Craig McLachlan blames ‘cancel culture’ for Neighbours finale snub

Actor Craig McLachlan has blamed “cancel culture” for being snubbed from the Neighbours finale after sexual assault charges against him were dropped.

Former Ramsay Street star Craig McLachlan has slammed Neighbours creators for succumbing to “cancel culture” after he was snubbed from the long-awaited finale episode.

McLachlan played the brother of Kylie Minogue’s character Charlene, Henry Ramsay, in the beloved soap from 1987 to 1989.

Two years ago, McLachlan, 56, was cleared of assault charges made by against him by four women he worked with on the Rocky Horror Show in 2014.

He now claims his past has come back to haunt him, telling The Sun he believes his legal troubles are the reason he was shunned from the canned series’ star-packed finale, which will see a number of familiar faces reprise their roles.

Craig McLachlan was acquitted of assault charges in relation to allegations he indecently assaulted four women during the Melbourne stage production of the Rocky Horror Show in 2020. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Notably, Kylie Minogue and Jason Donavan will make an appearance as Charlene and Scott Robinson.

His entire onscreen family, including Minogue’s Charlene, his onscreen stepfather Harold Bishop, played by Ian Smith, and even a cameo from his on-screen late mother Madge (Anne Charleston) as a ghost, will give viewers one last show.

A spokesperson for the actor said his mother being reincarnated so Anne Charleston can be involved in the episode was a particular sticking point.

“Henry’s dead mother is being reincarnated for the final episode — but cancel culture won’t allow her son Henry to appear or even be acknowledged,” a spokeswoman for McLachlan exclusively told The Sun, going on to call the snub “devastating”.

McLachlan is the only family member who won’t return in the finale.

“What Craig and his partner have endured over the past four-and-a-half years — only to come out the other side and be confronted by, among other things, the attempted permanent erasing of his part in Neighbours history — is devastating,” the spokeswoman said.

“Craig was not invited to take part in the closing episode or indeed to contribute in any way to the end of Neighbours.

“Henry was, and continues to be, an all-time Neighbours favourite, a character Craig loves to this day. Craig happily and enthusiastically contributed to a number of Neighbours celebratory milestones over the years and was always so thrilled to be invited to partake.”

Craig McLachlan as Henry Ramsay with Kylie Minogue (Charlene) and Anne Charleston (Madge).

In 2020, the father-of-one was cleared of seven charges of assault and indecent assault brought on four women he worked with in 2014 on the Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show.

Two months ago, the actor dropped a defamation case against several Australian media organisations which had reported on the charges, as well as actress Christie Whelan-Browne, who was one of the women who made allegations against McLachlan in articles by the ABCand Sydney Morning Herald.

At the time, he said he was abandoning the legal battle to protect his family and mental health amid the “continuing pressure”.

Craig McLachlan with the 2014 cast of The Rocky Horror Show. Picture: Jeff Busby.

The final episode of Neighbours airs tonight on Channel 10, and will see cameos from a host of stars including Guy Pearce, Margot Robbie, Delta Goodrem.

A whopping 49 former cast members have returned to farewell the show after a 37-year run on Australian and UK screens.

It comes after Britain’s Channel 5 dropped Neighbours from its line-up, with the show’s producers Fremantle Media unable to secure a replacement broadcaster.