
Concerns grow for former Sydney society 'It' girl and celebrity stylist Kelly Smythe after she was accused of shocking forgery scam
The one-time 2000s 'It' girl was arrested in May for allegedly forging prescriptions and was taken into custody at Surry Hills Police Station in Sydney 's inner east.
The 47-year-old, who lives on Australia's most expensive street in Point Piper, spent the night at the station before appearing before Downing Centre Local Court via video link, where she made a release application while being held on remand.
Now, her friends have broken their silence over the scandal, revealing that not all is as it seems and the 'truth will come out'.
'There was a huge amount going on for Kelly that only people in her inner circle are aware of,' one close friend told the Sunday Confidential.
From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.
The insider then shared a revelation regarding the celebrity stylist that sheds some light on her mental wellbeing at the time of the alleged offences.
'She was in a very scary place and a victim to serious DV for many years,' the source said.
'The man involved was eventually charged and pleaded guilty to his crimes, but it changed her and she never fully recovered.'
The New Zealand-born socialite's glamorous life unravelled overnight after she was charged with two counts of using a false document to obtain property and two counts of obtaining or attempting to get a prohibited drug by false representation.
A charge sheet showed Smythe allegedly used a false letter and two fraudulent scripts to get dexamphetamine and lisdexamfetamine from the Paddington Compounding Pharmacy on Oxford street in February 21 and May 15.
Dexamphetamine medication is used in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (sleep disorder) while Lisdexamfetamine treats moderate-to-severe binge eating disorder in adults.
Smythe's barrister Charles Alexander lodged a release application on his client's behalf.
'She knows she needs to stay on the straight and narrow,' he told the court.
She was known for living life in the fast lane before take a step away form the limelight several years ago
Magistrate Sharon Freund said the police facts indicated there may be further charges pending, but no fresh charges had been laid.
The magistrate granted bail but added: 'I suspect your client may have an issue with the drugs she has been self-prescribing.'
Smythe, who wore gold-rimmed sunglasses during her video-linked court appearance, said: 'Thank you so much, ma'am.'
The case will be back before the court in July.
At the height of her career, Kelly was a Seven Network stylist and the go-to fashion adviser to Sydney's elite, styling Miranda Kerr, Jennifer Hawkins, Jodi Gordon and Sonia Kruger.
But after five years at the helm of the wardrobe styling department, Seven cut ties with her.
With the local fashion industry teetering on the brink of collapse, Smythe struggled with freelance work and former friends say she vanished from the limelight.
She tied the knot in 2011 with Alex Nikolaidis, 10 years younger than her, at St Mark's Church in the ritzy eastern suburbs enclave of Darling Point in front of clients and Sydney's society set including Roxy Jacenko, Holly Brisley and Chris Bath.
The couple welcomed a son, who is now 14, a year before saying 'I do'. They are now divorced.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
MasterChef star George Calombaris reveals secret alcohol addiction battle after losing $3million and hitting rock bottom during a series of scandals: I was drinking daily in my pyjamas'
MasterChef star George Calombaris has opened up about his alcohol addiction battle after losing $3million and hitting rock bottom during a series of scandals. Calombaris became a household name when he joined MasterChef as a judge in 2009, rapidly building a restaurant empire on the back of his success. But a decade later, the once-celebrated cooking icon abruptly fell from grace in a $7.8milion wage underpayment scandal and assault of a teenage soccer fan. His company Made Establishment (MAdE) went into voluntary administration and his restaurants were shut down. 'After Covid hit, I'm suddenly sitting in Melbourne, which is shut for now two years, sitting with my pyjamas on … looking at my phone going there's no emails, there's nothing to do (and I) start drinking daily,' the chef admitted on the Ouzo Talk podcast. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'I'll never forget three months down the track I lost it one night. I got in my car, drove down the road, I don't know where (I was). My brother found me pissed as a fart. 'And that was a moment, he really slapped it out of me and went enough is enough.' His company MAdE collapsed in February 2020 after being ordered by the Fair Work Ombudsman to pay workers millions in unpaid penalty rates. Calombaris was personally hit with a $200,000 penalty for the wage rorts but always insisted the underpayments were simply a mistake he blamed on inexperience. The ex-hospitality boss said the payment error was detected after the company made a self-report, but the publicity that followed made it impossible to keep his 21 businesses alive. Calombaris explained it creatted 'six months of pain' and he lost around '$3million in endorsements'. 'Ridiculous, stupid, I would have rather taken that 3 million and given it to charity,' he added. His reputation was further damaged when he was caught on camera attacking a 19-year-old at an A-League grand final between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. Calombaris was convicted of assault and fined $1,000, but the damage to his name was so bad his conviction was later overturned. He eventually picked himself after waking up after a big booze-filled night and realising his life had to change. The family moved to Arthurs Seat, in Victoria's Mornington Peninsula in March 2020 and Calombaris reignited his passion for cooking by becoming the executive chef of his family's household. At first, he was afraid the stigma from his past life would follow his family, but was relieved to be welcomed in by the community as fellow school parents immediately invited him into their conversations. By slowing down his lifestyle and beginning to engage with the community, he found a sense of purpose, cooking meals and sharing them with friends as well as helping Melbourne business associates struggling amid the pandemic. He previously said the one positive from his downfall was having more time with his family after he frequently missed major milestones during his action-packed career.


