Actor Craig McLachlan says he has pulled out of the Australian theatre production of Cluedo following “aggressive” backlash from the theatre community.
The former Neighbours star, 60, claimed news of his casting last week prompted a negative social media campaign against himself and two other actors.
McLachlan faced allegations of sexual harassment following his time as a cast member of Rocky Horror Show musical in 2014.
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He earlier faced 13 indecent and common law assault charges against four female actors, both on and off stage, during the Melbourne run of the production.
He was found not guilty of seven counts of indecent assault and six counts of assault.
The actor maintained his innocence throughout the court proceedings.
He later launched defamation proceedings against performer Christie Whelan Browne, Nine newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald and the ABC in 2018.
McLachlan abandoned his defamation case in 2022.
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In a video posted to Instagram, McLachlan said he has now dropped out of Cluedo.
He described the online backlash facing the actors and production crew as “bullying”.
“In the hours and days that followed, a focused social media campaign was deployed from within the theatre community, aggressively targeting the two other actors named alongside me, members of the production team, the director of the production, and everyday individuals who simply expressed their delight at my return to mainstream theatre,” he wrote.
“The bullying even extends to my partner Vanessa, our friends and family.
“Make no mistake, this is bullying.”
McLachlan said the other cast members have been harassed and bullied by their theatre community peers.
He said this prompted his decision to pull out of the show.
“In a sit-down meeting with key production personnel only days before the announcement, I made it very clear that I didn’t want my inclusion in the cast to negatively impact any of the other actors,” he said.
“I cannot and will not let my involvement in a show result in good people being targeted by trolls and bullied.
“I have therefore made the decision to withdraw from the production.”
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McLachlan said he wrote and filmed a statement earlier this week, however put it on hold after his mother died.
“Shortly after composing my statement that I wanted to share with you yesterday, my dear mum passed,” he said.
“We now ask you to let Craig and Vanessa live a life of peace and respect them during this time of grief,” his post ended.
Cluedo is due to premiere in Australia in 2026, touring Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.
McLachlan had been cast as Colonel Mustard.
His replacement is yet to be announced.
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