Content Warning: This article about Andrew O’Keefe discusses domestic abuse. If you or someone you know is 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.
The Chase host and former White Ribbon chairman, Andrew O’Keefe, was arrested and charged by police in Sydney on Sunday morning following an incident of alleged domestic assault on his partner.
As Sydney Morning Herald report, O’Keefe will face Waverley Court on Thursday, February 4th. Law enforcement will allege that the stalwart host assaulted his partner, Orly Lavee, at a Randwick apartment at 1am on Sunday.
The former Deal or No Deal host was arrested near the apartment at around 3:30am, he was then taken to Maroubra police station, where he was charged with common assault.
In a statement on Sunday, NSW Police confirmed: “Just before 1am, officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command attended a Randwick unit, after reports a 41-year-old woman had allegedly been assaulted in a domestic violence related incident. Following inquiries, police arrested a 49-year-old man nearby about 3.30am.”
Andrew O’Keefe was granted bail on the condition that he avoid contact with Ms. Lee.
“He was taken to Maroubra police station where he was charged with common assault (DV) and granted conditional bail to appear at Waverley Local Court on Thursday, 4 February 2021.”
O’Keefe was a founding member of the domestic violence charity, the White Ribbon Foundation, for which he was chairman in 2017. The organisation went into liquidation in 2019.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Channel Seven, confirmed that there has been no discussion to replace O’Keefe on The Chase.
“Andrew O’Keefe has been a valued member of the Seven on-air family for many years and he continues to appear on air as host of The Chase Australia,’ they told Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph. “The speculation about his future and alleged replacements is baseless, ill-informed and wrong.”
