Stage stars accuse Craig McLachlan of sexual harassment

Image: Craig McLachlan in Doctor Blake Mysteries (ABC TV)

Harvey Weinstein’s downfall has motivated stage stars to make public sexual harassment and indecent assault claims against Gold Logie winning actor Craig McLachlan, the journalist who broke the story has told 3AW.

And Kate McClymont, who was also the first to write of allegations against Don Burke, hinted at revelations against more men aren’t far away.

An investigation by McClymont reports several cast members of the 2014 run of The Rocky Horror Picture Show have accused the McLachlan of inappropriate behaviour, both on-stage and behind the scenes.

Well-known performers including Christie Whelan Browne and Erika Heynatz are among those to speak out.

Two cast members of the stage show have lodged a complaint with Victoria Police.

Police statement: Detectives from Melbourne’s Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team are investigating allegations of sexual offences dating back to 2014. As the investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to make any further comments.

Among the allegations in The Age report include:

• Pushing his pelvis into a co-star and rubbing
• Tracing his finger along a co-stars vagina while under bedsheets on-stage
• Commenting on breasts
• Kissing without permission
• Heynatz refers to McLachlan as “calculated and very manipulative, a predator”

McLachlan has denied all of the claims.

McClymont said many of the women did not make allegations at the time because “none of them felt they had the power nor gravitas”.

LISTEN: Kate McClymont details more on 3AW Breakfast

“Craig McLachlan was a really powerful person in the industry. He threatened them (with) their job,” McClymont said.

“They didn’t feel they would be believed — it would be this big star against them.

“It was only in the wake of Harvey Weinstein that they felt ‘You know what, we can do this and we have to do it’.”

When asked who, if anyone, might be outed next, McClymont responded: “I can’t say, but I’m sure you’ll be interested.”

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