Outrage over Craig McLachlan’s TV return
Christie Whelan Browne has condemned the decision to put Craig McLachlan back in the limelight as part of the 2023 cast for SAS Australia.
The series, which has been known to give its cast members ‘redemption arcs’, has faced criticism in the past for highlighting the likes of Wayne Carey and Sam Burgess.
And now Browne - who accused McLachlan of sexually assaulting her during their theatre performances run - has taken to Twitter to voice her disgust at his return to television, asking the question, “how do we feel about someone who was charged on multiple sexual assault charges being put back on tv and being referred to simply as a ‘controversial figure’?
“I also saw a post saying he was the ‘winner’ of that case. But if you bother to read the judgement- he was acquitted on a technicality and the judge WHO HEARD THE EVIDENCE, believed it happened.
“I am so f***ing sick of this s**t.”
Browne’s supporters were in agreement, with many unhappy to see yet another disgraced star given a free pass back to national attention.
“SAS have a type, they gave Sam Burgess a redemption song story, now McLachlan. It's poor form, next they will give the guy from Hey dad another go, wrote one, before pleading with Channel 7 to “DO BETTER”.
“I hate it,” wrote another. “In the same way as a sportsman gets past sexual assault charges and then in a post-match interview refers to it as ‘a hard year for me. I'm just glad to be on the field doing what I do’.”
“As soon as I read the headline I knew exactly what tv show it was that he’d be appearing on,” shared one, a comment alongside dozens on how people were unsurprised at SAS Australia’s move.
McLachlan was charged in 2018 when Browne - along with two fellow female cast members - brought forward allegations of indecent assault. McLachlan was the star of their 2014 The Rocky Horror Picture Show production.
He denied the allegations against him, and was found not guilty by a magistrate in December 2020 after a criminal trial.
McLachlan has not had an acting job since the accusations were brought to light, and the SAS Australia announcement marks his return to television.
The 57-year-old was reported by The Daily Telegraph to be flying from Sydney to train with ex-special forces in preparation for his time on the challenging reality series.
The 2023 season has been declared to have a gruelling training regime that is set to have its participants “sweating bullets”.
The mission statement for the 2023 season says the training regime will have the cast “sweating bullets”.
McLachlan will be joined by convicted drug smuggler ‘cocaine Cassie’ Sainsbury, former world boxing champ Anthony Mundine, Thai cave rescue hero Dr Craig Challen, Brownlow medallist Jason Akermanis, model Lindy Klim, and Olympians Stephanie Rice, Peter Bol, and Matthew Mitcham.
Footy commentator Abbey Holmes, former reality TV star Tim Robards, actor Zima Anderson, retired NRL star Boyd Cordner, and rugby star Mahalie Murphy will also be joining the crew for the 2023 season.
Images: Instagram