Abbie Chatfield has admitted to defaming her former 'best male friend' Heath Kelley after accusing him of supporting genocide and the slaughter of children. The social media influencer consented to a Federal Court judgment against her, ordering her to pay Kelley $79,000 in damages plus an estimated $30,000 in legal costs, bringing her total bill to over $100,000.
Kelley, a law student and former Virgin Australia guest services officer, sued Chatfield after she published defamatory remarks about him on her Instagram Stories on May 7, 2025. The posts, shared with her 550,000 followers, accused Kelley of supporting genocide and child slaughter following a private exchange about the 2025 federal election.
In the exchange, Chatfield had posted in support of Greens leader Adam Bandt, who lost his seat. Kelley responded with a private message containing a video and comment about Bandt. Chatfield then reproduced parts of their conversation on her Stories, naming Kelley and tagging his account, writing: 'Not my high school ex friend... Delusional g*cide supporter... he supports the slaughtering of children.'
Chatfield did not contest the defamation claim, and Justice Wendy Abraham made orders by consent on Thursday afternoon. Kelley's statement of claim described Chatfield as 'a nationally well-known social media influencer, reality television personality and radio presenter' and alleged she had accused him of supporting the killing of women and gay men in Palestine.
The pair had been close friends since school, with their relationship sparking romance rumours in 2019 after a raunchy dance video. Chatfield had previously described Kelley as 'my best friend of ten years'.
