Craig McLachlan files for defamation against ABC/Fairfax

[Neferti]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-02/c ... ax/9387104

Actor Craig McLachlan has filed defamation proceedings against the ABC and Fairfax Media, which reported on allegations he sexually harassed several former colleagues.

Victoria Police is currently investigating allegations McLachlan committed multiple sexual offences while performing in the Rocky Horror Show in 2014.

A joint ABC/Fairfax investigation revealed three women from the 2014 production claimed McLachlan took advantage of his raunchy role as Dr Frank-N-Furter to indecently assault, intimidate and harass them, both on and off stage.

McLachlan has denied the allegations, describing them as baseless.

The Gold-Logie-winning actor has engaged barrister Stuart Littlemore QC and lodged a statement of claim in the New South Wales Supreme Court.

The action came after the producers of the Doctor Blake Mysteries cleared McLachlan of separate claims that he sexually harassed his co-workers, but admitted the show's workplace culture was "bawdy and crude" and may have offended some cast and crew members.

Good.

[Alinta]

Totally agree. I'll be surprised if there's not an out of court settlement, but frankly I hope it runs the full course.

[cods]

Totally agree. I'll be surprised if there's not an out of court settlement, but frankly I hope it runs the full course.

do you think its true alinta??>..

you know in this day and age some women are as crude and vulgar as the men.....its almost deliberate..

maybe some blokes think ALL women accept that......I know I dont and even on our precious forums I speak up when it happens

boys being boys one of my grandsons came over one day.. he was about 18 at the time and he started that dribble where they drip salvia out of their mouth and sucj it back in again....he tapped my on the shoulder and was doing this I was livid it made me heave....I gave him a right telling off.. and told him I am his grandmother and that might amuse his mates but thats where it should stay...dont ever do something like that again to me....needless to say he never has...

when I read some of the things alleged to have done by Craig....it does sound to me like a dirty little boy stuff and he has never been told when and where it can be used....or should we say NOT used......

maybe he was a spoilt brat...

what bothers me about this is ...

is it really sexual assault harassment..... if it did go on it was wrong for gods sakes yes and the management should pick up the tab.....

as some women had to go a lot further to keep or get their job....and that I feel is a bigger issue.......

the company they worked for did not have Duty of Care for their well being....if McLachlan was being a grotty dirty little boy he should have had some counselling regarding his behavior towards young women...... if it is proved it was sexual harassment then he hasnt got a case has he?...

[Black Orchid]

I imagine during the production of something like the Rocky Horror Show a lot of lewd references went on behind the scenes in preparation for their parts, both male and female.

Is it sexual harassment? Who knows?

I do think that too many women, for their own ambitious and selfish reasons, ignored it at the time and now many years on have blown it out of all proportion. This only serves to diminish real sexual abuse that has happened to other women/men.

[Alinta]

I posted this in an Ozpol thread Cods...

"My next door neighbour was part of the Dr Blake crew- screen writer over the last 3 (I think) series.

Albeit limited interaction, she saw him to be something of a chameleon....at times temperamental, always an outrageous flirt, often sleazy banter that attracted both male and female participation, definitely not one sided. He tested limits heaps."


I could only comment on what my neighbour told me based on her own experience with him. She is a broad minded but no nonsense professional woman and I have no reason to believe she is not telling the truth.

As to the Rocky Horror allegations I'm inclined to think it would be more of the same that perhaps went further given it was a raunchy production anyway. if yes, how much further? I don't know, but I do think whatever went on would not have been one sided.

[Neferti]

Craig McLachlan 'rarely leaves home' following misconduct allegations, court documents reveal


Actor Craig McLachlan has become "reclusive" and "rarely leaves home" since the ABC and Fairfax published stories accusing him of misconduct, a court has been told.

In the Supreme Court of New South Wales on Friday, the media organisations' defence barrister Lyndelle Barnett said the preparation of their defences had been delayed, in part because more alleged victims had come forward.

Mr McLachlan claims he was defamed by articles and reports alleging sexual misconduct, harassment, bullying and indecent assault against three female cast members during a 2014 production of the Rocky Horror Show.

He commenced legal action in February, and the media companies and actress Christie Whelan Browne were ordered to file a defence by May 4.

They still have not done so and on Friday in the Supreme Court in Sydney sought to have the matter relisted in June.

Mr McLachlan's legal team submitted an affidavit from his solicitor Mark O'Brien stating that when the actor heard that the defence wanted more time he said: "I cannot believe they still need to look for witnesses five months after ruining my life."

The affidavit said Mr McLachlan was then too distressed to continue the conversation.

It also said Mr McLachlan had suffered severe mental anxiety and distress.

It said he "rarely leaves home" has "virtually no contact with friends, relatives or former entertainment colleagues" and that Mr McLachlan's acting career has been "effectively destroyed".

It said he has not received any offers of acting work since the articles were published and has lost other opportunities.

Ms Barnett said since the first hearing of Mr McLachlan's defamation action against the ABC, Fairfax Media and Ms Browne, more alleged victims had come forward speaking about other incidents dating back to the 1990s.

She said they needed time to go through "a lot of information" and ensure they could protect any alleged victims of alleged indecent assault.

Justice Lucy McCallum said it was "alarming" and troubling to hear that the defendants were proposing to introduce the allegations, saying such evidence may go well beyond the limited scope of what was published in the articles in January.

Justice McCallum ordered that the media companies and Ms Whelan Browne to file a defence by next Thursday.

Mr McLachlan's barrister Matthew Richardson said the media companies and Ms Whelan Browne had already had enough time to prepare their defence and asked "what on Earth" did events from the 1990s have to do with this court case.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-18/c ... al/9774704