only person other than Seb, the cameraman, the sounds-man & Mr Ahmed present.
I want to thank Seb, the cameraman, and the sound technicians for going above and beyond to seek answers from a man who has affected many lives on behalf of Oak Capital. I have no doubt Seb was aware that he would face many questions about the incident on Sam Newman’s podcast, and although he could have avoided it, he still chose to participate despite the negative comments. I wish Seb all the best in the future. Not many journalists would have taken the same steps as Seb to interview a man who needs to answer important questions.
THANK YOU SEB!