Craig McLachlan drops defamation lawsuit against ABC and Nine

Craig McLachlan is expected to drop his defamation lawsuit on Friday – the same day the first of 11 women were due to give evidence against him.

McLachlan’s defence barrister Michael Hodge QC told a court on Friday that he had been ‘give notice that Mr McLachlan is applying for leave to discontinue the proceedings’ against the ABC, the Sydney Morning Herald and actor Christie Whelan-Browne. 

The media outlets had published articles accusing the actor of touching, kissing and groping actresses without permission in the productions of The Rocky Horror Show, Neighbours, City Homicide and The Doctor Blake Mysteries. 

Some 11 women were set to be called to give evidence against McLachlan. 

Craig McLachlan has dropped his defamation lawsuit on the same day the first of 11 women were due to give evidence against him

McLachlan walked away on Friday from the lawsuit taken out against the ABC, Nine Network and actor Christie Whelan-Browne

The court adjourned for discussions and will resume at 2pm for the case to be withdrawn.

On Thursday, a friend of McLachlan’s told the court he was loved by everyone in the entertainment industry until he was shunned after media reports accused him of sexual assault and harassment.

‘I was fearing the worst,’ said actor Daniel Thompson, who became the second witness to testify to worrying the actor could take his life.

Describing McLachlan as ‘a very sensitive person’, Thompson said he had been very worried the reports would destroy him.

McLachlan agreed he had brought sexual jokes and pranks to The Rocky Horror Show, including deep-throating bananas and masturbating crew members’ arms.

But he has denied the allegations made in 2018, and accused Ms Whelan Browne and two other women of approaching the media for notoriety or money.

Mr Thompson, whose stage name is Danny Tesla, told the jury that up until about 2017 McLachlan had a very good reputation and was incredibly successful.

In January 2018 articles accused the actor of touching, kissing and groping actresses without permission in The Rocky Horror Show, Neighbours, City Homicide and The Doctor Blake Mysteries 

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‘In the industry everyone loved him including myself,’ he said.

But after the publications, he became very worried that McLachlan would take his own life.

The actor even told him: ‘One day I will have to tell you a funny story about an attempted suicide.’

‘It could easily have gone that way,’ Mr Thompson said. ‘I could tell this had shattered him.’

McLachlan also was shocked the way the industry turned its back on him including people who wouldn’t even talk to him again.

More to come