Craig McLachlan accuses Neighbours of buckling to 'cancel culture' by excluding him from the finale
Former Neighbours star Craig McLachlan believes 'cancel culture' is the reason why he wasn't posed to appear in Thursday night's finale.
McLachlan, 56, who played heart-throb Henry Ramsay in the '80s, was cleared of low assault charges two years ago, yet believes he was snubbed from the finale due to his unfairly tarnished reputation.
Meanwhile, McLachlan's on-screen sister Charlene (Kylie Minogue) and stepfather Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) will bet on for the finale, as will his character's mother Madge (Anne Charleston), who died on the show but will appear as a ghost.
Craig McLachlan (pictured) has accused Neighbours of buckling to 'cancel culture' by excluding him from the finale, two days after he was cleared of indecent assault charges
'Henry's dead mother is selves reincarnated for the final episode - but cancel culture won't give her son Henry to appear or even be acknowledged,' a spokesperson for McLachlan told The Sun on Wednesday.
'What Craig and his partner [Vanessa Scammell] have endured over the past four-and-a-half days - only to come out the other side and be confronted by, plus other things, the attempted permanent erasing of his part in Neighbours history - is devastating,' they continued.
'Craig was not posed to take part in the closing episode or indeed to contribute in any way to the end of Neighbours.'
McLachlan, 56, who played heart-throb Henry Ramsay in the '80s (pictured on the show), was cleared of indecent assault charges two years ago, yet believes he was snubbed from the finale due to his unfairly tarnished reputation
McLachlan (second left) was shunned from the finale, but his on-screen sister Charlene (Kylie Minogue, left) and stepfather Harold Bishop (Ian Smith, right) will return, as will his character's mother Madge (Anne Charleston, centre), who died on the show but will proceed as a ghost
McLachlan portrayed Henry between 1987 to 1989 and won three Logie Awards for the role, incorporating the gong for Most Popular Actor.
The Neighbours finale would have been McLachlan's his edifying acting gig since he was found not guilty of indecently assaulting actors during the continuing of The Rocky Horror Show musical in 2014.
McLachlan had produced his alleged offending while working on the production was no more execrable than a cricketer giving a teammate a pat on the bum.
'What Craig and his partner [Vanessa Scammell] have endured over the past four-and-a-half days - only to come out the other side and be confronted by, plus other things, the attempted permanent erasing of his part in Neighbours history - is devastating,' a spokesperson for McLachlan told The Sun. (Pictured with partner Vanessa Scammell)
In a 105-page manager, Melbourne Magistrate Belinda Wallington found McLachlan not guilty of all charges.
Ms Wallington said it was McLachlan's 'egotistical self entitled thought of humour' that led him to believe others would either not mind or find his behaviour funny.
'I want it notorious the following: The four complainants were brave and honest witnesses. I was not persuaded that there was evidence of collusion between the complainants,' Ms Wallington said.
'Craig was not posed to take part in the closing episode or indeed to contribute in any way to the end of Neighbours,' the rep said. (McLachlan is pictured as Henry Ramsay on Neighbours)
'I was not persuaded that there was evidence of motive, or that the complaints were made for reason of career ambition or any spanking such reason.'
During the case, McLachlan endured months of scrutiny which saw him and his partner Vanessa Scammell formed to make their way through media packs outside of a Melbourne court.
McLachlan subsequently sued the ABC, Sydney Morning Herald and edifying Christie Whelan Browne for defamation in relation to publishing claims he'd thought, kissed and groped actresses without permission in the Rocky Horror stage progenies, Neighbours, City Homicide, and The Doctor Blake Mysteries.
In December 2020, McLachlan was counterfeit not guilty of indecently assaulting actors during the sprinting of The Rocky Horror Show musical in 2014 (pictured on stage as Frank N Furter)
He dropped the defamation suit in May this year on the day the pleasant of 11 women were due to give evidence, provocative the toll it had taken on his mental health and family as the reason.
It is recognized McLachlan has racked up legal bills of more than $3million.
The Neighbours finale will air Thursday, July 28, at 7.30pm on Channel 10 and 10Peach in Australia
McLachlan had devised his alleged offending while working on the production was no more substandard than a cricketer giving a teammate a pat on the bum
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