A former television executive has confessed to engaging in bullying behavior during her career, describing herself as a "monster" who sabotaged other women. Samantha Brick, who held senior roles in television including head of entertainment at Sky One and director of programming, wrote in a confessional piece that the industry's demanding nature, combined with personal ambition and insecurity, led her to treat subordinates harshly.
Brick's reflections come in the wake of reports about BBC broadcasters Kaye Adams and Victoria Derbyshire facing allegations of bullying. While stating she does not know the specifics of those cases, Brick recognized her own past behavior in the situation, acknowledging that "woman-on-woman bullying" was prevalent when she began her career in broadcasting. She noted a lack of mentorship from senior women and described an atmosphere that felt competitive rather than supportive.
She recalled instances where she was excessively harsh with assistants and colleagues. "Closing the glass door of my office, I told my assistant to sit down. She had just made a mess of my weekend away and I was about to let her have it with both barrels," Brick wrote, detailing how she once delivered a "character assassination" to an assistant over a poorly booked hotel. She also described expecting subordinates to anticipate her needs and frequently canceling meetings with little regard for others' schedules.
Brick identified how the industry rewarded traits like toughness, self-importance, and long working hours. She observed that while women in authority were often judged more harshly than men, with behavior that might be dismissed as "old school" in men being labeled "difficult" or "emotional" in women, this did not excuse mistreatment. She stated, "High standards are no excuse for humiliation."
Having experienced bullying herself in her 20s, Brick admitted that in her 30s, she replicated similar behavior. She reflected that her ambition, perfectionism, and insecurity were amplified by television, leading to the sharpening of traits that perhaps should have been softened. While no formal complaints were ever made against her, she now wonders if some of the criticisms shared among colleagues had merit.
Brick expressed regret for her past actions, stating that if she met her former assistant today, she would apologize. She concluded that the traits which led to her success, such as resilience and high standards, also made her a difficult person to work for. She suggested that while television is a dynamic industry with many talented women, it can also be a "pressure cooker" where bad behavior is sometimes overlooked if it leads to success.