Craig McLachlan and Rocky Horror Show production company The Gordon Frost Organisation has “mutually agreed” that the actor will step down from his role in the stage show, with the production giant stating it will be conducting a full investigation and will cooperate fully with authorities.
This came just hours after McLachlan, pictured above in his lead role as Dr Frank N. Furter in the Rocky Horror Picture Show, vehemently denied reports of indecent assault, sexual harassment, bullying and intimidation that occurred during his stint in the musical Rocky Horror Show back in 2014.
The Sydney Morning Herald conducted a joint investigation, revealing that three women – former Home and Away star Erika Heynatz, Christie Whelan Browne and Angela Scundi – all came forward alleging that The Doctor Blake Mysteries star had “abused, harassed or assaulted” them.
Actress Angela Scundy spoke out about Craig’s behaviour.
The 52-year-old actor, who’s re-established himself as a household favourite since taking up a role on the popular Australian series The Wrong Girl, emailed The Herald with a statement:
“I have NEVER done anything like this,” McLachlan explained.
He then told the ABC, “Frankly, they seem to be simple inventions, perhaps made for financial reasons, perhaps to gain notoriety. In either event, they are to the best of my knowledge utterly and entirely false.”
Below: See McLachlan speak about his role in the Rocky Horror Show in the video below. Post continues…
However, as reported by The Age, The Gordon Frost Organisation released a statement saying:
“The Gordon Frost Organisation (GFO) was shocked to learn of allegations against Craig McLachlan while he was involved in the Rocky Horror Show in 2014. We take these allegations very seriously, and have always endeavored to prioritise a safe working environment.”
“In response, we have spoken to Craig and have mutually agreed that it is not appropriate for him to continue in the current production of the show. We will be conducting a full internal investigation and will cooperate fully with the authorities.”
In a TV interview with the ABC, Angela recounted, “There were multiple incidences where he would try and put his hands up women’s costumes or down their pants.
“And it was always when they could be seen by the audience and he couldn’t.”
It has been claimed that McLachlan also bullied and intimidated his cast members during this time.
Angela says she confronted the Dr Blake star about his behaviour.
Erika pictured with McLachlan during the 2014 musical.
Christie was shocked when she discovered she had to work with McLachlan again on The Wrong Girl.
“I haven’t felt that terrified ever in my life,” she admitted.
Actress Erika Heynatz stated he was “really calculated and very manipulative, a predator”.
She alleged that she “experienced unwanted sexual advances from the star”.
“He knelt down in front of me, and then started saying along the lines of, ‘You’re really beautiful and I can’t stop thinking about you and every day I’m becoming more and more enchanted by you and I’m falling for you and there’s something that I’ve got to do’, and took me by the face and kissed me.”
Christie Whelan Browne, who also worked alongside McLachlan in The Wrong Girl recounted her experiences during the musical.
“I had to be on stage with him in a bed, an upright bed, and I was wearing just bra, undies and garter and … he was pretending to go down on me, that was the scene,” she said.
“But he was directed to kiss down my neck, down my arm and then go down, out of sight. But he would always kiss down my breasts and continue to kiss all the way down until I would have to sort of move and wriggle away.”
“I had to turn facing away from him and one night he pulled my underpants to the side so that my right butt cheek was out and he was kissing all around it.”
The actress with McLachlan back in 2014, and more recently on the Channel Ten drama.
Christie said the abuse didn’t stop there, with the actor making “lewd” comments about her body, while being physically aggressive.
To no avail, the actress complained to two senior members of the production staff.
“The insinuation was, you don’t want to take this further. And I said, ‘You know what I’m talking about,’ and she said, ‘I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about.’ So I didn’t take it any further.”
The ABC report that “two of the women said they complained to senior production staff at the time but said nothing was done” and it’s believed two of the women have made separate reports to the Victorian Police.
According to the ABC, the investigation has been backed by other Rocky castmates and people they shared their story with at the time.
Craig, whose partner is Vanessa Scammell, is reprising his lead role of Dr Frank N. Furter in Adelaide’s run of the Rocky Horror Show, which kicked off on New Year’s Eve. It’s not yet known how these shocking claims will impact the musical.
The actor has a teenage son called Jacob McLachlan from his previous relationship with Charlotte Avery.
Craig was also married to Karen Williams and Neighbours star Rachel Friend.
