When high-society powerhouse Skye Leckie introduced Samantha Armytage to Southern Highlands businessman Richard Lavender back in 2019, she was celebrated as the ultimate fairy godmother.

The widow of legendary television executive David Leckie had orchestrated what looked like the romance of the decade: plucked straight from the brutal glare of morning television, the Sunrise queen was swept off her feet by a wealthy 40-hectare estate owner.

Fast forward seven years, and that same fairy tale has taken a dark, theatrical twist.

Following Sam’s quiet divorce from Richard in late 2024, rumors erupted that Richard had officially found love again with 45-year-old Sydney socialite and philanthropist Georgie Curran.

But the real dagger to Sam’s heart wasn’t just that her ex-husband had moved on—it was the revelation of who pulled the strings behind the scenes.

It was none other than Skye Leckie herself.

“She Gave Him Away”: The Cold War In The Southern Highlands

For Sam Armytage, learning that the very woman who built her marriage was the one who personally handed her ex-husband to another woman—one four years younger than Sam—felt like an absolute public execution.

In elite circles like Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and the exclusive Southern Highlands, Skye Leckie’s word is law.

Having been a mother-figure and social mentor to Sam during her golden years at Channel Seven, Skye’s move to set up Richard with Georgie was viewed by insiders as the ultimate realignment of high-society loyalties.

A close acquaintance within the Highlands social circuit exposed the quiet humiliation Sam is currently processing behind closed doors:

“To say Sam feels blindsided is an understatement. Skye wasn’t just a casual acquaintance; she was the architect of Sam’s marriage.

To turn around so quickly after the divorce and handpick a younger, well-connected socialite like Georgie for Richard? It’s a icy message.

It basically tells the world that the elite circle chose Richard, and Sam was left out in the cold.”

According to insiders, Georgie Curran—a mother of three and prominent charity figure connected to the Australian Ballet—fits seamlessly into the low-drama, high-wealth lifestyle that Leckie and Lavender inhabit.

“Georgie doesn’t bring paparazzi to the front gate.

She doesn’t have network publicists or morning show drama trailing behind her.

Skye knew exactly what she was doing when she made that phone call,” the insider added.

From Golden Girl To Social Outcast

The social cold shoulder comes at the absolute worst professional moment of Sam’s career.

Since walking away from her lucrative multi-million dollar contract at Channel Seven and attempting a high-stakes comeback on Channel Nine’s Today show, Sam’s world has been in an absolute tailspin.

Instead of a triumphant return, her stint on Today alongside a rotating desk of co-hosts has been plagued by savage viewer reviews, with social media users labeling the show “drab,” “uncomfortable,” and “devoid of chemistry.”

To make matters worse, her bitter former co-host Natalie Barr recently added fuel to the fire after accidentally leaking a screenshot showing she was secretly monitoring Sam’s rocky broadcasts on her phone.

A veteran television producer who has tracked Sam’s career for over a decade observed that the contrast between her personal and professional life is becoming painful to watch:

“Sam used to have it all—the top ratings on Sunrise, the cover stories, the glossy country wedding, and the backing of TV royalty like the Leckies.

Now, she’s waking up at 4:00 AM to fight for abysmal ratings at Nine, while the very people who hosted her wedding are sipping champagne with her ex and his new girlfriend. It’s a brutal fall from grace.”

The Final Cut

While Sam publicly maintains a stoic front—recently telling Stellar Magazine that she and Richard simply “gave it a go” before moving on—those close to the presenter reveal that the double-whammy of a media roasting and a high-society betrayal has taken a massive toll.

As Channel Nine executives scramble behind the scenes to fix Today‘s sinking ratings, Sam is left navigating the brutal reality of Australian media culture: when the cameras turn off and the ratings drop, even your closest allies might just hand your fairytale over to someone else.