Actor Craig McLachlan has been accused of sexual harassment by a further three actresses, one actor and two production staff, the ABC has revealed.
A NSW Supreme Court document acquired by the ABC details the claims by actresses Tamzen Hayes, Anna Samson and Teagan Wouters. It’s also alleged that McLachlan intimidated and bullied actor Tim Maddren, and groped and harassed a female sound technician and a production runner.
In case you haven’t been keeping count, that’s six. Six more people alleging sexual harassment and bullying at the hands of Craig McLachlan. This is on top of the four women who originally brought indecent and common assault charges against the Australian TV star last year. Those charges were acquitted, even though the Melbourne magistrate who made the judgement accepted some of the complainants’ evidence.
The new allegations are explained in detail by the ABC. They form part of the media group’s defence against McLachlan, who is suing the ABC, Fairfax and an actress for defamation.
In short, though, the allegations are that McLachlan variously non-consensually kissed, groped, and made sexual advances on the five women mentioned, all of whom he worked with on the TV series Homicide and The Doctor Blake Mysteries, and the stage performance of The Rocky Horror Show.
It’s also alleged that when Tim Maddren refused to play along with an on-stage joke that McLachlan started during The Rocky Horror Show, McLachlan became angry, kicked a rubbish bin and yelled abuse at the cast. It’s alleged that he then told Maddren: “If anyone had acted like you had on Doctor Blake, they would have been gone.”
The ABC article comes just ahead of Channel 7’s ‘Horror Show’ documentary, which is due to premiere on Sunday and promises to tell McLachlan’s side of the story. Previews show McLachlan strenuously and tearfully denying the allegations, and decrying a “hashtag MeToo world gone mad”.
A major @7NewsSpotlight documentary months in the making.
New evidence. New eyewitnesses. Never-before-seen footage. Explosive revelations.
7NEWS Spotlight: Horror Show. Premieres tomorrow night at 7.00 on Channel 7. pic.twitter.com/0RcVYA8hX5
— Channel 7 (@Channel7) May 15, 2021
McLachlan has been suing the ABC and others for defamation since January 2018. The case was put on hold during his criminal trial, and a revised hearing date has not yet been set.
Help is available.
If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
If you’d like to speak to someone about sexual violence, please call the 1800 Respect hotline on 1800 737 732 or chat online.
Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
