WHY LISA HAS REALLY LEFT OZ!

An unexpected trip is offering the embattled presenter some much-needed downtime

Following mounting backlash from her infamous Logies speech, Lisa Wilkinson has said goodbye to Australia.

The 62-year-old presenter was due to return to The Project last week, but has secretly flown to the US where insiders say she will be conducting some interviews for the show, and most importantly recuperating and enjoying some solace, following a barrage of online criticism.

“Lisa has been through some tough times, but nothing had prepared her for this,” says an insider. “She really had to get away from it all.”

SPEECH FALLOUT

Lisa sparked a furore in June when she delivered a speech at the TV WEEK Logies about Brittany Higgins while accepting an award for her coverage of the young woman’s sexual assault allegations.

The trial was subsequently delayed while Lisa was plucked from The Project until further notice.

What’s more, sources close to Lisa reveal to Woman’s Day that she’ll also be enjoying time in France during her break. Lisa and her husband Peter FitzSimons, 61, will make the most of their time in the romantic country and enjoy the spoils of the local food, wine and culture.