The partner of actor and singer Craig McLachlan has publicly called for him to be allowed to rebuild his career, eight years after he was effectively blacklisted by the entertainment industry over sexual assault allegations.
A 'Not Guilty' Verdict and a Persistent Shadow
McLachlan was accused of sexual assault and harassment by three female co-stars during productions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He faced 13 charges of assault and indecent assault, but was acquitted on all counts following a four-week trial in December 2020.
Despite the legal vindication, his career has failed to recover. The industry backlash culminated recently when he was forced to withdraw from the 2026 tour of the play Cluedo in September following a targeted social media campaign.
Partner Speaks Out on Podcast 'Not Guilty'
Vanessa Scammell, an acclaimed Australian conductor and McLachlan's partner, has discussed the prolonged ordeal in a new podcast titled 'Not Guilty'. She described the period as one of "confusion, uncertainty and often misdirected fury," intensified by the Me Too movement.
Scammell argued that McLachlan became "a poster boy for Australia, a poster boy for anger and outrage, for disappointment and hatred, for shock value and blame." She expressed frustration that the legal outcome has not been accepted, telling news.com.au: "I want the justice system to be recognised, and for the not-guilty verdict to be accepted and respected."
The Struggle to Move Forward
Scammell revealed that she and McLachlan are trying to move on but continue to struggle with the fallout. "When an online campaign was orchestrated against Craig, forcing him to withdraw, it begged the question, 'how long does a man who has been found not guilty have to wait?'" she asked.
McLachlan himself stated that the bullying extended to Scammell, other actors, and their families, leading to his decision to step down from Cluedo to protect others. The play would have marked his first major theatrical return since the allegations surfaced in 2018, when he quit his leading role as Frank-N-Furter.
McLachlan has said the ordeal caused him crippling anxiety, which he has managed with professional help and by performing low-key pub gigs. He appeared on SAS Australia in 2023 but has otherwise maintained a low profile. Scammell's hope is that the podcast will encourage people to engage with the "fuller story that has so often been overlooked."
