Aussie celebrities who had real life run-ins with cops, courts, the law
From drink-driving, assaulting bouncers outside strip clubs to late-night brawls overseas — these Aussie reality TV contestants, hosts and judges were once considered criminals. Here’s a list of the most memorable celebrity run-ins with the law.
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From squabbles over missing millions to online dating sex scandals, the real-life legal dramas of our favourite reality TV contestants, hosts and judges is often far more salacious than anything a producer could confect on screen.
We count the top 10 moments Aussie reality stars got a taste of real reality — being booked by the police.
BRIAN LAKE
Surely things couldn’t get any tougher for former Hawthorn AFL star Brian Lake after filming the physically and mentally taxing Australian Survivor for 49 days in the Fijian tropics?
They sure could! Lake travelled to Osaka in Japan for an international footy tournament and was arrested for being part of a late-night brawl following a night out with his teammates in the city’s party district. That little fracas cost him six days in solitary confinement. Things have generally gone pear-shape for the Norm Smith medallist since he hung up the boots on his AFL career. He blames the break-up of his marriage for sending him on the downward spiral.
Unfortunately, Lake’s legal woes did not end in Japan. He was arrested and charged last year for a string of offences including stalking, theft and criminal damage. He was also hit with a lifetime ban from football after passing the AFL’s limit on total suspensions. Even his local council had a whack at him, taking him to court for allowing his front nature strip to become so overgrown it was regarded as a safety hazard.
MICHELLE BRIDGES
The Biggest Loser trainer blamed the emotional toll of her split with co-star Steve “Commando” Willis for a gross error in judgment that saw her caught drink-driving with her young son in the car. The court heard that Bridges was slurring her words and flushed in the face when she was pulled over by police on Australia Day. The trainer claimed that she had been drinking the night before she got behind the wheel and had consumed mouth wash just before she was breath-tested. Although she expressed shame and sorrow for her actions, her lawyer argued that she should be shown leniency because she was a “special person” who had helped Australians collectively shed more than two million kilograms through her fitness programs. The judge didn’t place a lot of weight on that argument and issued the sporty star with a three-month driving ban and a $750 fine, with a conviction recorded for mid-range drink driving.
GEORGE CALOMBARIS
When a 2017 audit revealed that the Calombaris business empire had underpaid 550 of the staff by $7.8 million it set in motion a chain of events that would see the popular presenter lose his business and his lucrative endorsement deals, plus suffer a serious blow to his reputation. The MasterChef star apologised for the accounting error, insisting that he hadn’t deliberately short-changed the people who had worked for him. He urged customers to keep dining at his popular eateries but in February the 18 establishments went into voluntary administration. The Calombaris nice-guy image took a further hit when he was caught on camera clashing with a teenager at the soccer grand final. The chef, who was under tremendous strain at the time due to the issues at his restaurants, later explained he had lost his temper when the young fan began heckling and abusing him from the stands. Calombaris stood down from his role as Melbourne Victory’s Number One ticket holder and banned himself from going to games for year after the incident. Although he pleaded guilty to assault in a Sydney court, a judge later overturned the conviction and placed Calombaris on a 12-month good behaviour bond.
FANOS PANAYIDES
The Family Food Fight contestant was left with egg on his face when he was revealed to be one of the organisers of the recent Freedom marches in Melbourne. Police arrested former Panayides in early September, seizing his mobile phone and laptop and charging him with incitement for encouraging people to break lockdown restrictions. It’s the second time he has been arrested this year after he was detained by police at anti-lockdown protests outside Parliament House in May.
BEN UNGERMANN
The MasterChef contestant disappeared quietly from this year’s season of the popular cooking show due to a “personal matter”. It was soon revealed that he had been charged with the sexual assault of a teenage girl, charges his lawyer says he will vehemently deny when he appears in court next month.
SHANNON NOLL
Bystanders reportedly broke into strains of the singer’s hit “What about Me” as police tackled him outside a South Australian strip club back in 2017. The Australian Idol runner-up had punched a bouncer for refusing him entry into bar. Noll was heard shouting: “I’m Shannon Noll. Let me back into the Crazy Horse!” shortly before the assault. The incident was the start of spate of bad behaviour from the loveable larrikin, which has included shouting abuse at a fan during one of his concerts and being arrested for cocaine possession.
SUZI TAYLOR
The former Penthouse model made a name for herself as a contestant on The Block in 2015. At the time she was at the centre of a nude photo scandal when a passer-by took topless shots of her on board a boat moored at Docklands. She extended her 15 minutes of Block fame when she spilt the beans on her tryst with celebrity journalist Richard Wilkins. After disappearing from the spotlight, the reality star was back in the headlines this year when she was accused of extorting her Tinder date and holding him against his will in a hotel room. The victim says he’s now uncertain whether he met Taylor through an online escort service or the dating site but denies he went to see her late at night with a bottle of champagne looking for anything but companionship. Taylor remains behind bars until the matter is heard at a date yet to be set.
KATE DEARAUGO
When police pulled over the blonde singer in the early hours of the morning back in 2017, they discovered she was high on ice and carrying more of the drug in snap-lock bags along with a knife and a tomahawk. DeAraugo claimed she carried the knife in the side door of her car because she “loves antiques” and added that the weapon had sentimental value. She also explained that the tomahawk was used for chopping wood and that she wasn’t aware it was considered a controlled weapon. DeAraugo, who has battled drug addiction since finding fame on Australian Idol and as a member of The Young Divas pop group, pleaded guilty to eight charges and was placed on a 12-month community corrections order with a conviction.
SAXON PEPPER
He lasted just two weeks inside the Big Brother house in 2008 and now faces more than two years under house arrest for drug, driving and weapons charges. The reality star was charged when he was caught with 150ml of the drug Fantasy in his possession while driving on a suspended licence. Police also found a double-barrel shotgun in his wardrobe and a baton under his bed when they searched his home. Pepper’s lawyer says his client is suffering from bipolar disorder and a post-traumatic stress condition after he was kidnapped and tortured by a bikie gang in 2016.
PHIL RANKINE
With his wife, singer songwriter Amity Dry, Rankine became a fan favourite when they competed on the first season of The Block in 2003 and again in 2013’s The Block All Stars. The couple have since split and now Rankine is facing court, charged with stealing more than $5 million from investors through his work as a concert promoter. Following his success on The Block, Rankine forged a career in the music industry bringing stars such as Lionel Richie and Bob Dylan to Australia to perform. Rankine has been charged with 20 counts of dishonestly taking property without consent. The case is yet to be heard.
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