TV executive sacked after being accused of drunkenly telling international rugby star Mike Phillips no one would know who he was without her ‘categorically denies’ it happened and says she was ‘unfairly dismissed’
- Llinos Griffin-Williams was sacked last month by Welsh TV station S4C
- She denies having a drunken bust-up while at last month’s Rugby World Cup
A high-flying TV executive who was sacked after being accused of hurling drunken abuse at a sports commentator claims she was ‘unfairly’ dismissed.
Llinos Griffin-Williams, who lost her job at S4C – Channel 4 in Wales, alleges she herself has been the subject of ‘inappropriate behaviour’.
Mother-of-two Ms Griffin-Williams, 40, was headhunted into the £150,000 a year role of chief content officer last April.
But just over a year later she was dismissed over ‘gross misconduct’ after she was allegedly abusive to ex-Wales rugby player and TV pundit Mike Phillips at an after party following the Wales vs Georgia Rugby World Cup match in France.
Ms Griffin-Williams was accused of being obviously drunk at the French bar and allegedly screamed at Mr Phillips that if it wasn’t for her no one would know who he was, adding that his Welsh wasn’t good enough.
Llinos Griffin-Williams, 41, has been sacked from S4C over gross misconduct for hurling drunken abuse at a sports commentator, Mike Phillips, at the Rugby World Cup
Mike Phillips pictured at the Rugby World Cup, where he had been working as an expert summariser on Wales matches
The rugby ace, who is Wales’ most-capped scrum half, used to date pop star Duffy. Here they are together in 2010
Lawyers on behalf of Ms Griffin-Williams said she ‘categorically denies’ those allegations.
According to the BBC, a letter sent by her lawyers says she is ‘utterly devastated’ by her ‘unfair dismissal’.
In a statement to The Times, Ms Griffin-Williams denied the allegations.
She complained that the investigation into her conduct was unfair.
She said: ‘I was shown no evidence, was given no right to reply, afforded no duty of care and no procedures or policies were followed, I was denied any opportunity to [offer] evidence from the witnesses who were present and who refute the allegations against me.
‘I categorically deny that I made the comments to Mike Philips that have been attributed to me, behaved inappropriately or in any way that would justify a finding of gross misconduct.’
Non-executive members of the S4C Board released a statement on the matter to MailOnline.
A spokesperson said: ‘Llinos Griffin-Williams was summarily dismissed, without notice, for gross misconduct on multiple grounds, following receipt of serious allegations about her conduct at events following the Rugby World Cup match between Wales and Georgia on 07 October 2023.
‘Based on the evidence presented, and detailed legal advice, the decision to summarily dismiss the individual was taken by the S4C Board Chair. The decision was subsequently supported by the non-executive members of the Board.’
The spokesperson added: ‘The independent fact-finding process was commissioned by the non-executive members in early May 2023 in response to a letter from Bectu which raised significant concerns about the work environment within S4C. The letter referred in particular to an atmosphere in which some individuals did not feel able to raise concerns.
‘The Board wishes to make it crystal clear that S4C must offer a work environment in which staff can raise any concerns without fear. And that staff feel that those concerns have been dealt with in a fair and reasonable manner.
‘The non-executive members of the S4C Board will consider the outcome of the fact-finding process in due course, and will make public its response.’
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