The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
AFL bans West Coast player Jack Graham for four matches over homophobic slur
West Coast player Jack Graham has been suspended for four matches and will undertake an education program after using a 'highly offensive' homophobic slur during an AFL match against GWS Giants. The 27-year-old used the offensive term towards a Giants opponent during their round 17 clash and later self-reported the incident to the Eagles. The club passed the report to the AFL on Friday morning with the AFL Integrity Unit undertaking an immediate investigation and moving quickly to sanction Graham who has been withdrawn from the West Coast side to face Port Adelaide on Sunday. 'Graham used a highly offensive homophobic slur against a GWS Giants opponent, which demeans and denigrates persons regardless of their sexuality,' the AFL said in a statement. The former Richmond player will not be eligible to play for West Coast or at any level of football for the next four weeks and will also undertake Pride in Sport education. All AFL and AFLW Players and officials receive yearly education regarding vilification and the impact of such behaviour. 'Everyone understands the word he used is both hurtful and totally unacceptable in any setting, ever,' Tony Keane, AFL head of integrity and security, said. 'The AFL is very clear that homophobia has no place in our game, nor in the community. We have come a long way as a code, but this incident demonstrates there is so much more to be done, and we will continue to work together to improve our game as a safe and inclusive environment for all. The AFL took into account Graham's self-reporting of the incident, along with his private apology to the unnamed Giants player and contrition when considering its sanctions. Graham also rang AFL chief executive, Andrew Dillion, directly to apologise. 'I am very remorseful for the word I used and know such language has no place in our community or our game,' Graham said. 'I have offered my unreserved apology to the Giants player and Greater Western Sydney and would also like to publicly apologise for my comment. 'What I said does not reflect my values or our club values. I made a mistake and need to be better and will prove that through my actions going forward.' Sign up to From the Pocket: AFL Weekly Jonathan Horn brings expert analysis on the week's biggest AFL stories after newsletter promotion Graham is playing his first season with the Eagles after lining up in 131 matches and winning two premierships with the Tigers. West Coast said that Graham had admitted to using a homophobic slur and accepted the sanctions handed down by the AFL. 'The word Jack used is completely unacceptable and does not align with societal and club values,' West Coast chief executive, Don Pyke, said. 'Jack understands the harmful effects comments like these can have on others and he has been honest in addressing this matter.'


The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Sydney police fatally shot man wielding 50cm machete during wife's alleged brawl in Westfield car park
A man shot dead by police while wielding a large machete was approaching a group of women involved in a shopping centre car park brawl that included his wife, police have alleged. The 29-year-old died at the Mount Druitt Westfield in Sydney's west on Saturday afternoon with the officers involved in the incident hailed for their actions. On Sunday, Assistant Police Commissioner Gavin Wood said six women aged in their mid 20s had crossed paths in the car park at 3.15pm and a brawl had erupted. The women were not known to each other and it was 'sheer fluke that they have met', he said. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The husband of one of the women retrieved a large machete from his car and was walking towards the women when police intervened. 'Police asked the male to drop the machete,' Wood said. The man refused and continued to walk towards the women. 'The police officers got in the middle between the deceased person who was carrying a large machete and some of those females subject to the melee,' he said. 'At that stage, the police officer fired his service revolver'. Wood had checked CCTV footage and the officers' body-worn video and was 'content with the actions of the police'. The shooting would be subject to scrutiny but he said 'their actions were commendable … they were brave'. 'We will put our arms around those police as we do, and they deserve that,' he said. 'They are good people, they are good police officers. They didn't come to work yesterday knowing they had to shoot somebody.' Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Wood said he had spoken to both officers and they were upset, and the enormity of what happened had started to set in. The shooting was declared a critical incident. The investigation will be overseen by the police law enforcement commission and professional standards and led by the homicide squad. The man, a father of two young children, did not have an extensive criminal history and no gang affiliations. Wood said the machete he was carrying was at least 50cm long. 'If anyone had seen it, you'd be alarmed simply by the vision of it,' he said. The man's wife was arrested but later released, subject to further police inquiries. The actions of the six woman involved in the incident will also form part of the police investigation.