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The actors delayed coming forward on the alleged assaults of Rocky Horror Show star Craig McLachlan because they feared for their career, prosecutors say.
Four women accused McLachlan of assault and indecent assault on stage and behind the scenes during a run of the musical in Australia.
They didn’t complain until later because McLachlan played the lead role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter and was an influential figure, Attorney Matt Fisher said.
“There was a real power imbalance between the defendant and each of the complainants,” he told the Melbourne Magistrates Court Monday.
Fisher said the women were McLachlan’s juniors in the show and concerned about the repercussions on their career.
The accused actor’s legal team said the women in question were playful with McLachlan during the show and walked the set in their underwear.
Photos of the women in “slutty” poses and even “a lesbian pose” were used to help argue that the Gold Logie winner couldn’t attack them.
Fisher said that line of argument was “inadmissible” in our day.
McLachlan faces 13 combined charges of indecent and common law assault on stage and behind the scenes during the Rocky Horror Show.
Allegations include that she traced her finger around the line of an actor’s vagina on stage during a “bed” scene.
He was accused of kissing a co-star’s neck, breasts, stomach and buttocks on at least 20 occasions during performances.
Prosecutors said this was not part of the role McLachlan was supposed to play.
In another case, he would have knelt in front of a woman in a locker room and told her she was beautiful and he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
The woman also said that McLachlan kissed her on the mouth and was shocked and did not attend.
The court was told that the musical was a highly sexualized environment, both on stage and behind the scenes.
The concluding arguments in the McLachlan case continue. He vigorously denies the allegations.
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