Simone Callahan slams Warnie telemovie as ‘unkind and mean spirited’

Shane Warne’s ex-wife Simone Callahan has taken aim at Channel 9 for the upcoming telemovie about the legend’s life.

Shane Warne and his wife Simone Callahan during the opening of the new Crown Metropol Hotel at Crown Casino complex in Melbourne.

Shane Warne’s ex-wife Simone Callahan has taken aim and put Channel Nine in the crosshairs.

The mother of three kids to the late great Spin King for 10 years slammed the network for the upcoming telemovie, Warnie.

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Backlash came in thick and fast shortly after the show was promoted with Brooke Warne labelling it “beyond disrespectful” to the Warne family.

The show is set to hit screens across both Sunday and Monday night with Callahan, Warne’s wife for 10 years, becoming the latest to slam the production which comes a little over a year since the Aussie icon’s passing.

“I haven’t wanted to read into too much about it, but I think it’s a bit unkind and mean spirited to be honest,’’ Callahan told the Herald Sun.

“It’s my opinion. He’s just passed, let him rest in peace. And for the kids, I just believe that they’re not showing any compassion at all by putting this out there in such a short amount of time after this has happened.

“To be honest but that’s how I feel about it.”

Simone and Shane at the legend’s 40th birthday.

Her comments echo a similar sentiment to those of Brooke which came in the wake of the telemovie being announced.

“With the extra media scrutiny created by dad’s passing I need to stay mindful to deal with the attention,” Brooke said.

“Especially with the negative aspect, such as the total disrespect shown by Channel 9 in creating a biopic about dad so soon after he passed.”

Brooke, 25, previously criticised plans for the telemovie when its sensitivity was questioned in a conversation between Nine presenter Jo Hall and radio personality Dee Dee Dunleavy.

Warne wrote on her Instagram story: “Do any of you have any respect for dad? Or his family? Who did so much for Channel 9 and now you want to dramatise his life and our family’s life six months after he passed away? You are beyond disrespectful.”

Alex Williams and Marny Kennedy as Shane and Simone Warne

Warne tragically died while on holiday in Thailand in March 2022 in news that left people across the globe heartbroken.

Warne, 52, was found unresponsive in a villa on Koh Samui on a Friday afternoon when one friend reportedly tried to wake him to no avail.

The group then desperately attempted CPR before an ambulance arrived and took the cricket legend to the Thai International Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death was a suspected heart attack.

The Daily Telegraph reported Warne’s manager Andrew Neophitou performed CPR before the ambulance arrived.

Chatchawin Nakmusik of the Bo Put police told Reuters that Warne’s body had been transferred to another hospital for autopsy and his friends would be questioned by police on Saturday — but added there were no signs of foul play.

“Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived,” a statement from his management read.

“The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course.”