Nadia Bartel escapes charges over powder party: police

Victoria police say they could not determine what substance Nadia Bartel was filmed snorting at an illegal party.

Nadia Bartel has escaped charges over her powder party.

Victoria police will not charge social media influencer Nadia Bartel after she was caught sniffing white powder off a plate at an illegal party.

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton told ABC Radio Melbourne an investigation into the gathering has concluded after police could not determine what substance Ms Bartel was filmed snorting.

“We did conduct an investigation … reports were put in and it’s been determined we don’t have sufficient standard of proof to identify what the substance was,” Mr Patton said.

Ms Bartel and her three friends – who accidentally livestreamed themselves at the gathering on Instagram – each copped a $5452 fine for breaching public health orders by attending a gathering in Richmond on Thursday.

She was also the target of media criticism, Mr Patton said. He said he hoped the “vast majority” of the community would learn from the incident

Video of Bartel leaning over white lines of powder on a plate was accidentally livestreamed on Instagram from the account of Ellie Pearson.

Pearson co-owns spraytan business Aus Spray with Bartel as well as fellow influencer Bec Judd.

Bartel said she was “deeply sorry” and embarrassed after video of the incident was circulated on social media on Friday.

“I take full responsibility and I am committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure I make better choices in future,” she said.

“To my family and friends, my business partners and the public health workers trying to keep us all safe, I am embarrassed and remorseful.”

Bartel is the founder of successful lifestyle and fashion blog The Chronicles of Nadia and regularly posts sponsored content to her more than 550,000 followers.

She split from former Geelong great and Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel in 2019.