The partner of actor Craig McLachlan has launched a fierce defence of the soap star, branding the events that led to his effective blacklisting from the entertainment industry a destructive 'witch hunt'. Vanessa Scammell, an acclaimed Australian conductor, made the comments in a new podcast, detailing the fallout from sexual assault allegations against McLachlan for which he was later acquitted.
The Acquittal and the Aftermath
Craig McLachlan was charged with 13 counts of assault and indecent assault following allegations made by female co-stars concerning his behaviour during productions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The allegations first surfaced in 2018, leading McLachlan to quit his leading role as Frank-N-Furter. However, after a four-week trial in December 2020, he was found not guilty on every single charge.
Despite this legal vindication, Scammell argues that the damage was irrevocable. Speaking on the 'Not Guilty' podcast, she described a period of 'confusion, uncertainty and often misdirected fury'. She claimed the height of the Me Too movement created a 'brutal and unquestioning landscape' where 'naming and shaming had become the norm'.
A 'Poster Boy' for Public Outrage
Scammell contends that the Australian public was seeking a local figure to blame during the movement's peak. She stated that McLachlan became 'a poster boy for Australia, a poster boy for anger and outrage, for disappointment and hatred'. She added pointedly that if a suitable 'poster boy' could not be found legitimately, 'one would be created'.
The consequences of this, she says, continue to haunt them both. McLachlan was forced to withdraw from a planned 2026 theatre tour of 'Cluedo' in September following an orchestrated online campaign and industry backlash. Rhys Muldoon subsequently took over the role of Colonel Mustard.
In a video statement, McLachlan said the social media bullying targeted him, two other actors, and even extended to Scammell and their family. He stated he withdrew to protect others from harassment, asking, 'how long does a man who has been found not guilty have to wait?'
Life After 'Cancellation'
Since the allegations, McLachlan's once-prominent career collapsed. The former Neighbours star, a fixture of Australian entertainment for over three decades, has kept a low profile. He has spoken of suffering crippling anxiety, which he managed with professional help and by performing low-key pub gigs with country singer Andy Penkow.
His appearance on SAS Australia in 2023 marked a rare public return. The 'Cluedo' tour would have been his major stage comeback since the allegations eight years ago, but it was not to be. Scammell expressed her anger at the ongoing campaign against him, emphasising the struggle to move forward while living under the long shadow of the accusations and his subsequent acquittal.
