Guy Sebastian’s ex-manager Titus Day breaks silence on pair’s fallout ahead of trial

Guy Sebastian and his manager’s relationship was once “like a marriage”. Now he has spoken about the moment it began to shatter.

Guy Sebastian’s former manager and close friend Titus Day have spoken to news.com.au on the eve of his return to court on Monday for his embezzlement trial.

Day has long maintained his innocence relating to the charges which arose after the two men, friends for a dozen years, had a bitter falling out in 2017 over claims and counterclaims they each owed the other hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Day, 52, has avoided the media since he was charged in 2020.

This week the reserved Sydney agent let his guard down to speak to news.com.au about his shattered friendship with the singer and his wife Jules Sebastian, whose media career Day also launched and guided for five years.

Much changed by his experience, Day acknowledged the eight-year legal battle had taken its toll on him and his family.

Titus Day and Guy Sebastian, before their bitter falling out.

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Wife Courtney will be missing from the district court on Monday when the trial begins.

“Courtney won’t be there because we’ve both decided it’s in our kids’ best interest to be protected from it as much as possible. They don’t need any further exposure to it. She will be with them,” Day said.

From the outset, Day’s three children have seen too much of their father’s distress concerning the business dispute.

Day had just sat down to dinner with them in the family’s Bondi home on a Wednesday night in July 2020 when police knocked on his door and arrested him.

The intensely private Day, who has never courted media attention, said that the shock of the arrest had been “very tough” on his young family.

“It’s been very tough for me but even more so for my wife and children,” he said.

While unable to discuss the allegations that will be put by the court next week, Day recalled the time when he and Sebastian were remarkably close, so close in fact at one time stories surfaced in the press claiming Day’s other clients were envious of their manager’s relationship with the Sebastians.

Titus Day and wife Courtney.

Day began representing the “Battle Scars” singer in 2006, two years after the he’d won the inaugural season of Australian Idol on Network Ten.

“Idol had been massive for Guy but by the time I approached him his career was starting to dwindle,” Day recalled last week.

“I thought he was very talented but being poorly managed and so made the approach and ended up signing him.

“My first album with him went to number one and we had a number of hit records and tours together after that.”

With Sebastian’s career going from strength to strength, a few years later Day’s Six Degrees Management launched the career and podcast of Jules, the singer’s then little-known wife.

“I took her from just being known as Guy’s wife to being a successful media personality in her own right. We launched and built her Tea With Jules brand. We did all her TV deals, her endorsements and built her profile,” Day said.

Guy Sebastian with wife Jules, who was also managed by Day. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The joint management arrangement would see the two couples, the Sebastians and the Days, spend more time together.

Day explained that a good management relationship is “like a marriage”.

“Quite often management is like a marriage itself and you become very close friends with your clients,” he said.

“When Guy and I would be on the road touring, Jules and their kids (Hudson and Archer) would sometimes go and stay at my house with my wife. The lines definitely blur occasionally but that’s not always a bad thing. My work is most of my life and so it’s natural that my clients become friends.”

Day has represented a roster of high profile stars including game show host Grant Denyer, presenter Sophie Monk, Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice, singer Tina Arena, and UFC world champion Robert Whittaker.

As a result of his arrest however he is today unable to work as a company director.

Before he can do so, he will need to clear his name before the court.

Asked if he looked forward to having his day in court on Monday, a contemplative Day said “yes and no”.

“I am looking forward to righting a wrong but I also just want it over. Being persecuted and going through two jury trials is extremely hard,” he said.

“I wouldn’t wish what I’ve been through on anyone. It’s been going on for nearly eight years now and I just want it to end so we can move on with our lives.”