‘Leave it now’: Roxy Jacenko’s bizarre late night vid
The Sydney PR queen seemed almost in tears as she spoke of stress behind $10m promotion.
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Australian PR maven Roxy Jacenko has uploaded an apologetic late night video where, almost in tears, she said she was backing away from an already controversial $10 million competition she was the figurehead for which she claimed was now unravelling further.
“I’m sorry,” Jacenko said on Instagram.
“I am exhausted ... and I’m embarrassed.
“I’ve done everything that I can and I will leave it now”.
In the eight minute video, Jacenko, 43, repeatedly remarked on her weight as being impacted by stress from the “Roxy’s Bootcamp” promotion, which launched in March.
“I can’t be in a position where I weigh 49 kilos”.
Jacenko’s video, posted at about 10pm on Friday, was about a competition she launched on March 8 in a blaze of publicity.
“I’m giving away a $10 million home,” she told Kyle and Jackie O on the Kiss breakfast show.
“If I can give someone the opportunity to either live in the house, rent it out or sell it, I’ve given them a chance to be a multi-millionaire,” she said to Channel 7.
The home, located in the Sydney beachside suburb of Cronulla, is featured heavily on the Roxy’s Bootcamp website and is described as having an “opulent Mediterranean aesthetic,” with a pool and double garage. Other prizes include a Rolex watch and Hermes Birkin bag, both valued at $20,000.
To be in with chance to win, people had to sign up to various levels of the Roxy’s Bootcamp online brand and marketing course.
One month’s access was sold for $29 and gave one competition entry while a $499 subscription would bring 500 entries.
Competition controversial from start
But questions began to be asked shortly after the competition launched.
Chiefly, this was because the winning prize wasn’t the deeds to the house at all but entry into another game of chance for a big prize.
The odds of winning that second competition and getting the house keys was just one in 33,000.
If winners didn’t get the house they would still take home $250,000 cash, the competition’s terms and conditions stated.
But it also emerged the house didn’t belong to Jacenko, instead it is owned by Youssef Tleis and his associate Kassim Alaouie. The Sunday Telegraph reported it was bought in 2020 for $3.4 million after it failed to sell at auction.
Listed again late last year, but this time for $10m, it also didn’t sell.
The Telegraph has said local Cronulla real estate agents have expressed doubts on whether the house would reach a $10m asking price.
Shortly afterwards, the Jacenko promotion occurred which has given the home nationwide coverage.
‘Make lives different’
Jacenko is often dressed to the nines. But on Friday, on her video, she was instead draped in a loose casual sweater with her hair pulled back.
“A video of a different variety tonight and one that I really didn’t think I’d ever have to do,” she opined.
Despite being highly connected in Sydney circles, Jacenko said she agreed to run the competition with complete strangers she’d met online.
“I was direct messaged on Instagram by someone who I don’t know, who had a great idea for me to run my courses and associate a trade promotion with those courses”.
Former business partner Youssef Tleis, told the Sunday Telegraph, he initially approached Ms Jacenko with a view to recruiting a celebrity from her influencer stable, Ministry of Talent, for the promotion.
“She said: ‘Do it with me’. She recommended herself. She said she had the reach,” he claimed. Jacenko denies this.
Jacenko said that she gives “300 per cent energy” to the projects she works on.
Yet, early on she said she wasn’t sure if she wanted to follow through with the promotion.
She said shes floated the idea of refunding all of the Bootcamp subscriptions and that she would “wear the cost,” of the $150,000 she claimed she had invested in the promotion.
Jacenko said that plan was rejected, so she carried on regardless.
“We’re going to get this done. We’re going to make three people’s lives different by winning three fantastic prizes,” she said of her thinking.
The Telegraph reported on Sunday that Mr. Tleis had questioned Jacenko’s pledge, considering she was no longer a director of Roxy’s Bootcamp Pty Ltd.
He also disputed Jacenko’s claim that she was $320,000 out of pocket.
‘Did my best’
However, she said on Friday that she had stepped down as a director of the partnership and was now merely a shareholder.
The promoter of the competition is listed as Roxy’s Bootcamp Pty Ltd, which is based at the same address in Double Bay, in Sydney’s ritzy eastern suburbs, as other companies in the Jacenko empire.
“I have tried everything I can possibly. But what I want you to know is I did my absolute best. I value each and every one of you”.
In a second video on Saturday, Jacenko pledged to refud all 7000 people who bought a package through the bootcamp.
Mr Tleis questioned this and told the Telegraph the promotion was continuing without Jacenko’s involvement, with the draw to occur on June 6.
He denied suggestions that the business’ account did not have sufficient funds to honour the $250,000 cash prize, assuring entrants that the money was “safely” sitting in the company’s bank account.
“The account has a surplus of funds,” Mr Tleis said.
In response to questions from News.com.au, Jacenko said she went into partnership with individuals she met online due to logistical constraints, engaging in Zoom meetings before agreeing.
She confirmed her personal guarantee to pay the $250k prize if the company fails to do so, but added she lacks authority to halt the promotion or refund subscriptions.
‘I can’t be 49 kilos’
She said the competition chaos had taken a toll on her physical and mental health – and her weight.
“It’s been nothing short of distressing,” she said.
“I am 49 kilos. I can’t be in a position where I’m 49 kilos and I certainly can’t be in a position where walking to the door I faint.
“It’s too much and it’s going to stop.”
She said she would be stepping away from the competition, the website of which continues to be emblazoned with her name and image.
“But I also have to respect my family – my husband and children are sick of me being stressed out,” she said.
On Jacenko’s Instagram account, many people were critical of her seemingly washing her hands of the promotion. Although it appears comments on the post were tuned off after a few hours following the backlash.
“If you felt uncomfortable three days in, why did you keep promising and promoting?” one asked.
“Why are you concerned about weighing 49 kilos?” said another.
A few comments were kinder.
“Look after yourself.”
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Originally published as ‘Leave it now’: Roxy Jacenko’s bizarre late night vid
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