‘All very sad’: Johnny Young reacts to ex-YTT star’s abuse claims

Young Talent Time star Debbie Byrne ‘is totally brilliant but has some problems’ says Johnny Young following her abuse claims.

Johnny Young says he wishes former Young Talent Time star Debra Byrne well and hopes she can “find some peace” after repeating claims she was a victim of sexual abuse while appearing on his show.

Young, 74, said he was very saddened by Byrne’s latest series of emotionally charged Facebook videos posted on the eve of the Young Talent Time 50th anniversary.

“I’m a huge fan of Debra’s talent,” Young told Page 13 on Friday.

“She is totally brilliant, but she has some problems. Debra has aired her emotional difficulties and it is all very sad for me to watch.”

The Australian singing legend has posted a series of lengthy and confronting videos and says she has been made to feel guilty and ashamed by airing her abuse and was seeking the advice of a criminal lawyer.

Byrne said she found it disgraceful and disgusting at having been asked to appear on the show’s 50th reunion by Young.

Debra Byrne. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Johnny Young.

“Oh I haven’t moved on, that’s not why I said no to a reunion. My reason is I find it very difficult to move on from what happened to me as a child,” Byrne posted.

“When I decided to confront John about the sexual abuse that occurred of course his responses were very aggressive and victim shaming, telling me that I was crazy, that he would never do anything like that,’’ Byrne said.

Currently in rehearsals to star in The Music of the Night — The Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber at Chapel off Chapel, Byrne says she has suffered throughout her life as a result of childhood trauma.

“It was pretty much impossible to talk to anybody and if you did, for whatever reasons, the adults in your life didn’t know how to manage it,’’ she said.

“Didn’t know how to deal with it and really there was probably no services available to help deal with it. If you did it was an excruciating process for the victim of the abuse.”

In 2014 Byrne posted on Facebook that she was sexually assaulted in a swimming pool while filming a segment for the show.

Byrne’s manager Simon Myer confirmed to Page 13 on Friday that Byrne had sought the advice of a lawyer and wanted her story to be told.

Young, who hosted the much loved singing and dancing variety show which became the staple of family’s Saturday night viewing, said he had nothing but respect for Byrne.

He said he felt “pretty clear and comfortable” with how he remembered her time on the show and hoped she worked through her ongoing issues.

Young Talent Time cast members: Debra Byrne, Rod Kirkham, Johnny Young, Jamie Redfern, Jane Scali, Vikki Broughton and Philip Gould.

“I have taken the time to watch it and she needs to sort that out for herself. She is 64 now. She was only ten years younger than me when Young Talent Time started.

“We did invite her to come along to the reunion, but she chose not to. That’s fine. She can make her own decisions, but I feel for her,” he said.

“It must be a difficult time for her. She does have lots of memories from Young Talent Time.

“She was the queen of pop. She had a huge hit record with He’s A Rebel. She had a terrific career through Young Talent Time.

“We did as well as we could for her as well as all of the kids. I feel pretty clear and comfortable about it. But she has her mental problems, which she talks about all the time, but I guess she has to work through that and I wish her well.

“We have had 40 kids go through YTT and like every family you have a few problems along the way. We were a family and that was it.”

Young said he felt very nostalgic going down memory lane in the lead up to the reunion on air on Saturday via Epicentre TV.

Former YTT alumni, including superstars Dannii Minogue and Tina Arena are to post fond memories and anecdotes from their time on the show.

“The exciting part for me,” said Young, “is the terrific people they all are. They are not kids anymore, they are all grown up but they are all doing terrific things.”

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