Aussie actor Craig McLachlan has backed out of the Australian touring production of Cluedo due to “aggressive” social media “bullying” surrounding his casting.
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Last week it was announced that former Neighbours actor McLachlan would be returning to the theatre as Colonel Mustard in the stage production of Cluedo.
However, following the news, the show received an immense amount of backlash surrounding McLachlan’s casting announcement, with audiences bringing up his alleged previous misconduct within the industry.
In 2018, the soap actor was accused of indecently assaulting and sexually harassing three female performers during his time in the 2014 stage production of the Rocky Horror Show. In 2020, the actor was found not guilty of the charges against him in relation to his alleged conduct, per The Sydney Morning Herald.
In 2022, McLachlan then abandoned his defamation case against actor Christie Whelan Browne and media outlets Nine Newspapers, The Sydney Morning Herald and ABC News, who reported on the allegations.
Craig McLachlan drops out of the Australian production of Cluedo
On Tuesday, McLachlan shared a video on his social media accounts, announcing he has officially withdrawn from his role as Colonel Mustard in the Aussie production of Cluedo.
At the start of the video, the actor revealed he’d prepared a statement regarding Cluedo‘s casting earlier in the week. However, he’d put it on hold due to his mother’s death.
“Yesterday, being Monday the 15th of September, early in the morning, I composed a statement that I wanted to share with you all,” McLachlan began.
“However, as some of you know, I have had the rare privilege of caring for my dear mum over these past eight years. Caring for her, being her companion, and shortly after composing my statement that I wanted to share with you yesterday, my dear mum passed. I will share the statement with you today.”
He then went on to talk about Cluedo‘s cast announcement, and how “a focused social media campaign was deployed from within the theatre community aggressively targeting” him and his fellow actors.
“Almost one week ago, an announcement was made that an Australian production of the much-loved play Cluedo was being mounted. Included in that announcement were the names of three actors who’d excitedly signed on to be part of the small ensemble cast and I happened to be one of those actors mentioned,” he added.
“In the hours and days that followed, a focused social media campaign was deployed from within the theatre community, aggressively targeting those two actors named alongside me.
“Members of the production team, the director of the production, not to mention everyday individuals who just simply expressed their delight at my return to mainstream theatre.
“The bullying even extends to my partner Vanessa and our friends and family. And make no mistake, this is bullying.”
McLachlan claimed that days before the announcement, he had a meeting with “key production personnel” to make sure his inclusion in the cast wouldn’t “impact negatively” on his fellow actors. However, the two actors mentioned in the announcement “have been and continue to be harassed and bullied by their peers”.
“I cannot and will not let my involvement in a show result in good people being targeted by trolls and bullies,” McLachlan continued.
“I have therefore made the decision to withdraw from the production.”
The producer of Australia’s production of Cluedo, John Frost, also issued an apology for the casting decision.
“Craig McLachlan’s theatrical stage return wasn’t well received by some of the industry and public,” he said, per The Sydney Morning Herald.
“The resulting impact on others involved has prompted his withdrawal from the production. I have listened to the feedback and, as producer, whilst it was my initial casting decision, I understand the opposing sentiment and I am sorry for any distress this decision has caused.”
Cluedo is set to premiere in 2026, touring in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide nad Brisbane. The replacement for McLachlan has yet to be announced.
Image source: Instagram
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