The incident happened in a flash a decade ago. But just a single moment of bad behaviour has dogged TV personality Darren McMullen for years.
The Scottish-born host of Channel Seven’s new show Behave Yourself! wore a kilt to the MTV Australia Video Music Awards in 2007.
In a cheeky moment, he hiked up his kilt and showed his naked rear end to the photographers.
The photo of Darren’s hijinks can still be found on the internet, a reminder of a moment he wishes he could undo.
Darren on the MTV Australia Video Music Awards red carpet.
“I made a lot of mistakes publicly,” the 35-year-old tells TV WEEK.
The prank struck a bum note in the popular presenter’s career – and financially, the publicity cost him dearly.
Darren says he was close to signing a lucrative deal with a Swiss watch company last year, only for it to fall through in the final stages.
“Their legal department had googled me and seen that photo,” he explains. “On the basis of that, they said I wasn’t the right fit for the brand.
Darren has lost potential business opportunities because of his cheeky moment.
“It was one of those moments where your past comes back to haunt you.”
The star can still see the funny side of making an arse of himself 10 years ago.
“I’d still probably do it now – as a 35-year-old man,” he laughs.
That same photo almost ruined his chances of a relationship with his now girlfriend of three years, American actress Crystal Reed.
She was one of the stars of the MTV series Teen Wolf.
“Shortly after we met, we went to a bar in LA with a big group and took two cars on the way,” he explains.
“Unbeknownst to me, she had googled me while in the car with her girlfriends.”
Yet again the cheeky snap came up for Crystal and her friends to see.
“She said, ‘I wanted to make sure you were legit and not some creep – and there you are with your b***s out!’” Darren laughs.
He talked his way out of the prickly situation by explaining it was just an instant of bad behaviour, captured by the media.
In Darren’s new hosting role on Behave Yourself!, he gets to shine the spotlight on other celebrities to find out their little quirks and embarrassing traits.
“I’d say it’s a social science quiz show,” Darren says of the new format.
“Essentially, we explore all of the weird, wacky and irrational things humans do. We use loads of research and science and have a panel of six celebrities discussing it.”
Among the names joining in the fun are Kris Smith, Guy Sebastian, Claire Hooper, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Nazeem Hussain, Gina Liano and Michala Banas.
The Scottish funnyman doesn’t take himself too seriously.
There was one person Darren was most excited about having on the show.
“I knew Shane Warne was going to be a lot of fun,” he says of the Aussie cricketing great. “He more than delivered. I just hope we can use it all with the timeslot we’re in!
“He’s a true character and a great laugh too. He doesn’t mind taking a jab at himself, which is great.”
Like Warnie, Darren is happy to make himself the butt of the joke. He admits he carried the “bad boy” tag for a chunk of his career, but says he’s shaken it off.
“I’m a lot better behaved now,” the star insists. “I just needed the love of a good woman to settle me down.”
Kate Langbroek and Shane Warne on Behave Yourself!
As for when he will marry Crystal, Darren concedes he might have missed the opportunity of a romantic proposal.
The pair enjoyed a four-week holiday in Italy earlier this year.
All his family and friends imagined he would pop the question then.
“Nobody can believe I didn’t,” he laughs. “They’re all saying, ‘You’re not going to beat that trip to Italy, so anything you do now won’t be as good!’
“I probably should have done something there, because you’ll never top that, but it just wasn’t on the cards.”
