Celebrity publicist Max Markson has sensationally claimed Nadia Bartel’s snorting scandal won’t have ‘much effect’ on her popularity, and even thinks she could come out ‘better off’ in the long run.
On Thursday, footage of the WAG breaking lockdown and snorting what is believed to be cocaine off a $1.50 Kmart plate went viral after the clip was accidentally uploaded to Instagram by her business partner and friend Ellie Pearson.
Bartel apologised the following day, saying she was ’embarrassed and remorseful’ and ‘truly and deeply sorry’ to her family, friends, healthcare workers and business partners for her actions.
Scandal: Celebrity publicist Max Markson has sensationally claimed that Nadia Bartel’s (pictured) snorting scandal ‘won’t have much effect’ on her popularity, saying she could ‘come out of this better off’
And while her reputation has undoubtedly come into question following the damning clip, Mr Markson told The Herald Sun on Sunday that he believes Bartel’s sponsors ‘will be back’ in a matter of weeks.
‘She’s got half a million followers and after a few weeks her sponsors will be back and her Instagram will be flourishing,’ he said.
He estimated that Bartel was likely earning upwards of $250,000 a year from sponsorship deals and brand partnerships prior to the video going viral.
Yet rather than losing support online, the publication reports the mother-of-two has actually gained 6,000 followers since the story broke on Friday.
‘She’s got the numbers, she’s got the engagement and that’s what sells products,’ the publicity veteran added.
‘I don’t think it’s going to affect her financially and I think she’ll come out of this better off.’
Video: Nadia (pictured) was filmed breaking Melbourne’s strict lockdown and snorting what is believed to be cocaine at a party on Thursday night
Nadia regularly uses social media to spruik brands almost daily, yet has posted nothing since her apology on Friday afternoon.
On Sunday, an a source close to the high-profile star claimed that Nadia was betrayed by a member of her own inner circle who leaked her sensational ‘cocaine’ video to the media.
‘The cocaine video was deliberately leaked by someone within Nadia’s elite Melbourne social circle,’ the source said.
Publicity guru speaks out: While her reputation has undoubtedly come into question following the damning clip, Mr Markson claimed on Sunday that Bartel’s sponsors ‘will be back’ in a matter of weeks
‘This is someone who for all intents and purposes seems to be Nadia’s friend on Instagram but they are secretly jealous,’ they added.
The source went on to say that the video being posted by Ellie in the first instance was a genuine mistake, ‘but Nadia’s nemesis pounced on it and immediately sent it to people she knew could get it to the press quickly’.
Leaking the video was part of ‘a campaign of revenge… someone wants to shut her down,’ they added.
Video: The clip begins with the fashion and beauty influencer appearing to lean over the plate with a rolled-up banknote in her left nostril as she presses her right nostril. She then snorts the substance as one of the women watches on
The source made it clear that Bartel’s good friends like Bec Judd and Jessie Murphy did not leak the video, and that while the person is ‘well known in the social group’ they are not a fellow WAG.
There is sympathy for Bartel’s plight among her A-list pals, the source added, as the video leaker ‘broke the code’ about keeping such activity private within tight glitterati circles.
‘Nadia is genuinely apologetic but a lot of people in the upper echelons of Melbourne society feel genuinely bad for her,’ the source said.
‘These sorts of videos of celebrities behaving badly are doing the rounds everywhere – in private WhatsApp groups and Facebook chats. The fact this video leaked to the press and went public broke the code.’
Pearson, who filmed and published the now-viral clip entirely by mistake, revealed she was remorseful over the incident.
Heartbroken: Ellie Pearson (L) who filmed and published the now-viral clip entirely by mistake, revealed she was remorseful over the incident. ‘I’m just devastated,’ she told The Herald Sun on Friday evening
‘I’m just devastated,’ she told The Herald Sun on Friday evening.
A new report alleges the video first found its way online due to Pearson having a cracked phone screen.
The Sydney Morning Herald claimed on Saturday that Pearson was attempting to send the video to her sister.
However, because her phone screen was damaged, she hit the wrong buttons.
As a result, the clip was posted to both Instagram and Facebook, and was online for about ten minutes before being deleted, the paper claims.
Scandal: Bartel was visited by police after she was filmed breaking Melbourne’s strict lockdown and snorting what is believed to be cocaine at a party on Thursday night. Victorian police attended her $3million inner-city residence on Friday evening, hours after the video was accidently uploaded
But it was quickly copied by others and shared around, going viral on Friday.
Bartel was visited by police after she was filmed breaking Melbourne’s strict lockdown and snorting what is believed to be cocaine at a party on Thursday night.
Victorian police attended her $3million inner-city residence on Friday evening, hours after the video was accidently uploaded.
Two plainclothes police officers were seen arriving at Bartel’s home but were reportedly unable to make contact with her.
Police have since confirmed that Bartel has spoken with them, and no fines have been issued as of Saturday.
‘Victoria Police is aware of a video currently on social media depicting alleged illicit drug use and an alleged breach of CHO directions,’ a spokeswoman told The Herald Sun on Saturday.
‘Victoria Police has made contact with a 36-year-old Windsor woman who is assisting with inquiries. As the investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time,’ the spokesperson added.
Apology: Breaking her silence in a post shared to Instagram on Friday afternoon, the 36-year-old mum of two wrote: ‘Hi everyone, I have let you all down by my actions. I take full responsibility and I am committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure I make better choices in future’
Bartel broke her silence and issued an apology over the incident on Friday evening.
‘Hi everyone, I have let you all down by my actions. I take full responsibility and I am committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure I make better choices in future,’ she wrote in an Instagram post on Friday evening.
‘To my family and friends, my business partners and the public health workers trying to keep us all safe, I am embarrassed and remorseful.
‘I am truly and deeply sorry. I hope I can earn your forgiveness and, in time, your trust.’
Bartel is a mother of two and entrepreneur who runs the fake-tan company Spray Aus and clothing label Henne.
She is the ex-wife of retired AFL star Jimmy Bartel, a Brownlow Medallist who spent his career with the Geelong Cats.
The couple split in 2019 after five years of marriage.
Former relationship: Nadia is the ex-wife of retired AFL star Jimmy Bartel, a Brownlow Medallist who spent his career with the Geelong Cats