Actor Craig McLachlan has broken his silence to deny sexual assault allegations, saying ‘does being cheeky and naughty equate with being a bully?’
Three women who performed alongside McLachlan on the Rocky Horror Show in 2014 alleged they were ‘abused, harassed or assaulted’ by the star.
McLachlan, 52, has vehemently denied the allegations since the women spoke to media in early January.
With his partner Vanessa Scammell by his side, McLachlan this week admitted his sense of humour could be ‘naughty’ but insisted he was innocent of the allegations.
With his partner Vanessa Scammell by his side, McLachlan (pictured together) admitted his sense of humour could be ‘naughty’ but insisted he was innocent of the allegations
‘Does being cheeky and naughty equate with being a bully? No, it does not. The truth will come out,’ he told The Daily Telegraph.
McLachlan claimed he was less ‘filthy’ than other members of the cast and crew and said the allegations shocked him.
‘Backstage with crews and casts, it’s a different, naughty – dare I say it – politically incorrect world,’ he said.
McLachlan said theatre was very different to any other workplace, and people did and said things onstage, that would otherwise be inappropriate.
Three women who performed alongside McLachlan on the Rocky Horror Show in 2014 alleged they were ‘abused, harassed or assaulted’ by the star
His partner of eight years, orchestra conductor Vanessa Scammell (together), said she would stand by McLachlan as he fought the claims of sexual assault
His partner of eight years, orchestra conductor Vanessa Scammell, said she would stand by McLachlan as he fought the sexual harassment allegations.
While she supported him, she said the allegations had upturned their lives.
‘The havoc that has been wreaked… has been devastating,’ she said.
Ms Scammell said she was shocked and horrified by the ‘character assassination’ of McLachlan.
McLachlan has maintained his innocence since the allegations surfaced in early January.
Despite his denial, he was withdrawn from the current production of the Rocky Horror Show.
Despite his denial, McLachlan (centre) was withdrawn from the current production of the Rocky Horror Show
Actress Erika Heynatz, who once hosted Australia’s Next Top Model and had a recurring role on Home And Away, is one of the women who made allegations against McLachlan.
According to the Herald, Heynatz alleged that she ‘experienced unwanted sexual advances from the star.’
Among other claims, the actress said on one occasion McLachlan straddled her on a lounge in a green room and kissed her without permission.
Rocky Horror co-stars Christie Whelan Browne and Angela Scundi also made allegations.
Christie Whelan Browne arrives ahead of Aladdin opening night at Her Majesty’s Theatre on April 20
Two of the three women have taken their case to the Victorian police and all three have sought legal advice in pushing for an investigation.
Whelan Browne alleges McLachlan ‘indecently assaulted her during the show.’
While on stage and only visible to the audience from the waist up, she accused McLachlan of once pulling up her underwear and kissing her buttocks while he was obscured by public view.
He has refuted that the incident occurred.
Angela Scundi, another woman who appeared in the musical, alleged McLachlan made inappropriate comments about her breasts and exposed himself to her.
While Scundi made a ‘lengthy statement to police’, McLachlan denied the allegation.
Angela Scundi (right), another woman who appeared in the musical, alleged McLachlan made inappropriate comments about her breasts and exposed himself to her (Erika Heynatz left)
McLachlan played the lead role of transvestite scientist, Dr Frank N. Furter in the Rocky Horror Show production.
One of Australia’s most iconic actors, Craig McLachlan first appeared in a guest capacity on The Young Doctors, before playing Kylie Minogue’s on-screen brother in Neighbours.
He won the prestigious Gold Logie Award for Best Personality on Australian Television for his role on the popular soap.
For two years in the early 1990s, he starred as Grant Mitchell in Home And Away, and has had recurring roles in beloved Australian dramas McLeod’s Daughters and Packed To The Rafters.
McLachlan played the lead role of transvestite scientist, Dr Frank N. Furter in the Rocky Horror Show production
Craig McLachlan poses with the award for Best Actor in a Musical at the Capitol Theatre on August 18, 2014 in Sydney
More recently, the actor appeared in The Wrong Girl and The Doctor Blake Mysteries.
McLachlan was raised on the NSW Central Coast and met his first wife Karen Williams during a school theatre production.
His second marriage was to Neighbours star Rachel Friend. They divorced after 18 months.
He has a teenage son, who lives in the UK. A 2005 newspaper report claimed McLachlan ‘regularly visits his son in London’ despite living in Australia.