Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright’s loses first corporate sponsor

Matt Wright’s major sponsor Great Northern is ‘pausing its relationship’ with the celebrity croc-wrangler after police charged him over a fatal chopper crash.

Matt Wright rose to fame as the star of National Geographic’s Outback Wrangler series. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright’s major sponsor Great Northern has broken its silence following his arrest and court appearance over the chopper crash that killed cast member Chris “Willow” Wilson.

The company confirmed on Thursday afternoon it was cutting ties with the celebrity croc-wrangler after Northern Territory Police this week charged him with seven serious criminal offences related to the investigation into the February crash.

“Great Northern is pausing its relationship with Matt, pending the outcome of NT legal proceedings,” a company spokesperson exclusively told The Australian.

The 43-year-old – who is still partnered with Ariat, G-Shock, Yokohama Tyres and Otis Eyewear – appeared in the Darwin Local Court on Wednesday.

On Tuesday afternoon, after Mr Wright’s arrest, Wilson’s widow, Danielle, urged Netflix to axe its reality TV series Wild Croc Territory – featuring her husband – until criminal proceedings against Wright were complete.

Netflix has not responded to Ms Wilson or The Australian about the future of the series.

An Ariat Australia spokeswoman also refused to confirm whether the brand’s commercial arrangement with Wright remained or would continue.

“We do not have any comment while the police investigation is taking place,” she said.

Ariat Australia shared a trailer for Matt Wright’s Wild Territory on its Facebook page in April but appear to have removed the content.

G-Shock, Yokohama Tyres and Otis Eyewear did not respond to questions about their partnerships with Wright but G-Shock’s website boasts Wright as an ambassador.

“There’s an undeniable fit between the ethos of G-Shock and Matt Wright, who is the embodiment of Absolute Toughness,” it says.

Mr Wright rose to fame as the star of National Geographic’s Outback Wrangler series, which ran for four seasons and also aired on the Nine Network.

The Fordham Company, which represents Wright, describes the 43-year-old as a “high-flying success story”.

“The daredevil helicopter pilot and wildlife re-locator projected his skills to a global TV audience in over 130 countries as the star of National Geographic’s acclaimed series Outback Wrangler, and most recently Netflix smash, Wild Croc Territory,” the website says.

“But the rugged yet polished product of the wilds of Papua New Guinea and the Australian outback has numerous other strings to his bow that have established him as an emerging talent of the highest order. So much so that Tourism Australia has recruited South Australia-born Wright to sell the virtues of his homeland in one of the world’s biggest tourism markets – the US.”

Earlier this week, Tourism Australia was “monitoring the situation” but a spokesperson said Thursday: “As the matter is before court, it would be inappropriate to comment.”

Nick Fordham takes credit for turning Mr Wright into a “bona fide superstar” after the pair met in 2010. A second season of Wild Croc Territory, which was broadcast on Nine and is now being screened on Netflix, had been planned for next year.

“Fordham quickly identified Wright for his incredible talent and skill in the craft of wrangling some of the world’s most dangerous animals whilst operating a jet ranger helicopter and filming a television program,” the talent agency’s website says.

“After shooting various sizzle reels and pilots, Fordham landed Wright an opportunity to launch his new series on the Seven Network, that propelled the crocodile hunter into stardom.

“Signed by global giant National Geographic, Fordham and Wright went on to make four seasons of hit series Outback Wrangler, which is now shown in over 130 countries around the world.”

The NT government contributed $250,000 towards production of the show, which it said would attract more than 200 million viewers, but NT Tourism said Wright was not an “ambassador”.

“Matt Wright’s tourism products (heli-fishing and airboat adventures) and accommodation options (Tiwi Island Retreat) are promoted in the same manner as all other NT tourism products,” a spokesperson said.

Mr Wright operates numerous tourism businesses in the NT including Top End Safari Camp, Darwin Adventure Boats and helicopter tours.

In February Wilson was killed during a crocodile egg collection mission when the chopper he was dangling from – owned and operated by Wright’s company Helibrook – crashed on the King River in a remote part of West Arnhem Land.

Mr Wright flew to the crash site immediately after the incident in which the pilot Sebastian Robinson was also critically injured.

On Tuesday night NT Police charged Mr Wright with attempting to pervert the course of justice, destroying evidence, fabricating evidence, unlawfully entering a building, unlawfully entering a dwelling, making a false declaration and interfering with witnesses in a criminal investigation or court process by making threats/reprisals.

In late August he relocated to Queensland where he must now reside as a part of his bail conditions until his next court appearance on January 25.