Content Warning: This article discusses sexual harassment, rape, depression and suicide. If you or someone you know are affected by the following story, you are not alone. To speak to someone, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Earlier this month the ABC uncovered, what they deemed, new allegations of sexual misconduct on Craig McLachlan. However, Mclachlan has come forward to say that these allegations are not new and came from an old document that had been filed in 2018.
“The so-called ‘fresh’ allegations were again published on 15 May 2021, with the deceptive and sensationalized claim that they had just been revealed,” McLachlan said in a statement that he posted to social media.
“The ABC and Nine were aware that the Seven Network intended to broadcast a TV documentary special the following night which would give me the first public opportunity to tell my side of the story following my full acquittal of the 13 assault charges.
“The evidence which emerged during court including the dismissed assault charges substantially proves the so-called ‘fresh’ allegations are false.”
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The allegations that McLachlan is referring to came to public knowledge after the ABC released an article detailing the “fresh” claims on Saturday, May 15th, 2021. The article alleges that a document was released to the ABC by the NSW Supreme Court that includes new claims of sexual assault by actresses Tamzen Hayes and Anna Samson, who played opposite McLachlan in The Doctor Blake Mysteries, and Teagan Wouters, who played Janet in The Rocky Horror Show.
The papers also allege that McLachlan bullied and intimidated actor Tim Maddren, who played the role of Brad in The Rocky Horror Show.
In his statement, McLachlan has said that the papers in question are actually the Amended Defence to his defamation claim filed in December 2018.
In 2018 Victoria police charged McLachlan with seven counts of indecent assault and six counts of common law assault against four women on the set of The Rocky Horror Show in 2014. However, McLachlan was later acquitted on all charges after a hearing in December last year. Following his acquittal, McLaughlan sued the press for defamation, a case that is yet to be heard.
The actor has confirmed that he will be continuing with his case against Nine Newspapers and ABC, suing them for defamation, alleging he was defamed by reporting that falsely suggested he was guilty of sexual crimes.
For more on this topic check out the Film & TV Observer.
