Actress Christie Whelan Browne has announced she is suing the makers of The Rocky Horror stage show for subjecting her to sex discrimination and sexual harassment.
The former Neighbours star is one of four women who alleged they were indecently assaulted by actor Craig McLachlan whilst working on the stage production in 2014.
McLachlan, 58, was cleared of assaulting his stage co-stars in 2020 after Melbourne magistrate Belinda Wallington dismissed all 13 charges.
Browne, 41, announced on X today she plans to sue her former employers, formerly GFO Entertainment Pty Ltd – now Oldfield Entertainment Pty Ltd — in the federal court for victimising her when she spoke out against McLachlan.
The filing comes as the actor gears up to make a public comeback next month on TV show SAS: Australia where he is expected to address his court ordeal.
In her filing in the Federal Court, Browne tweeted: “Today I filed an application in the Federal Court of Australia against Oldfield Entertainment PTY Ltd, previously known as GFO Entertainment Pty Ltd, alleging that it unlawfully discriminated against me under the Sex Discrimination Act by subjecting me to sex discrimination, repeated sexual harassment by a fellow cast member and to victimisation when I spoke out against him.”
She continued: “My claim is about my experiences when I was employed as a lead actor in the Rocky Horror Show in 2014 and then Oldfield’s response to my complaints in 2017 to date.”
The actress added in her filing that she had “fear and anxiety” about the legal battle but said it was something she “must do and that I will see it through to the end”.
“I know that I deserved better treatment, that I deserved to feel safe and respected in my workplace,” she added.
“Other women in the arts deserve better, and I won’t accept that anything less than that is ‘just the way it is’.”
Last year McLachlan dropped plans to sue Browne for defamation citing an impact on his mental health.
Browne said in response to the actor’s suit, “I was then singled out and sued for defamation. My name was dragged through the mud, and my character and own behaviour were exaggerated and called into question. I had thought this kind of shaming was a thing of the past, but I was wrong.”
“The past four and a half years have significantly traumatised me and the other brave women who spoke up at the time and afterwards.”
“I hope that this is a reminder that women will stand up for themselves and each other, even when threatened by those more powerful.”