Craig McLachlan shares shocking video of the moment he considered jumping to his death and recalls how he was once treated like a ‘dirty paedophile’ in a supermarket – as he storms out of explosive interview after sexual harassment case
- Craig McLachlan has recounted the aftermath of sexual harassment allegations leveled at him by former co-stars in a musical
- In a tell-all interview with 7NEWS Spotlight, the actor shared footage of the moment he contemplated suicide
- McLachlan says he sat on a log alongside a waterway and considered jumping to his death
- The former Neighbours star further revealed he did attempt suicide and was hospitalised in a ‘mental hospital’ afterwards
- McLachlan also recalled the moment a woman shielded her children from him in a supermarket after the sexual harassment allegations were made public
- Elsewhere in the interview, McLachlan claimed that he had remained close friends with one of his accusers for years after the alleged incident
- In December, McLachlan was found not guilty of indecently assaulting actors during the running of a hit musical
- Police had alleged McLachlan either indecently assaulted or assaulted four complainants in Melbourne between April 26, 2014 and July 13, 2014
- In a 105 page decision, Melbourne Magistrate Belinda Wallington found McLachlan not guilty of all charges
Craig McLachlan has shared shocking footage of the moment he contemplated taking his own life.
In an explosive interview with 7NEWS Spotlight, which aired on Sunday, the actor, 55, was seen in self-filmed video clips, sitting on what he called the ‘Will I? or Won’t I? log’.
The log was fashioned into a low, rustic bench located alongside a waterway with a notoriously strong current.
The former Neighbours star sat there and contemplated taking his own life, six months after facing sexual harassment allegations from his former co-stars in a popular musical.
Craig McLachlan (pictured) has shared shocking footage of the moment he contemplated taking his own life. In an explosive interview with 7NEWS Spotlight, the actor, 55, was seen in self-filmed video clips, contemplating taking his own life
At that time, he had been sacked from both the musical and his TV series, The Doctor Blake Mysteries.
McLachlan said he felt like his family and girlfriend, conductor Vanessa Scammell, who also appeared in the7NEWS Spotlight special, would be ‘better off without me’.
‘I would sit there… because really at that point, all you can think about is, “Nessie is going to be better off. My family will be better off without me.” I can’t win. In this post-Weinstein hashtag-me-too world-gone-mad, I can’t win,’ he said.
‘”We could compare Craig to Harvey Weinstein.” Really? Even though I’ve never forced people sexual favours, I’ve never locked anyone in a hotel room and told them to give me a handy? It is outrageous.
‘Anyway, I would go down and just think… I’ll write a long letter… make sure Nessie and my son, my family, are looked after. And then I’ll do what I have to do.
‘I would go and sit and see what the tide’s doing… I contemplated the unthinkable.’
The former Neighbours star considered jumping to his death, six months after facing sexual harassment allegations from his former co-stars in a popular musical
He spent hours sitting on what he called ‘Will I? or Won’t I? log’. The log was fashioned into a low, rustic bench located alongside a waterway with a notoriously strong current
‘I would sit there… because really at that point, all you can think about is, “Nessie is going to be better off. My family will be better off without me.” I can’t win’ he said. ‘I would go and sit and see what the tide’s doing… I contemplated the unthinkable’
McLachlan went on to admit that he did eventually attempt suicide, but by chance, he was unsuccessful.
‘Let’s just say that I miscalculated. I made some miscalculations in weight and how I attempted to deal with things. Thankfully, as it turns out, it didn’t play out,’ he said.
The actor was admitted to what he called a ‘mental hospital’ following the attempt on his life.
McLachlan also recounted the shocking moment a woman shielded her children from him in a supermarket, shortly after the allegations were made public.
McLachlan also recounted the shocking moment a woman shielded her children from him in a supermarket, shortly after the allegations were made public. ‘That broke my heart. What? [Like I’m] some kind of dirty paedophile?’ he said
‘When the story first broke and I went shopping for my dear mum, a woman spotted me in the shop and called her two kids over [to her].
‘That broke my heart. What? [Like I’m] some kind of dirty paedophile? The woman, I kid you not, [she was] shielding her children from me as I walked past.
‘I could name the supermarket. I burst into tears and I rang Nessa and said… “How am I going to survive this?”
‘In this post-Weinstein hashtag-me-too world-gone-mad, I can’t win.’
Elsewhere in the interview, McLachlan claimed he remained friends with one of his accusers for years after the alleged assault. McLachlan ranted, in tears, that he was not guilty, before his partner Scammell attempted to soothe him, and asked the interview to be cut
McLachlan later stormed of of the interview in tears, after claiming he had remained friends with one of his accusers for years after the alleged assault.
