what happened to craig mclachlan

Craig McLachlan is still alive and active, but his career and public image were dramatically affected by historical sexual assault allegations and the fallout that has continued into the mid‑2020s.

Quick Scoop: What happened to Craig McLachlan?

• Craig McLachlan is an Australian actor and singer best known for roles in Neighbours , Home and Away and The Doctor Blake Mysteries.

• In 2018, multiple former colleagues accused him of indecent assault and inappropriate behaviour linked mainly to a 2014 production of The Rocky Horror Show.

• He was charged with several counts of indecent assault but was found not guilty in 2020 by a Melbourne magistrate.

• The court accepted he was not guilty under the law at the time, while also describing the complainants as “brave and honest witnesses”.

• Despite the acquittal, further allegations of sexual harassment and bullying were reported in court documents and media coverage, keeping the controversy alive.

Legal battles and mental health struggle

• After the media investigations, McLachlan launched a defamation case against major outlets and one of his accusers but later abandoned it in 2022, citing concern for his mental health.

• In a televised interview and documentary, he revealed that the allegations and public backlash pushed him to a severe mental health crisis and that he attempted to take his own life.

• He described feeling publicly “crucified” and spoke of being admitted to a mental health facility and effectively exiling himself from normal life for a period.

“I thought I’d experienced some rock-bottom moments in my life, but nothing comes close to this,” he said of that period.

If reading this is distressing, it may help to talk to someone you trust or contact a local mental health or crisis support service.

Career after the court case

• Although he was acquitted, the controversy badly damaged his career; major TV work such as The Doctor Blake Mysteries stopped and his public profile shrank.

• In 2025 he was announced to return to the stage, cast as Colonel Mustard in a 2026 Australian tour of the comedy Cluedo (based on the board game and film Clue).

• The casting triggered a strong social‑media backlash focused on the historical allegations, even though he had been found not guilty.

• Within days, McLachlan withdrew from the production, saying he did not want the controversy and online campaign around him to hurt the show or others involved.

Recent updates and “Not Guilty” podcast

• In early 2026, McLachlan’s partner, conductor Vanessa Scammell, fronted a podcast titled Not Guilty that revisits his case and the impact on their lives.

• She argues he was turned into a “poster boy” for the Me Too movement when, in her view, media and institutions were looking for a high‑profile example.

• The podcast and related coverage highlight their view that the presumption of innocence was eroded and that parts of the court evidence favourable to him were under‑reported.

• McLachlan and Scammell have continued to promote this narrative, including new podcast episodes and social‑media posts in 2026, suggesting he is seeking some form of reputational comeback rather than retirement.

Different perspectives people have

• Supporters tend to emphasize that he was acquitted in court, argue that he has “paid a price” in his career and mental health, and question whether online campaigns should override legal outcomes.

• Critics focus on the number and consistency of allegations, the court’s praise of the complainants’ honesty, and the view that an acquittal does not equal exoneration of all behaviour.

• Within the arts community, the Cluedo backlash shows there is still strong division over whether he should be welcomed back into high‑profile roles.

TL;DR: Craig McLachlan was accused of indecent assault, went through a high‑profile court case, was found not guilty in 2020, but the allegations devastated his career and mental health; attempts to return to the stage have sparked renewed backlash, and as of 2026 he is publicly trying to reshape the story through documentaries, a podcast and social media rather than fully returning to mainstream acting work.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.