Craig McLachlan denies allegations of sexual misconduct
ONE of the three actresses who have accused Craig McLachlan of inappropriate behaviour has come out swinging against claims she’s motivated by money.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ONE of the three actresses who have accused Craig McLachlan of inappropriate behaviour have come out swinging against claims she’s motivated by money.
McLachlan has denied any wrongdoing after he was accused of sexual assault, harassment and bullying by three members of the 2014 production of the Rocky Horror Show.
McLachlan’s former co-star Christie Whelan-Brown has tweeted today that she has not done any paid interviews she is paying her own legal fees and she has “risked never being hired again”.
Her tweet stated:
“To those claiming that I did this for money:
A) There are no paid interviews.
B) I have paid my own legal fees
C) I risked never being hired again.
I just don’t understand where you think I’m getting any money?”
To those claiming that I did this for money:
— Christie Whelan (@Christie_Whelan) January 8, 2018
A) There are no paid interviews.
B) I have paid my own legal fees
C) I risked never being hired again.
I just don’t understand where you think I’m getting any money?
Whelan-Brown said McLachlan’s image as a loveable larrikin was very different from the star she encountered.
“People who know him know that he’s very generous, warm, funny. That’s how people would describe him,” Whelan-Brown told 7.30.
“On this one particular job I saw a very different side come out in him that was terrifying.”
Whelan-Brown, who played Janet in the production, alleged that McLachlan inappropriately touched her on stage during one sexually charged scene.
Whelan-Brown claimed she complained to the managing director of the production company and a senior crew member but said she didn’t take it any further.
The news comes as at least two more people have contacted police with complaints of sexual misconduct against McLachlan.
The star is out of the Rocky Horror Show touring Australia and a new Dr Blake series is on hold.
In interviews with the ABC’s 730, actresses Whelan-Brown, Erika Heynatz and Angela Scundi detailed their allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
In a strongly worded statement issued, Gold Logie winner McLachlan said the allegations were untrue.
Erika Heynatz, who played Magenta in the 2014 production of The Rocky Horror Show, told 7.30 McLachlan came into her dressing room and kissed her. The incident left her feeling shaky and undermined her confidence, she said.
The actress alleged that McLachlan assaulted her in a crew room by straddling her while she was sitting on a couch and kissing her neck.
“We felt that the role on stage was making its way into backstage,” Heynatz told 7.30.
“And also the content of the show which is very raunchy, this highly sexualised environment. We felt he was really starting to take advantage of that,” Heynatz said.
“My observation was that his confidence was building. And I feel as though, yeah, he was becoming more bolder, more brazen with everything he did both on stage and off.”
Angela Scundi, who was the understudy for the role of Colombia, alleged that McLachlan subjected her to an unwanted and unscripted kiss, despite her telling the director beforehand that she did not want to do it.
The actress said when she later confronted McLachlan about the unwanted kiss, he turned on her.
“I don’t feel fear at that level, but I haven’t felt that terrified ever in my life or ever again,” Scundi told 7.30.
Heynatz said towards the end of the 2014 tour, she met with a group of female cast members which didn’t include Christie or Angela, to discuss McLachlan’s behaviour.
They were shocked to discover the pattern of alleged behaviour, they decided not to act as they believed the risk to their careers would be too great.
“Do we speak to the production company? They’re not going to believe us. He’s the big head star. They’re going to keep him. We’re going to lose our jobs, Heynatz told 7.30.
Because we’re replaceable. So replaceable and that’s the disgusting thing about it, we all feel as though our voice isn’t enough and we’re not important enough.”
The three actresses say they felt compelled to make contact late last year on the back of the sexual harassment allegations sweeping Hollywood.
The Gordon Frost Organisation (GFO) issued a statement today, saying it was shocked to learn of allegations against him while he was involved in the Rocky Horror Show in 2014.
The statement also read: “We take these allegations very seriously, and have always endeavoured to prioritise a safe working environment.
“In response, we have spoken to Craig and have mutually agreed that it is not appropriate for him to continue in the current production of the show. We will be conducting a full internal investigation and will co-operate fully with authorities.
“While we clearly cannot comment on the details of this particular case, sexual assault in any form is unacceptable, and we will work diligently within this industry to support the right of all people to be protected in the workplace, and stand by those who are victims of inappropriate behaviour.
“In order to clarify media reports, we wish to state that we were not aware of any details of these allegations until they were published in the media today. We received correspondence from a law firm shortly before Christmas however this contained no details of the claims or the claimants.
“The response from our lawyers was based on this lack of information and was not in any way directed at the women who have come forward and made these allegations.
“We can also confirm that our records show the claimants at no time made any complaint - formal or informal - to the company manager or executive producer of The Rocky Horror Show in 2014.
“Furthermore no one at GFO recalls any verbal discussion of this nature. It would be distressing to us if anyone within our company was dismissive of sexual assault allegations, and this will form a part of our internal investigation.”
McLachlan was with the Rocky Horror Show in Adelaide. It was due to move to Brisbane on January 17.
In an email to Fairfax Media, McLachlan said the claims are “baseless” and “they seem to be simple inventions, perhaps made for financial reasons, perhaps to gain notoriety”.
“These allegations are ALL made up,” he said.
The Herald Sun is not saying the allegations are true, just that they have been made.