Kate Aston speaks out after Wayne Carey Toorak Cellars viral video that has caused her ‘immense ridicule’

A marketing executive at the centre of the alleged Wayne Carey toilet-tryst video has gone public, savaging the women who filmed her for “social sabotage” and saying her life has been “turned upside down”.

The woman at the centre of an alleged toilet tryst with Wayne Carey says she has suffered mentally, physically and professionally from the viral video she slammed as “a deliberate act of bullying”.

Melbourne executive Kate Aston said she decided to ­reveal her identity to set the record straight and “hold these women to account”.

“I’d chosen to stay silent, to protect my family, my professional reputation, my own mental health and ultimately, my future,’’ Ms Aston told the Herald Sun.

Kate Aston has hit out at the ‘deliberate act of bullying’.

Ms Aston has decided to reveal her identity and set the record straight.

Wayne Carey at Sydney Airport on Thursday. Picture: MEDIA-MODE.COM

“But now that other outlets have published my name and my social media accounts have been targeted... I have been left with no choice.

“What has happened to me could happen to anyone, and no one should have to go through what I have been put through – the damage, the speculation, the impact on my livelihood, all from the malicious actions of a small few.

“Overnight, from footage of me simply exiting a toilet at a bar, I’ve had my life turned ­upside down.

“From a professional perspective, my ability has been put into question which has had immediate financial ­repercussions, one that is costing me every day with the effects likely to be long term and irreversible … whilst I appear strong, those closest to me know that my suffering over recent days has been colossal.”

Ms Aston, 38, a marketing and communications executive, was filmed last Friday at Armadale venue Toorak Cellars leaving the bathroom, ­followed by Carey about 20 seconds later.

Ms Aston is at the centre of the alleged toilet tryst.

She says ‘what has happened to me could happen to anyone’.

The fallout from the video has turned her life ‘upside down’, she says.

Wayne Carey seen in the video leaving the toilet about 20 seconds after Ms Aston.

Women could be heard on the video footage gossiping “she looks embarrassed” and “what’s he doing in there?”

Carey on Wednesday hit out at the “slut shaming” ­attached to the circulation of the video via WhatsApp.

‘IMMENSE TOLL’

Speaking to the Herald Sun, Ms Aston said she had been humiliated by the “social sabotage” and forced to deactivate her social media accounts, including her LinkedIn profile.

“At a time when I am navigating my next career move and visibility matters, the personal and professional toll has been immense,” she said.

“There have been times I have questioned whether there is a way forward. Who would want to employ me, date me, be associated with me? What’s left now that this has all happened to me?”

Ms Aston, who has previously denied anything happened in the toilets, said her reputation had been sullied by the “immense ridicule”.

“These women and others who’ve provided hateful commentary have put into jeopardy my reputation, and so I’ve been left with no choice but to try to protect it,’’ she said.

“Two women not known to me have turned my life upside down and I have to set the ­record straight.”

Ms Aston has been forced to deactivate her social media accounts, including her LinkedIn profile.

She says her reputation has been sullied by the ‘immense ridicule’.

Carey has hit out at the ‘slut shaming’ attached to the circulation of the video. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ms Aston said there was also a bigger issue at play.

“We often speak, and rightly so, about the barriers men ­create for women: exclusion, dismissal, denial of opportunity,” she said.

“But what we rarely confront is the way some women weaponise shame, gossip and social sabotage against other women. This is that moment.”

Ms Aston said when bullying such as the kind she ­had endured became “viral”, it set a dangerous standard and “one our daughters will ­inherit”.

‘CYBER-BULLYING’

“This behaviour must stop,” she said.

“Not just for me, but for every woman who has been targeted. If we want to build a culture where women truly support women, it starts with calling out this kind of behaviour – clearly, publicly and without compromise.”

Ms Aston has engaged lawyers along with Carey and his partner Jessica Paulke.

“Whilst it’s only been a matter of days since this incident unfolded, there has been ­immeasurable damage to my reputation, and my ability to lead a normal life has been ­adversely affected,’’ she said.

“The actions of these women have meant my name is now in the public realm, and I am now the subject of immense ridicule. It has already affected my ability to earn an income with other far-reaching negative consequences to come.”

Ms Aston said it would be “naive” of her not to seek legal advice.

“I have been put in this situation simply because of the cyber-bullying actions of other people,” she said.

“There needs to be some sort of accountability for their actions.

“In addition, it is my hope by shining light on this incident and taking legal action, a new precedent will be set, one that discourages this type of behaviour from continuing into the future.”

Ms Aston said she had been going through a break-up over the past 18 months.

Carey said on Wednesday Ms Aston had a “horrific few months” in which she’d lost her parents.

Ms Aston clarified she had been without her parents for quite some time – her father died almost 20 years ago and her mother almost 10 years ago, both from cancer.

‘NOT OK’, SAYS CAREY

Ms Aston said she was out with a friend and being social with other groups at the swanky bar on the day the video was taken.

On Thursday, a furious Carey doubled down on the women who filmed them, posting on X: “Being filmed without consent coming out of a public bathroom and then filming a complete stranger within a minute coming out of that public bathroom is NOT OK.

“Then the persons who are filming adding their disgusting narrative and posting it on ­social media ruins lives … enough.”

Originally published as Kate Aston speaks out after Wayne Carey Toorak Cellars viral video that has caused her ‘immense ridicule’