Catch a falling star

As the song goes, “You’re riding high in April, shot down in May…..”

It didn’t take Seven long to turn on Matthew Newton.

Last night Today Tonight had an expose on the fallen star, reporting on an incident that allegedly took place earlier this month.

“Newton was heard in his dressing room, shouting, swearing, at his partner Rachel Taylor. Staff later discovered the room wrecked. Taylor cowering, sobbing on the floor,” said Bryan Seymour.

“As so many victims before her, Taylor reportedly used make-up to cover the physical signs of Matthew Newton’s rage.”

Did the same staff act upon this information or did they let it go unchecked until it became the car-crash the unfolded on the weekend? Who’s to know?

The report contrasts with Today Tonight having an earlier exclusive interview in which Newton had addressed some of his past as he looked forward to The X Factor. Seven was behind its boy then. But new allegations have damaged its multi-million dollar investment and it wasted no time in adding to the story and announcing nice-guy Luke Jacobz as the talent show’s new host.

Newton’s dumping from the show will now rank alongside Kyle Sandilands axed from Australian Idol and Matthew Johns dumped from The Footy Show -ironically, both now Lazarus brands re-hired by Seven.

Some media are blaming Seven for hiring him in the first place. Presumably he was cast to give the show an edge, just as he was for Underbelly.

Some reports claim he had to be sedated in Rome following the alleged altercation with girlfriend Rachel Taylor.

There are conflicting reports on where he is being hospitalised (some claim Melbourne, others Sydney).

The Newton family, is standing by their boy. Sister Lauren told media she loved her brother. Would we expect anything less?

Veteran TV star and dad Bert Newton will even have to endure the Nine Network playing a 20 to 1 episode next week entitled “Madness and Meltdowns” -surely it could do him a favour and switch the episode? It would seem a gracious act under the circumstances.

Clearly Matt Newton was not in a position to continue on the Seven show. But is it also hypocritical of Seven to be plugging a documentary on Ben Cousins’ fall from grace in the very same week? Cousins is an elite athlete whose troubles with drugs is the subject of a two night documentary, yet he is now being touted as a candidate for host of The Amazing Race?

Irony abounds.

Seven has footage of Newton brightly hosting the show as part of his comeback. But if he is as damaged a brand as Today Tonight lead us to believe, they should put their money where there mouth is and not include him in the show.

Or will it simply repackage the footage and give us a special in three months time: “The Troubled Times of Matt Newton”?

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