Samantha Jade breaks her silence on rumours she called off her wedding to A&R exec Pat Handlin after he was stood down from Sony Music Australia
Samantha Jade has denied she called off her wedding to fiancé Pat Handlin because of his recent professional setback.
The pop star and the former record executive were rumoured to have cancelled their nuptials after Pat was stood down from Sony Music Australia amid an HR investigation into ‘toxic workplace’ allegations.
But Samantha, 34, told The Daily Telegraph on Friday the couple were simply waiting for the Western Australian border to open before tying the knot.
Still on: Pop star Samantha Jade (pictured) has denied she called off her wedding to former Sony Music Australia executive Pat Handlin because of his recent professional setback
The Sweet Talk singer, whose family is based in Perth, said she wouldn’t get married ‘if I can’t walk down the aisle with my dad’.
‘We’re very much engaged,’ added Sydney-based Samantha, who made it clear she refused to marry without her father and brothers present.
The star, known for her hits New Boy and Bounce, already had to postpone her nuptials twice last year due to the Covid pandemic.
Setback: The pop star and the former record executive were rumoured to have cancelled their nuptials after Pat was stood down from Sony Music Australia amid an HR investigation
Setting the record straight: Samantha, 34, told The Daily Telegraph on Friday the couple were simply waiting for the Western Australian border to open before tying the knot – and that the decision to postpone their wedding had nothing to do with Pat’s career
Samantha announced her engagement to Pat in January 2019, after they reportedly started dating around mid-2017.
Pat was one of two Sony Music Australia executives to be stood down in June following the abrupt departure of his father and long-serving CEO Denis Handlin.
A New York-based spokesperson for the label confirmed to The Music Network in August he was ‘no longer with the company’.
Frustrating: The star, known for her hits New Boy and Bounce, already had to postpone her nuptials twice last year due to the Covid pandemic
He had joined the company in 2006 as an intern before rising up the ranks to vice president of artists and repertoire.
Pat was placed on indefinite leave on June 22, along with the senior vice president of human resources Mark Stebnicki.
Denis Handlin had resigned a day earlier after the company launched an investigation into its other workers over allegations of bullying and harassment.
Long process: Samantha announced her engagement to Pat in January 2019, after they reportedly started dating around mid-2017
Handlin Snr was one of the most powerful and influential figures in the music industry, helping stars like Delta Goodrem and Jessica Mauboy achieve global fame.
Sony Music is investigating claims of bullying and harassment in its Australian office with the HR probe being led from the company’s U.S. headquarters.
Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Handlin Snr, his son Pat or Mr Stebnicki are involved in any of the allegations.
Out: Pat was one of two Sony Music Australia executives to be stood down in June following the abrupt departure of his father and long-serving CEO Denis Handlin. A New York-based spokesperson for the label confirmed in August he was ‘no longer with the company’