"Disgraced actor, bully, monster": Craig McLachlan opens up on assault allegations
Craig McLachlan has opened up about how the incident assault trial took a toll on his mental health and career.
The former Neighbours actor was charged with seven counts of indecent assault and six of common law assault in 2019, after four women, who he starred alongside with in the stage production of the Rocky Horror Show came forward.
McLachlan has long denied the allegations, and was eventually cleared of all charges.
Now, the former actor is appearing on the new season of SAS Australia, and has spoken candidly about how his life changed after the trial.
“When I started on Neighbours, I was in people’s lounge rooms night after night, day after day,” he told SAS producers.
“But there was something that happened about five years ago that was shocking for the public and shocking for me."
“Craig McLachlan, disgraced actor. Workplace bully, monster.
“So I’m here to exorcise some pretty extreme pain with some pretty extreme pain.”
Speaking with SAS Chief Instructor Ant Middleton and DS Jamie ‘Jay’ Morton, McLachlan said he is still angry about what happened, and carries a lot of emotional weight from the trial.
"I suffer extreme social anxiety. I find it very difficult to trust situations where there are a lot of people, especially women."
“I’m more anxious about being in a new group of people than I am about climbing up the side of a mountain."
“I know that sounds bizarre, but for me, I’m afraid it’s true.”
Middleton sensed McLachlan was becoming angry when talking about the case, to which McLachlan responded, "I was charged with 14, 15, 16 offences ... It’s one thing to be so publicly crucified, it’s another thing to be charged. I was found not guilty of any wrongful behaviour. It’s because I was f***ing innocent ... I’ve been profoundly hurt, so there’s always going to be some residual anger."
McLachlan went on to share how he was "abandoned" by close friends in the entertainment world when the allegations first came to light.
He said, "People who only months before looked me in the eye and said 'You create the most wonderful work environments imaginable' ... abandonment, total abandonment. A tiny handful of courageous people I have friendships with over 30 years were always there, but the vast majority - gone."
He said the abandonment from his friends "really f**king hurt", to which the SAS team told him he has "gotta let it go".
"That’s why I’m here," McLachlan said.
"For me, the big takeaway from this experience will be moving forward, to find that I can function without anger and fear. But beyond that, learning to trust people again."
Image credits: Channel Seven - SAS Australia