Craig McLachlan has carried out plans to file defamation proceedings against Fairfax Media and the ABC after they reported on allegations he sexually harassed several former colleagues during the 2014 production of the Rocky Horror Show.
He’s also suing accuser and former co-star Christie Whelan Browne.
According to 7 News, McLachlan’s statement of claim was lodged in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday afternoon and principally targets the actress.
In documents submitted to the court, his lawyers respond to the accusations made against him and provide evidence which they say proves Browne was “herself a notoriously foul-mouthed person who publicly distributed offensive matter, and had expressed interest in deviant sexual practices.”
The actor is pictured alongside former co-star Christie Whelan Browne during the production of the Rocky Horror Show.
The 52-year-old actor spoke out shortly after the allegations came to light, telling the Sunday Telegraph, “By God I will fight this- and the truth, the truth will come out.”
“Does being cheeky and naughty equate with being a bully? No, it does not,” he told the publication.
Craig played Dr Frank N. Furter in the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
While the former Neighbours star could not comment on the precise allegations being made against him in the interview due to legal advice, he did admit to having a suggestive or “lewd” sense of humour.
“Dave Allen, Benny Hill lewd? Yeah, you bet. In the right company.”
“The lewdness I am surrounded by on a show like 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’s surrounding me. As the old boy, I don’t come close in the filth department.”
WATCH: One of Craig’s accusers speaks about the alleged harassment. Post continues…
Craig stepped down from his role in The Rocky Horror Picture Show after former Home and Away star Erika Heynatz, Christie Whelan Browne and Angela Scundi came forward saying the actor had “abused, harassed or assaulted” them during the 2014 stage show.
Two more former crew members, a man and a woman, have also gone to the Victoria Police with complaints of his behaviour.
The actor vehemently denied the claims, telling The Herald, “I have NEVER done anything like this.”
“Frankly, they seem to be simple inventions, perhaps made for financial reasons, perhaps to gain notoriety,” he told the ABC.
“In either event, they are to the best of my knowledge utterly and entirely false.”
Actresses Christie, Erika and Angela all appeared on the ABC’s 7.30 program, detailing the allegations.
You can read more about their statements here.
