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Channel Seven newsreader and media personality Rebecca Maddern has finally spoken out in a candid chat after her controversial comments about Novak Djokovic went viral.

In an in-depth interview with Stellar magazine, the 44-year-old said she was 'annoyed' that her off-air spray was recorded and subsequently released. 

Maddern also revealed the one regret she has about the incident, which made global headlines, saying she wished she hadn't used 'fruity language'.

Speaking out: Seven's Rebecca Maddern finally broke her silence this week and revealed the one regret she has after her off-air spray at Tennis star Novak Djokovic was leaked. Maddern had a candid chat with Stellar magazine that was published on Saturday

'I don't regret having an opinion on the situation but I do perhaps regret the fruity language,' Maddern explained. 

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Maddern explained that during her spray at Novak, where she referred to Djokovic as a 'lying, sneaky a***hole,' she and co-host Mike Amor were talking like they would in a 'pub'.

At the time, the Serbian tennis ace, 34, was at the centre of a controversy over his visa status and opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine.

'My language was questionable, but hey, we're Aussies,' she said. 

'I don't regret having an opinion on the situation but I do perhaps regret the fruity language,' Maddern explained. Pictured on air with Mike Amor

Maddern explained that she was out at dinner with her husband Trent Miller when she heard the incident went viral and her comments were leaked. 

'My initial reaction was I was really annoyed that a private conversation had been recorded,' she said. 

'And then also, to make matters worse, publicly released without our knowledge and without our consent.'

Making headlines: Maddern explained that during her spray at Novak (pictured), where she referred to Djokovic as a 'lying, sneaky, a***hole,' she and co-host Mike Amor were talking like they would in a 'pub'. At the time, the Serbian tennis ace, 34, was at the centre of controversy over his visa status and opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine

She said that her bosses at Channel Seven were 'extremely supportive' of her throughout the saga as the comments were made off-air. 

After a person from the captioning company was fired for the incident, Maddern added that she's 'pleased' with the outcome, so that 'it doesn't happen to anybody else in the industry'. 

The network traced the culprit of the leak to a staffer at closed captioning company Ai Media.

Lucky! She said that her bosses at Channel Seven were 'extremely supportive' of her throughout the saga as the comments were made off-air

The staffer who leaked the video was subsequently sacked from the company after an internal investigation took place. 

A statement from Ai Media read: 'As a result of the investigation, Ai-Media has identified that an employee working remotely due to the COVID-19 outbreak was responsible for the unauthorised distribution of the content.'

'Appropriate action has been taken with regard to the employee responsible.'

The company CEO Tony Abrahams said Ai-Media has also reassured the Seven network that the company has taken action to ensure no future leaks.

'We are Australia's leading provider of captioning services and we understand the importance of our work in making media accessible and inclusive to a wider audience, while safeguarding the confidential information of our customers,' he said. 

In the video, Maddern called Djokovic a 'lying, sneaky, a***hole' while preparing to present the station's 6pm news program.

Awkward: In the video, Maddern called Djokovic a 'lying, sneaky, a***hole' while preparing to present the station's 6pm news program

Amor added: 'That's it, I mean he's an a***hole. He got a bulls*** f*****g excuse and then fell over his own f*****g lies. It's just what happens, right, that's what happened.

Maddern previously apologised to her bosses for bad mouthing the world number one.

Djokovic had landed in Australia with a medical exemption from vaccination on the basis he had tested positive to Covid-19 on December 16, but was detained for five days when border force officials denied the exemption. 

He was then released from detention after a judge overturned the decision, but it soon emerged the sportsman had made errors on his visa application.

Days later, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke exercised his ministerial powers to cancel Djokovic's visa again, saying his presence would incite anti-vaccine sentiment.

This decision was upheld by the Federal Court and the 20-time Grand Slam champion and noted vaccine sceptic was deported from Australia. He may be banned from re-entering the country for three years.

The Australian Open began on January 17 without the world No. 1.

Deported: Djokovic had landed in Australia with a medical exemption from vaccination on the basis he had tested positive to Covid-19 on December 16, but was detained for five days when border force officials denied the exemption. He has since been deported. Pictured in Serbia

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