demanding. If someone fell short of the mark, he would excoriate them. He was unforgiving." In response to the allegations, Burke released a lengthy statement which said he was "deeply hurt and outraged at the false and defamatory claims" and suggested the "baseless" claims were from former employees who "bear grudges against me". Burke also stated that he has had a "life-long opposition to sexism and misogyny". Burke claimed to have self-diagnosed Asperger's syndrome and, in a media interview following revelations about his alleged misconduct, said that these "genetic failings" were to blame for some of his conduct. In response, Autism Awareness Australia stated that Burke's claim was "beyond appalling" and "gobsmacking". In the following days, many celebrities came forward to recount their observations of Burke's sexist and offensive behaviour, including Susie O'Neill, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Di Morrissey, Debra Byrne, Tottie Goldsmith, Amity Dry and Mike Carlton. Following the interview on A Current Affair, one of the women sued Burke for defamation on the grounds that he said she had lied about the sexual harassment allegation and that she made the false allegation as part of a "witch hunt" during the interview. She lost the case on the grounds that Justice David Mossop did not find Burke's denial in the interview was credible, so viewers would not conclude that she was a liar or part of a witch hunt, and thus was not defamed. References External links Burke's Backyard website 1947 births Living people Australian artisans Australian environmentalists Australian gardeners Australian horticulturists Australian television presenters Australian landscape or garden designers Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia People educated at St Aloysius' College (Sydney) People from Sydney