Less than a week after his casting was announced, Craig McLachlan has withdrawn from next year’s national tour of the stage show based on the board game Cluedo. This decision follows significant backlash from audiences and the industry.
In a statement announcing his withdrawal, McLachlan stated he was targeted by in a social media campaign from within the theatre community.
On Instagram, McLachlan released a statement, characterising the backlash as “bullying”. He alleged that members of the theatre community had not only targeted him but also the entire Cluedo cast and production team, his family and friends, and members of the broader community who were looking forward to his return to the stage.
He also mentioned that he delayed releasing his statement due to the recent death of his mother, whom he had been caring for over the past eight years.
McLachlan was originally announced on September 10 to play Colonel Mustard in the Cluedo stage production.
Cluedo would have marked McLachlan’s return to the stage since his last appearance as Frank-N-Furter in an encore tour of The Rocky Horror Show in Adelaide in 2017.
