<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Actor Craig McLachlan says he has pulled out of the Australian theatre production of </span><em><span>Cluedo</span></em><span> following "aggressive" backlash from the theatre community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The former Neighbours star, 60, claimed news of his casting last week prompted a negative social media campaign against himself and two other actors.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McLachlan faced allegations of sexual harassment following his time as a cast member of </span><em><span>Rocky Horror Show</span></em><span> musical in 2014.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dr-elise-turner-claims-she-was-asked-to-leave-virgin-airport-lounge-melbourne-for-pumping-breastmillk/82385555-7b25-4d25-a883-364bd353a0d6" target="_blank"><strong><span>Airline says sorry to 'furious' mum for booting her out of Aussie lounge</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was found not guilty of seven counts of indecent assault and six counts of assault.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The actor maintained his innocence throughout the court proceedings.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/craig-mclachlan-abandons-stage-comeback-cluedo-after-casting-prompts-aggressive-social-media-campaign/160e1902-7815-41a3-968a-4dc012a073c3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He later launched defamation proceedings against performer Christie Whelan Browne, Nine newspaper </span><em><span>The Sydney Morning Herald</span></em><span> and the ABC in 2018.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McLachlan abandoned his defamation case in 2022.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/riverstone-gas-leak-sydney-death-police/5abf28d3-cf8a-46e9-a303-e93870eb0017" target="_blank"><strong><span>One dead, cops injured after gas leak at Sydney restaurant</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a video posted to Instagram, McLachlan said he has now dropped out of </span><em><span>Cluedo</span></em><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He described the online backlash facing the actors and production crew as "bullying".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The bullying even extends to my partner Vanessa, our friends and family.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Make no mistake, this is bullying."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McLachlan said the other cast members have been harassed and bullied by their theatre community peers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said this prompted his decision to pull out of the show.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I cannot and will not let my involvement in a show result in good people being targeted by trolls and bullied.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I have therefore made the decision to withdraw from the production."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/anthony-heraghty-super-retail-rebel-bcf-supercheap-auto/d35af5ef-29dd-4f7c-8290-9cedd70b7595" target="_blank"><strong><span>Boss of $3.9 billion Aussie retail giant sacked over workplace relationship</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/centrelink-payments-changes-2025-new-rates-september-20-everything-to-know-explained/7ad1411a-7f1e-4e0d-b1dd-c1dd45803dd6" target="_blank"><strong><span>Millions of Aussies to get a cash boost as Centrelink payments increase</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McLachlan said he wrote and filmed a statement earlier this week, however put it on hold after his mother died.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Shortly after composing my statement that I wanted to share with you yesterday, my dear mum passed," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>Cluedo</span></em><span> is due to premiere in Australia in 2026, touring Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McLachlan had been cast as Colonel Mustard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His replacement is yet to be announced.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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