Nadia Bartel caught in accidental live video snorting white powder in apparent lockdown breach
Nadia Bartel is cooperating with police probing a video of her snorting white powder, during a forbidden house gathering.
Geelong
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Nadia Bartel is cooperating with police probing a video of her snorting white powder during a forbidden house gathering.
Victoria Police on Saturday confirmed the 36-year-old WAG has spoken with police.
No fines have been issued at this stage.
“Victoria Police is aware of a video currently on social media depicting alleged illicit drug use and an alleged breach of CHO directions,” a spokeswoman said.
“Victoria Police has made contact with a 36-year-old Windsor woman who is assisting with inquiries.
“As the investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
Nadia Bartel on Friday afternoon broke her silence after a damning video of her snorting what appears to be cocaine surfaced on social media.
The Herald Sun has been told the footage was taken on Thursday night during Melbourne’s extended sixth lockdown, which bans gatherings.
A short clip of the influencer bending over to snort a line of white powder on a plate, as two other girls laugh, was posted to Instagram.
It is believed the live video, which has now been deleted, was posted accidentally via the WAG’s best friend and business partner Ellie Pearson’s Instagram account.
In a post on her Instagram account on Friday evening, Bartel said she was “embarrassed and remorseful” for her actions.
“I have let you all down by my actions,” she wrote.
“I take full responsibility and I am committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure I make better choices in future.
“To my family and friends, my business partners and the public health workers trying to keep us all safe, I am embarrassed and remorseful.
“I am truly and deeply sorry, I hope I can earn your forgiveness and, in time, your trust.”
In a brief statement to the Herald Sun on Friday afternoon, a Department of Health spokesman confirmed: “The Department of Health is liaising with Victoria Police in relation to the alleged incident”.
Two plain clothes police officers arrived at Bartel’s Windsor residence late on Friday and repeatedly rang her doorbell, but no one answered.
One officer also appeared to try and call someone on his mobile phone.
The two officers left in their unmarked vehicle after they were unable to get inside the property.
Pearson is the former girlfriend of Josh Hunt and runs tanning business Spray Aus, along with Emily McKay, the former partner of Majak Daw, and Bec Judd — none of whom were present.
The video appears to also flout Victoria’s tough Covid rules regarding home gatherings.
Home visits and private gatherings are banned under current restrictions.
Pearson, who accidentally uploaded the now deleted video to her account, told the Herald Sun she was remorseful.
“I’m just devastated,’’ she said.
Bartel has more than 556,000 Instagram followers and is considered rolled gold royalty as one of Australia’s most high-profile influencers.
She promotes products and works as an ambassador of several lifestyle and wellness brands.
On Friday, after news of the video was reported, the influencer deleted all links and traces of her endorsements and brands on her Instagram account’s profile.
This included the designers own successful online fashion label, Henne, which often sells out in minutes following her announcing a “drop”.
The influencer’s ex-husband, Jimmy Bartel, on Friday morning posted a happy snap of the Brownlow medallist lying in bed with the former couple’s two young sons, Aston and Henley.
“Slower starts for lockdown mornings. It’s Henley’s shaka that does it for me,” Bartel posted with a photo of the smiling boys in their pyjamas.
It’s understood the Bartels divorce was finalised recently.
Pearson, who manages the media and marketing of Spray Australia, on Friday deleted all traces of her Instagram account.
Former WAGs Judd, Bartel, McKay and Pearson founded the homegrown spray tan company in 2014 saying their vision was to develop “a luxurious mist, that would not only dry quickly and evenly on the skin, but combined their love for natural and organic ingredients”.
Spray Australia has also not responded to Herald Sun inquiries.
Just this week, the four high-profile AFL turned beauty influencers were posting videos of themselves in bikinis applying the tanning solution from their homes while in lockdown for a new campaign promoting the brand.
It is certainly not the first video of a Melbourne socialite busted on Instagram in a compromising position with what appears to be illicit substances.
Earlier this year a video went viral of beauty influencer and former reality star Laurina Fleure leaning over a line of powder on a counter top as a group of friends danced around her.
Fleure quickly apologised for her actions saying she was “humiliated” and “embarrassed”.
Originally published as Nadia Bartel caught in accidental live video snorting white powder in apparent lockdown breach