‘She ran out of a café on the corner in Potts Point in Sydney. To think this girl runs out of the café and hugs us right there… [She said,] “Oh, my god, it’s so good to see you. Oh, I really miss you, Craig.”
‘Are you kidding me? In six weeks’ time [to know what] she had planned.’
‘[The girl who] texted us continually? You’re referring to that individual? The one I worked with for two years? You’re referring to that girl?’ he continued.
Attempting to explain the outburst, Scammell told the interviewers: ‘ He’s been abandoned by everybody. Except for me and our close team. And I think, after three and a half years, after not being able to speak, the ability to actually let it out…’ she trailed off
‘This girl actively maintained and pursued a friendship. Not only did we continue to work together, we continued to work together and have, and I’m speaking for me…
‘You know, we had a great time together in 2016. An even better time in 2017,’ he rambled on, breaking down in angry tears.
‘Suddenly, I’m this monstrous, rogue, individual, who goes and grabs people on the vagina. As even a 100 percent acquitted, innocent man, I feel I I continue to be f**ked over, day, after day, after day, by our friend. And you might get some sense of why I was admitted to a mental health facility.
‘Before the haters say you were acquitted because you are guilty, the f**k I am. The f**k I am!’ McLachlan ranted, in tears, before his partner Scammell attempted to soothe him, and asked the interview to be cut.
Later in the interview, the actor also shared footage of the shipping container he spent time living in while out of work an in hiding
McLachlan stormed away, screaming from off camera: ‘F**k people. Look what they’re done. When was the last time I woke up in the morning and smiled?’
Attempting to explain the outburst, Scammell told the interviewers: ‘He’s been abandoned by everybody. Except for me and our close team.
‘And I think, after three and a half years, after not being able to speak, the ability to actually let it out…’ she trailed off, before nodding when asked if it was ‘too much’.
‘There’s an en suite and dunny down the end. Even a heater. And it’s pretty good,’ he said in the clip, while filming the storage container
Later in the interview, the actor also shared footage of the shipping container he spent time living in while out of work and in hiding.
‘There’s an en suite and dunny down the end. Even a heater. And it’s pretty good,’ he said in the clip.
McLachlan says he has not worked in three years, but revealed on Sunday night he will next appear in a one-man show about the life of country singer Hank Williams in South Australia.
In December, McLachlan was found not guilty of indecently assaulting actors during the running of a hit musical.
Back to work: McLachlan says that he has not worked in three years, but revealed on Sunday night that he will next appear in a one-man show about the life of country singer Hank Williams in South Australia. Pictured with Scammell in 2016
McLachlan had maintained his alleged sexual offending while working on the production was no more inappropriate than a cricketer giving a teammate a pat on the bum.
In a 105 page decision, Melbourne Magistrate Belinda Wallington found McLachlan not guilty of all charges.
Ms Wallington said it was McLachlan’s ‘egotistical self entitled sense of humour’ that led him to believe at least one of his alleged victim’s would either not mind or find his behaviour funny.
‘I want it noted the following: The four complainants were brave and honest witnesses. I was not persuaded that there was evidence of collusion between the complainants,’ Ms Wallington said.
Court: In December, McLachlan was found not guilty of indecently assaulting actors during the running of a hit musical. Pictured leaving court with Scammell
‘I was not persuaded that there was evidence of motive, or that the complaints were made for reason of career ambition or any other such reason.’
As the contested hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court drew to an end, it was heard McLachlan’s defence had submitted 160 pages denying the allegations.
He had endured months of scrutiny which saw him and his partner Vanessa forced to make their way through media packs outside of a Melbourne court.
Police had alleged McLachlan either indecently assaulted or assaulted four complainants in Melbourne between April 26, 2014 and July 13, 2014.
Allegations: Police had alleged McLachlan either indecently assaulted or assaulted four complainants in Melbourne between April 26, 2014 and July 13, 2014. In a 105 page decision, Melbourne Magistrate Belinda Wallington found McLachlan not guilty of all charges
The allegations became public after one of his alleged victims went public following the worldwide scandal involving disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein.
McLachlan immediately filed defamation action against The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, the ABC and an actress over the news reports last year.
The defamation trial had been postponed until the criminal proceedings in Melbourne finished and is now expected to proceed.
McLachlan has applied for the police to pay his costs.
For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on: 13 11 14
Pictured: McLachlan as he appeared in the hit soap opera Neighbours back in his glory days
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