New twist to Craig McLachlan’s defamation case
Craig McLachlan has suddenly dropped his defamation case against the ABC, Sydney Morning Herald and actress Christie Whelan-Browne on the same day the first of 11 women was due to give evidence against him.
McLachlan launched the case in the NSW Supreme Court in relation to articles accusing him of touching, kissing and groping actresses without permission while working on The Rocky Horror Show, Neighbours, City Homicide and The Doctor Blake Mysteries.
Barrister Michael Hodge QC told the court on Friday that he had “just been given notice that Mr McLachlan is applying for leave to discontinue the proceedings”.
After adjourning for discussions, the court resumed at 2pm for the case to be withdrawn.
Costs will also be determined against McLachlan.
On Thursday, actor and friend of McLachlan Daniel Thompson told the court his friend was loved by everyone in the industry until media reports accusing him of sexual assault and harrassment caused him to be shunned.
“I was fearing the worst,” Thompson said, who was the second person to testify about worrying McLachlan could take his own life.
Thompson described McLachlan as “a very sensitive person” and said he was worried the reports would destroy him.
Though McLachlan agreed he had made sexual jokes and pranks during his time on The Rocky Horror Show, including deep-throating bananas, he has denied the allegations made in 2018.
He has also accused Ms Whelan Browne and two other women of approaching the media for notoriety or money.
The ABC, Nine (who owns The Sydney Morning Herald) and Ms Whelan Browne have defended their stories as true.
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