Andrew O’Keefe’s television career came to a screeching halt just weeks after his chauffeur reported him for allegedly lighting up an ice pipe on the way home from work.
The former Channel Seven stalwart had been supported by bosses for years but the alleged drug use forced their hand and O’Keefe’s contract was not renewed for 2021.
Network executives hired O’Keefe a personal chauffeur to get him to and from work without any trouble, and were allegedly horrified when the driver made a complaint about the star’s alleged drug use.
It’s alleged the driver looked in his rearview mirror while driving O’Keefe home some time between October and November 2020 and saw the 50-year-old lighting an ice pipe, The Australian reports.
The fumes were so strong the driver was reportedly worried he’d be affected by the drug while driving.
O’Keefe pictured in June 2021. The former Channel Seven stalwart had been supported bosses for years but the alleged drug use forced their hand and O’Keefe’s contract was not renewed for 2021
O’Keefe denied the driver’s allegations when they were put to him by management, but within weeks he found himself out of a job.
‘There’s a common pattern here. He points the finger at everyone around him, and everyone around him bends over backwards to support him, and yet he attacks those people that are doing the best by him,’ one insider told the publication.
Insiders say they were particularly hurt by the treatment they received from O’Keefe because they’d spent years trying to keep his reputation in tact and help him.
‘He’s someone who’s been privileged, spoiled, indulged, treated like a celebrity – and the power goes to his head. He has a very quick mind but he lacks discipline; he’s stuck in that cycle of indulgence.’
Another source who tried to help the Deal or No Deal host said: ‘He’s lost his children, he’s lost his reputation, he’s lost his money, he’s lost his career, he’s lost his ability to see reason.’
O’Keefe was famously filmed kissing a mystery brunette woman during a night out in Hobart, Tasmania in 2018. A friend captioned these image as ‘deal or no deal’
Andrew O’Keefe is pictured outside his unit in Paddington in Sydney’s inner-city in February 2021. Network executives hired O’Keefe a personal chauffer to get him to and from work without any trouble, and were allegedly horrified when the driver made a complaint about the star’s alleged drug use
O’Keefe was thrust back into the spotlight on January 27 when he was charged over allegations he choked, punched and kicked a woman at his city centre bachelor pad.
NSW Police allege the 50-year-old assaulted a 38-year-old woman after meeting her to discuss starting a business together at his unit on Kent Street in the Sydney CBD.
The woman allegedly had to bite him to break free during the violent struggle. He claims he acted in self-defence.
He was refused bail and taken to a police cell, with Daily Mail Australia capturing confronting footage of a handcuffed O’Keefe shouting obscenities and kicking the walls of a police van, telling officers to ‘get rid of the journalists’.
‘F*** you, I’m a victim of crime. I’m a victim of crime you f***wits. F*** off,’ he screamed as he repeatedly kicked the windows of the vehicle’s cell.
‘Get rid of these journalists you stupid c***s. F*** you.’
The 50-year-old is a former intellectual property lawyer. He appeared to swat a photographer with a folder shortly after this picture was taken in March 2019. O’Keefe was due to appear again at Central Local Court on February 4 but the matter was adjourned for a week after police charged him with possessing a prohibited drug
O’Keefe was due to appear at Central Local Court on February 4 but the matter was adjourned for a week after police charged him with possessing a prohibited drug.
Police allege he was in possession of 1.5g of cannabis at the time of his arrest.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Liam Edwards said O’Keefe was also being charged with breaching an apprehended violence order unrelated to the alleged attack.
As he was remanded in custody, he threw his eyes to the sky and yelled: ‘No justice – oh god, this is ridiculous. Unbelievable.’
O’Keefe was warned he could face a lengthy custodial sentence if found guilty of the charges against him.
The court heard he was already facing assault charges dating back to June last year and was out on bail at the time of the latest alleged offences.
O’Keefe divorced his wife Eleanor in 2019. Above, at a red carpet event together several years ago
O’Keefe was said to be suffering a catalogue of mental health issues, including methamphetamine use disorder, severe historical addiction issues which were said to be in remission, mood disturbance, substance abuse disorders and post traumatic stress disorder.
His bid to be released on bail into residential psychiatric care was undermined by a lack of available places for him at a Sydney clinic, the court was told.
O’Keefe’s lawyer claimed the alleged victim had turned up ‘uninvited’ at his Kent Street apartment and caused ‘substantial injuries’ to him during the fight.
The former host of The Chase Australia and Deal or No Deal will be back in court on February 11.
The former host of The Chase Australia and Deal or No Deal will be back in court on February 11
It’s understood colleagues were alerted that O’Keefe was out of sorts after the breakdown of his marriage in 2017.
By 2019, Network Seven had paid for a rehab stint for their star after he’d confided in them that he was struggling.
Network executives reportedly drafted a set of conditions O’Keefe was required to meet as per his contract in early 2020 which included mandatory drug tests, though it is alleged he missed some of the tests throughout the year.
His filming schedule was halted for eight weeks but it’s alleged his behaviour began to spiral, including frequently turning up late to work and lashing out at staff.
Dressed in an orange jumpsuit and grey long sleeve t-shirt, O’Keefe shouted obscenities and kicked the windows of the paddy wagon
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