Grant Denyer on false cheating story: ‘Every mother thinks you’re the worst human in the world’

Grant Denyer has revealed the impact of a story which accused him of cheating, saying he felt every mother at his kids’ school thought he was “the worst human in the world”.

Grant Denyer has opened up about the very real impact of a story which accused him of cheating, saying he felt every mother at his kids’ school thought he was “the worst human in the world”.

The 44-year-old Gold Logie winner was splashed across the front page of an October cover of New Idea magazine, which suggested he was having an extramarital affair with his Dancing With The Stars dance partner Lily Cornish, 22.

Denyer immediately denied the report, and in December, he had a significant win in his war against the tabloid after it publicly apologised for the “false” story. He also revealed he received a “confidential settlement” from Are Media.

Speaking to Stellar magazine in today’s issue, the Family Feud host said he had always been resilient with media reports about himself, but when it impacted Cornish, he decided to take a stand.

Lily Cornish and Grant Denyer became the subject of a New Idea article.

The pair were partners on DWTS.

“I push the envelope a bit and I’m a little bit trickier than squeaky-clean guys, like [for example] the wonderful Larry Emdur. I’m used to having stories made up about me, but it’s unfair to do that to a 22-year-old girl and make her out to be some sort of home-wrecker,” the father-of-three said. “That’s why we went into a legal battle and won.

“It was hard going to school to pick the kids up when you think that every other mother who’s there to pick up their children thinks you’re the worst human in the world.

“I grew up in my career being told to take every hit, but now with social media we have a voice and I don’t mind holding people accountable.”

The initial article was published in mid-October and featured photos of Denyer with his hand on Cornish’s thigh, alongside captions like “Grant Denyer caught out” and “Chezzi’s heartbreak”.

The Grant Denyer cover story on New Idea.

The Denyers didn’t waste time in refuting the story, with Chezzi writing on social media that the photos had been taken wildly out of context.

“Right before this little ‘she’ll be right’ leg pat … I was on the phone with them also consoling Lilz,” she wrote, explaining that Cornish is a close friend of the couple’s.

“Lilz is like our adopted daughter. We grew extremely close during her month-long stay with us here in Bathurst. We absolutely adore her!”

In a radio interview that week, Grant described it as “a horrible made up story that’s embarrassing for everyone”.

Grant and Chezzi Denyer have been married since 2010. Picture: @2dayfmbreakfast/Instagram

“I just feel bad that I’ve put everyone in this position,” he said at the time.

“I’ve given her a tap on the leg letting her know everything’s gonna be OK after we’ve just divulged our lives to each other as we’re having a DWTS meltdown, and now I’ve embarrassed my family in this situation where I’ve not even done anything wrong.”

Denyer has been married to Chezzi since 2010. They have three daughters, Sunday Mary Mae, Scout Una and Sailor Shelley.

Originally published as Grant Denyer on false cheating story: ‘Every mother thinks you’re the worst human in the world’