Eight years ago today, a group of Australian women spoke about the harassment and abuse they endured at the hands of Australian actor Craig McLachlan. Their experiences were published by media outlets on January 8-9, 2018.
McLachlan and his partner Vanessa Scammell have chosen today to launch Not Guilty – The Craig McLachlan Case podcast.
In 2014, McLachlan performed in the Australian stage production of The Rocky Horror Show.
Actors Christie Whelan Browne, Erika Heynatz and Angela Scundi said McLachlan indecently assaulted and sexually harassed them during this production.
In total, 11 women (including Christie, Erika, Angela, Teagan Wouters, Tamzen Hayes, Jeanne Downs and Anna Samson) came forward with allegations about his behaviour over the years.
After the media reports, McLachlan left the Rocky Horror production and a TV program was cancelled.
He sued Christie Whelan Browne, Fairfax and the ABC for defamation but withdrew from the case.
The media outlets planned on presenting all 11 accusers in defence of their publication.
McLachlan was charged with seven indecent assaults and six common assault offences against four women, but was acquitted. The magistrate said the accusers were all ‘brave and honest’, but the evidence failed to meet the criminal standard of ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’.
The magistrate said the outcome would have been different had the case fell under current consent laws.
It never fails to astound me that multiple women can outline their experiences of harassment and abuse by one man, and there will be those who say it didn’t happen.
The launch of the podcast has already seen journalists trot out media reports designed to absolve this man of accountability.
This podcast is not about clarity or truth – it’s about power and control over the women he harmed, and it’s about maintaining power and control over the stories of survivors.
I stand with every one of the brave women who came forward and with the women who haven’t come forward.
I believe you!
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