Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
HEY DAD ACTOR'S DAUGHTER SPEAKS OUT
The daughter of Australian actor Robert Hughes has hit out at allegations her father molested a relative.
Hughes' niece Melinda O'Donnell claimed the actor molested and exposed himself to her on several occasions before the age of 10.
The claims come after Hughes' child co-star Sarah Monahan, continues to allege the Hey Dad star behaved inappropriately towards her on the show's set.
Jessica Hughes said the latest claims, aired on the Nine and Seven networks this week, were offensive and false.
"To imply I have ever been involved in, or was aware of, these sordid allegations is offensive and completely untrue," Ms Hughes said in a statement released by PR firm Inside Public Relations.
"My father is a good man and I have had nothing but a happy, safe and supportive family life.
"I have no doubt that the allegations against my father are untrue."
Ms Hughes accused the media of harassing her family for the sake of ratings.
"One has to question the motives of people reportedly paid to give interviews now, having never spoken before."
Hughes, who now lives in Singapore, denies the allegations levelled against him by 33-year-old Monahan, which first surfaced in March last year.
Ms Monahan has said she will not wait for NSW police to finish their investigation before launching civil action.from Yahoo!7
http://au.news.yahoo.com/entertainment/a/-/entertainment/9011631/hey-dad-actors-daughter-speaks-out/
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Former child star to sue Hey Dad! actor
The former child star at the centre of the Hey Dad! child abuse scandal has told of her intentions to sue co-star Robert Hughes and Channel Seven.
A year after explosive claims she was sexually assaulted by Hughes, Sarah Monahan says she plans to “sue the pants off him” for his wrongful doing.
In an exclusive interview with the Nine Network’s A Current Affair the 33-year-old, who played Jenny Kelly on in the 1980s sitcom, candidly spoke of her new campaign to take TV executives to court, claiming they had the knowledge of her on-screen dad’s alleged inappropriate behaviour at the time.
"There were a lot of people who knew, and there were a lot of people who had the power to stop it, and a lot of those people need to be taught a lesson," Monahan, who lives in Texas, told A Current Affair.
The show was commissioned by Channel 7, but produced independently. "I was sure that they knew because everybody knew . . . it was all about making money and the best way to hurt them is with their pocketbook, so go after their money," she said.
"I hope that the people who were involved realise when they are slapped with a lawsuit that maybe they should have taken better steps back then to protect a child in that situation."
Supported by fellow Hey Dad! co-star Simone Buchanan, who has also made accusations of Hughes’s inappropriate behaviour towards her, Monahan claims the actor touched her inappropriately and exposed himself to her on set from the age of six.
Niece Melinda O'Donnell claims Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes molested her
A NIECE of former Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes has claimed she was molested by the TV star numerous times before the age of ten.
Melinda O'Donnell made the startling allegations to A Current Affair, in which she claims she was touched "inappropriately'' many times.
In a sworn statement, viewed by the current affairs program, O'Donnell says she was "grabbed'' and "touched'' indecently.
"Robert Hughes grabbed me, tickled me and touched me inappropriately including on my breasts and genitals,'' Ms O'Donnell said.
"He once touched me on the breasts and asked me ``Do you like this?'' I said "No'' be he continued to do it.''
Ms O'Donnell said she was subjected to the assaults in her family home and while at sleepovers at Mr Hughes' house.
"I was at his house and he was giving me a back massage on his bed and he attempted to grab my breasts but I kept my arms by my side so he couldn't,'' Ms O'Donnell said.
In a sworn statement, viewed by the current affairs program, O'Donnell says she was "grabbed'' and "touched'' indecently.
"Robert Hughes grabbed me, tickled me and touched me inappropriately including on my breasts and genitals,'' Ms O'Donnell said.
"He once touched me on the breasts and asked me ``Do you like this?'' I said "No'' be he continued to do it.''
Ms O'Donnell said she was subjected to the assaults in her family home and while at sleepovers at Mr Hughes' house.
"I was at his house and he was giving me a back massage on his bed and he attempted to grab my breasts but I kept my arms by my side so he couldn't,'' Ms O'Donnell said.
"He also exposed himself to me on a number of occasions and touched his genitals in front of me.''
She said she remembered one time when Mr Hughes had taken the girls swimming and exposed himself to them.
"I recall that on at least one occasion he wore a sarong. He had been swimming with my sisters and I and would sit so we could see his genitals,'' Ms O'Donnell said.
Mr Hughes was approached last year for comment by Channel 9, and told them: "Everything now is in the hands of defamation lawyers.''
The allegations come after Hughes' child co-star Sarah Monahan first made explosive claims that Hughes fondled her and exposed himself to her on the set of the show.
Ms Monahan now says she will sue Mr Hughes and TV executives.
Ms Monahan, who lives in Texas, claimed station chiefs knew about her alleged victimisation, but failed to protect her.
The show was commissioned by Channel 7 but produced independently.
Hughes has denied the allegations and last year engaged defamation lawyers.
NSW police are continuing to investigate the allegations.
From the Daily Telegraph
www.dailytelegraph.com.au/
Friday, March 11, 2011
Hey, Rachael's in town
After rising to fame playing Martin Kelly's niece, Sam, on the popular TV sitcom Hey Dad in the early 1990s, Rachael Beck has gone on to become a respected, multi-talented stage and television performer.
And tomorrow night, the singer and actress will take to the stage with Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown on the Perth leg of their nationwide The One Night Only Tour.
Beck has teamed up with the pianist, singer, and critically acclaimed composer to perform a selection of tunes from his world-renowned shows Songs for a New World, Parade, The Last 5 Years and 13.
Over the years the Sydney-based star has appeared in a number of Australian theatre productions, including Beauty and the Beast which saw her smooch Hugh Jackman on a daily basis.
Her television credits include three seasons on It Takes Two - which Beck called a "wild" experience - and a brief stint on Home and Away.
But it was the 101 episodes on the iconic Hey Dad which Beck says defined her career.
"I had a fantastic time and people still stop me in the street and I love it," she tells Access All Areas.
"People loved the show and it was part of their lives and part of people's lounge rooms so I think it was a great thing to do."
Later this year, Beck will be back in Perth, along with her husband Ian Stenlake, who is also an actor, to perform together in Love Letters.
Tickets are still available for tomorrow night's The One Night Only Tour show at the Octagon Theatre through BOCS Ticketing.From Yahoo!7
Sarah Monahan is taking legal action against Robert Hughes and Channel 7 Executives
Former child star Sarah Monahan says she plans to launch civil action against Seven Network executives and the man she claims acted inappropriately towards her on the set of TV showHey Dad!.
Ms Monahan, now 33, claims she was a victim of inappropriate behaviour by actor Robert Hughes, who played her on-screen father, during the 1990s.
Hughes, who now lives in Singapore, denies the allegations which first surfaced in March last year.
Ms Monahan told A Current Affair yesterday she will not wait for NSW police to finish their investigation into the allegations before launching civil action.
"We really don't know how much longer it's going to take and [police] can't tell how much longer it's going to take or if it's even ever going to result in charges," she said.
Ms Monahan said her anger extended beyond Hughes to the television executives who she believes knew of the allegations.
"I was sure that they knew because everybody knew," she alleged.
"It's all about them making their money and the best way to hurt them is with their pocket book, go after their money," she claimed.
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/hey-dad-scandal-child-star-to-launch-civil-action-20110308-1blgs.html
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