Warning: This article contains information about sexual assault which may be distressing for some readers.
Craig McLachlan is a Gold Logie-winning actor who first appeared on Australian television screens more than 30 years ago in 1987 as Henry Ramsay on Neighbours.
Since then, the 52-year-old has appeared on Home and Away, McLeod’s Daughters and the recent Channel 10 hit The Wrong Girl. He’s released three studio albums and has appeared in theatre productions of Grease and The Rocky Horror Show.
He’s also the latest Australian entertainer to be accused of indecent assault, sexual harassment, exposing himself and bullying by his former female colleagues.
As part of the same joint investigation that revealed Don Burke’s alleged history of sexual harassment and bullying, Fairfax and ABC report a number of McLachlan’s former female castmates allege they were abused, harassed or assaulted. He has denied all allegations levelled against him.
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Craig was always a bit of larrikin, which I suppose endeared him to Australians from the get-go. This is I suppose something that people need to realise in a sexualised show like Rocky Horror that this may become problematic, especially around the fact that it's been on a long run, not that this is acceptable behaviour but there are likely to be problems around this, if things get taken too far, I suppose what some people see as geeing up the talent others may view as being sexual harrassment. I suppose the producers are often stuck in a situation that they need to keep the star happy & the rest of the talent has to put up with the unwanted or unexpected advances. This though from what I've read may be problematic because if any of the actors develop stress related injury this could easily escalate & get extremely messy (and expensive) very quickly especially if law suits become involved & that the production company were aware that this was going to be a problem prior to this article, With this ongoing situation around Weinstein & how it has finally become a reality for those in this industry.
I do suspect though if this ends up in court, these women may struggle for redress apart from being a "bloody good actor", Craig also has the "gift of the gab" & I would suggest in a previous life have turned his quick whit to the law & made a good living out of it..
Having worked a number of years in the hallowed halls of the civil courts in Australia, the actors that work these rooms are often not only talented but also aware of the need for a quick change of pace & direction especially in a situation like this. I just hope that the lawyers pull their heads in & realise that this could be a seriously damaging case (if it comes to fruition) & that they offer some sort of redress or get out of Jail card free, so no one loses face.