Paris Lawrence breaks silence on Rioli, Bolton bar brawl

Paris Lawrence has broken her silence on the nightclub brawl involving her beau Daniel Rioli and his Tigers teammate Shai Bolton.

Melbourne DJ Paris Lawrence (right) makes her own gin at Here’s Looking at You Kid distillery with model Tess Shanahan and actor Gyton Grantley. Picture: Mark Stewart

Glamorous DJ Paris Lawrence has broken her silence on the nightclub fight in which Tigers stars Daniel Rioli and Shai Bolton stepped up to defend her honour.

“Things happen and sometimes you can’t help the situations you’re put into,” Lawrence, who is Rioli’s girlfriend, told the Herald Sun.

“The important thing is, Daniel and I have each other’s backs, and we support each other.”

Rioli and Bolton were embroiled in a fight at Melbourne’s YoYo nightclub after Lawrence was subjected to “inappropriate behaviour” from a patron.

Rioli required stitches to his face after the altercation, and Bolton was sidelined for several weeks after fracturing his wrist in the incident, which occurred in May.

Lawrence said: “It is what it is. But it’s all good now. We’ve moved past that. We didn’t listen to the news, social media or anything online. We knew what happened”.

Daniel Rioli and Paris Lawrence. Picture: Instagram

After the incident, the Tigers said in a statement: “An altercation took place after Rioli’s girlfriend was subjected to inappropriate behaviour.

“Rioli was punched after confronting the patron and suffered a cut under his eye that required two stitches. Bolton became involved in the ensuing altercation and sustained a fractured wrist that will require surgery.”

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said the incident “wasn’t ideal,” but he supported the injured duo.

“A player’s partner was put in an inappropriate situation that she didn’t feel comfortable with, and Daniel (Rioli) stood up and tried to eradicate the situation,” Hardwick told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

“I don’t condone violence, but the reality is, put anyone in that situation, they’re going to stand up for their partner and their mates.”

Shai Bolton. Picture: Michael Klein

Richmond CEO Brendon Gale added: “I’m encouraged by the fact they’re looking after each other, they’re looking after their partners, they’re looking after their friends.”

Rioli and Lawrence celebrated a relationship milestone recently.

“We’re going great. It was our six month anniversary,” she said.

“He was in Perth, unfortunately. and had to isolate. But we’re happy, and looking forward to some holiday time together.”

She and the AFL star met at a nightclub in Darwin during the summer break.

“I was DJ’ing up there and we happened to run into each other. We connected straight away. we’re like two peas in a pod,” Lawrence said.

Sydneysider Lawrence, who moved to Melbourne this year, said she grew up on NRL and had to learn a new sporting code.

“Daniel has introduced me to AFL. He’s taught me all the rules. I didn’t know anything about the game before meeting Daniel,” she said.

“But I love how fast paced AFL is. I watch games all the time now.”

Lawrence attended an event at Here’s Looking At You Kid distillery, which is holding a make-your-own gin masterclass on August 26 as part of Melbourne Whiskey Week.

As a DJ, Lawrence, who has performed alongside US stars Lil Yachty, Sean Kingston, Bow Wow and Fatman Scoop, plays soul, funk and R & B.

“I like good vibes and happy times,’ she said. “I want to see people happy, especially with the times we’re going through right now. I like to get all my ladies dancing.”