Tennis player Lleyton Hewitt's manager has described as a "beat-up" and a "witch-hunt" a Today Tonight segment to air tonight that will cast doubt on his and his wife Bec's commitment to build an orphanage in Cambodia.
The segment will question the couple's contribution to the orphanage, suggesting they had done less than Bec Hewitt promised in February 2005.
The pair had pledged to be involved in construction of the Hope For Children orphanage, a project by The AIDS Trust of Australia.
But the player's manager, David Drysdale, said today that the couple had followed through on their promises.
"The AIDS trust was looking to somebody [to provide] the money to purchase the land where the orphanage would be built," he said.
"Bec's commitment was to buy the land where the orphanage would be built - she gave $65,000.
"Bec's commitment was fulfilled and The AIDS Trust would support that.
"It's ironic that Channel Seven are taking this track when the money she donated actually came from her prizemoney on Dancing With The Stars and an interview with Today Tonight."
The AIDS Trust's acting CEO Ross Smith confirmed the Hewitts had fulfilled all commitments they had made to building the orphanage.
A Today Tonight spokeswoman would not provide details of the story to air tonight, but confirmed that Today Tonight producer Phil Goyen and reporter Marguerite McKinnon had travelled to Cambodia to "look at the orphanage the Hewitts committed to".
"Basically we're going to put all the facts and financials out there and people can make up their own mind," Goyen said.
"We've come to Cambodia to see exactly what's been done and who's done it."
Drysdale said the program's allegations were based on "a play on words".
"They think 'building the orphanage' means to keep putting in for the building itself, but there was no ongoing commitment, the commitment was to buy the land," he said.
Mr Drysdale said the couple were "bitterly disappointed" at Today Tonight's allegations, which come as Lleyton Hewitt prepares to travel to Belgrade to face Serbia in the Davis Cup.
"Bec is devastated that a TV network she gave so many years to, on Home and Away and Dancing With The Stars ... that the network can turn around and do this to her - she's devastated by it."
The segment will question the couple's contribution to the orphanage, suggesting they had done less than Bec Hewitt promised in February 2005.
The pair had pledged to be involved in construction of the Hope For Children orphanage, a project by The AIDS Trust of Australia.
But the player's manager, David Drysdale, said today that the couple had followed through on their promises.
"The AIDS trust was looking to somebody [to provide] the money to purchase the land where the orphanage would be built," he said.
"Bec's commitment was to buy the land where the orphanage would be built - she gave $65,000.
"Bec's commitment was fulfilled and The AIDS Trust would support that.
"It's ironic that Channel Seven are taking this track when the money she donated actually came from her prizemoney on Dancing With The Stars and an interview with Today Tonight."
The AIDS Trust's acting CEO Ross Smith confirmed the Hewitts had fulfilled all commitments they had made to building the orphanage.
A Today Tonight spokeswoman would not provide details of the story to air tonight, but confirmed that Today Tonight producer Phil Goyen and reporter Marguerite McKinnon had travelled to Cambodia to "look at the orphanage the Hewitts committed to".
"Basically we're going to put all the facts and financials out there and people can make up their own mind," Goyen said.
"We've come to Cambodia to see exactly what's been done and who's done it."
Drysdale said the program's allegations were based on "a play on words".
"They think 'building the orphanage' means to keep putting in for the building itself, but there was no ongoing commitment, the commitment was to buy the land," he said.
Mr Drysdale said the couple were "bitterly disappointed" at Today Tonight's allegations, which come as Lleyton Hewitt prepares to travel to Belgrade to face Serbia in the Davis Cup.
"Bec is devastated that a TV network she gave so many years to, on Home and Away and Dancing With The Stars ... that the network can turn around and do this to her - she's devastated by it."
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