Craig McLachlan vows to fight allegations

Craig McLachlan has spoken out against allegations levelled against him in the press.

Joined by partner Vanessa Scammell in an exclusive interview for the Sunday Herald Sun, McLachlan has vowed to fight the claims.

“So (I feel) anger, hurt, bewilderment, but it keeps coming back to shock. How can this be?” he asked.

“That 30-plus years of a great reputation and history can not just be called into doubt, but annihilated. It’s extraordinary and it’s wrong.

“Does being cheeky and naughty equate with being a bully? No it does not,” he said.

“In any theatre show La Traviata, Mary Poppins or the Rocky Horror Show, it ain’t like working in a bank. That’s just a fact.

“Backstage with crews and casts, it’s a different, naughty, dare I say it -politically incorrect- world. People will crack gags and say things and do things that would not be acceptable at the inquiries counter of the Commonwealth Bank.

“The lewdness I am surrounded by on Rocky Horror, is as they say on Spinal Tap, 11. I might be operating on 10, but all around me …in the lewd department, I am nothing compared with what is surrounding me.”

For legal reasons McLachlan would not comment on the specifics of the allegations made by actors Erika Heynatz, Christie Whelan Browne and Angela Scundi.

But he likened his humour to Dave Allen & Benny Hill, “in the right company. And again if you say to me, ‘Mate that Benny Hill gag I don’t like (it)’ I will be the first to apologise.”

McLachlan said he too was subjected to bullying and intimidation early in his career as “a pretty young boy starting in television.”

“I stood up at the time and said ‘I’m sorry, I’m not going to wear it’ which is why I have been mindful of making an inclusive, joyous, working environment.”

McLachlan said he volunteered to step aside from the Rocky Horror Show stage tour to protect it. Gordon Frost Organisation is investigating allegations, whilst two of the actors have reported incidents to police. December Media is also investigating whether any incidents occurred during The Doctor Blake Mysteries.

McLachlan hit out at trial by media.

“Cobbling together distorted truths and half truths does not a truth make,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter how many you make.”