Unplug24: Mark Bouris reveals Twitter stalker came to his house

As part of Unplug24 – which encourages Aussies to abstain from social media today – one of the nation’s best-known businessmen has spoken about a Twitter stalker invading his private life.

EXCLUSIVE

One of Australia’s most recognisable businessmen Mark Bouris has revealed he was targeted by a Twitter stalker – who went so far as to come to his home.

Mr Bouris chose to speak about the confronting episode for the first time as part of his support for Unplug24, which encourages Australians to refrain from social media on Thursday.

Joining him in the 24-hour online boycott are household names including singer Jessica Mauboy, Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou, and fitness instructors Michelle Bridges and Sam Wood.

Mr Bouris, the founder of home-lending businesses Wizard and Yellow Brick Road, who later became the “CEO” of TV’s Celebrity Apprentice Australia, told News Corp: “I have been the target on Twitter, before it was X, of stalking.

“I had one person turn up to my home three or four years ago. I had to call the police. The person was incoherent,” Mr Bouris said.

Australian businessman Mark Bouris.

“They had (initially) come to me on social media. They tried to connect through Twitter. It was a barrage.

“Then they said they had seen me at a yoga class.

“It got out of hand. Some people might have been really alarmed.

“I had to get the authorities involved. Then it just stopped.

“I didn’t feel particularly threatened, but that’s probably just my personality. I can imagine that many people would feel unsafe.”

He declined to say if the stalker was a man or woman.

Mr Bouris, who is now a leading podcaster, has 235,000 Instagram followers and his TikTok videos have been “liked” 1.1 million times.

But he intentionally avoids reading more than the first five comments to any of his social media posts.

“Don’t take the comments too seriously,” he advised. “People tend to write whatever they want, because they aren’t accountable.”

Mr Bouris, 68, has three grandchildren; the eldest is seven. He said he had concerns about the effect social media would have on their lives. It was vital that parents and grandparents talked about boundaries and the importance of being able to make a “proper connection” with people.

Wayne Holdsworth with his son Mac, who took his own life after falling victim to a sextortion plot online. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Unplug24 is being led by Wayne Holdsworth, who hopes it can be a catalyst for change.

Mr Holdsworth’s son Mac took his own life aged 17 after becoming the victim of a predator.

Thursday, October 24 is the first anniversary of Mac’s death.

Originally published as Unplug24: Mark Bouris reveals Twitter stalker came to his house