Guy Sebastian hobbles out of court on crutches during trial with former manager Titus Day after being rushed to hospital for shock injury
In May, Sebastian landed in hospital after tearing his Achilles tendon during a footy match with AFL great Brendan Fevola.
The 43-year-old hitmaker, who is expected to take the stand this week during the embezzlement trial of his former manager Titus Day, sat in court wearing one shoe and a bandage on his injured foot.
Dressed smartly in a sharp blue blazer and black trousers, Sebastian left the Downing Centre on his own.
The singer's polished look - complete with a leather satchel slung across his shoulder - contrasted sharply with the visible strain of each step on the crutches.
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In May, Sebastian painfully tore his Achilles tendon during an ill-fated footy match.
Sebastian and Fevola teamed up to help struggling club Masala Dandenong break a long losing streak in front of a buzzing crowd at Lois Twohig Reserve.
What began as a quirky radio promotion turned into a gritty on-field performance, as Fevola and Sebastian led Masala to a tense 55–53 win over South Melbourne Districts.
However, Sebastian's afternoon was cut short by injury with the pop star seen limping from the park in the fourth quarter.
Sebastian is set to take the stand this week in the trial of his former manager Titus Day who is defending a raft of embezzlement allegations.
Day is currently standing trial in the NSW District Court to defend against claims he embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars in royalties and performance fees from Sebastian.
He has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of embezzlement as a clerk or servant and one count of attempting to dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.
The trial commenced on Thursday and Sebastian is expected to take to the stand in 'the coming days', The Australian reported on Friday.
The 43-year-old hitmaker, who is expected to take the stand this week during the embezzlement trial of his former manager Titus Day, sat in court wearing one shoe and a bandage on his injured foot
Sebastian was first managed by Day when he worked as a senior client management executive for the 22 Management Agency, the jury was told on Thursday.
In 2009, Day established his own agency 6Degrees, where Sebastian became the 'marquee client'.
It was alleged the pair's relationship began to sour after Sebastian discovered what he alleged to be irregularities in financial records.
It was also claimed that Day, who worked on a 20 per cent commission of Sebastian's income after costs, failed to pay royalties and performance fees collected on the Australian Idol winner's behalf.
The publication reported that one of the charges related to a claim that Day failed to pay Sebastian $187,000 - a performance fee for his support act slot on Taylor Swift's 2013 Australian tour.
During the first day of Day's trial on Thursday, Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC informed the court that Sebastian had placed a 'significant trust' in his manager, who then 'abused' that trust by embezzling his money.
Aside from Sebastian, Day has also managed a raft of high-profile clients including Grant Denyer, Sophie Monk, Tina Arena, and Stephanie Rice.
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Scottish Sun
41 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Sexualisation, Donald Trump & race rows – why Sydney Sweeney's backlash only makes her MORE valuable to brands
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHE'S one of America's fastest growing stars, but could controversy derail Sydney Sweeney's supersonic career? Showbiz writer Gemma Calvert takes a closer look at 2025's hottest property. 19 Could controversy derail Sydney Sweeney's supersonic career? Credit: getty 19 Sydney's American Eagle jeans ad sparked race rows Credit: American Eagle 19 Stunner Sydney stars as Olivia Mossbacher in Apple TV+'s The White Lotus Credit: White lotus Hollywood has fast become Sydney Sweeney's adventure playground. The 27-year-old actress shot to fame after she bagged the role of Cassie Howard in HBO's Euphoria, as well as Olivia Mossbacher in Apple TV+'s The White Lotus – and earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for both roles in 2022, along with a whole international fandom. Since then, Sydney's star has soared. She led and produced blockbuster romcom Anyone But You in 2023, and her latest projects include Apple TV+ series Echo Valley, playing Julianne Moore's devious but charismatic junkie daughter, plus Christy, a biopic of trailblazing American female boxer Christy Martin. But Sydney's rise hasn't been without controversy. Known for choosing roles that lean into hyper-sexualised archetypes, she's become a lightning rod for public debate. In her recent denim campaign for US leisurewear giant American Eagle, she stares into the camera and whispers: 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality, and even eye colour. . . My jeans are blue.' The backlash when the ad dropped at the end of last month was swift. Critics accused the retailer – and Sydney – of racial insensitivity, even linking the 'great jeans' tagline to eugenics and Nazi ideology. Others called the campaign overly sexualised. However, many sprang to its defence, praising its boldness and blasting the outrage as overblown. When it emerged earlier this month that the actress is a registered Republican, President Trump praised her, saying: 'You'd be surprised at how many people are Republican. I'm glad you told me that. Clip of Sydney Sweeney at shooting range goes viral as her 'MAGA background' emerges after anti-woke ad and Trump praise 'If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.' Her personal life has sparked headlines, too. In 2022, Sydney shared photos from her mum Lisa's 60th birthday party – a hoedown-themed bash that featured guests in MAGA-style hats with one guest wearing a shirt with the words 'Blue Lives Matter' on it, a term that emerged in 2014 to show support to the police, in opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement. Sydney later hit back, urging people to 'stop making assumptions' and insisting it was nothing more than a family celebration. And rather than holding her back, the backlash may be propelling her forward. Let's be honest – controversy has made her more interesting Stacy Jones, founder of LA branding agency Hollywood Branded 'Let's be honest – controversy has made her more interesting,' says Stacy Jones, founder of LA branding agency Hollywood Branded. 'The family politics thing didn't derail her and this recent backlash over the American Eagle ad? If anything, it proved she's not just a celebrity, she's a cultural touchpoint. Sydney's not just valuable – she's volatile in the best way. She drives real conversation, and that's currency. She goes viral for what she wears, says and does. She stirs emotion and she trends. That's what marketers are actually buying – not just demographics, but cultural gravity.' Stacy adds: 'In a world where no one agrees on anything, being part of the conversation is sometimes better than being universally liked.' 'People believe I've signed my life away because I'm an actor' Much of the scrutiny around Sydney revolves around her physical appearance, which has fanned debates about the double standards that women face in Hollywood. While male actors are celebrated for their talent or transformative roles, Sydney – much like Scarlett Johansson before her – is often reduced to headlines about her curves. Take the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, when Sydney arrived in a plunging silk gown by Miu Miu, layered over a powder-blue bra. Rather than seen as a bold fashion statement, the look was labelled a 'wardrobe malfunction', showing how confident styling choices can be quickly reframed as inappropriate. 'There's not anything I can do,' Sydney told NME in 2023, acknowledging the pressure of constant objectification. Later, she told Variety: 'People feel connected and free to be able to speak about me in whatever way they want, because they believe that I've signed my life away. That I'm not on a human level any more, because I'm an actor.' 19 Sweeney flaunts her amazing figure for her loving social media fans Credit: Sydney Sweeney 19 The actress pictured with her pup Credit: Sydney Sweeney 19 The 27-year-old actress shot to fame after she bagged the role of Cassie Howard in HBO's Euphoria Credit: EUPhORIA Sydney's hosting stint on Saturday Night Live last March only intensified the conversation. Dressed in a Hooters waitress uniform for multiple sketches, she embraced the caricature of her public image, even joking the job was her 'back-up career.' Conservative critics quickly dubbed the moment a flashback to pre #MeToo attitudes. One commentator even described her breasts as the 'double-D harbingers of the death of woke'. Sydney's response? A tongue-in-cheek sweatshirt that read: 'Sorry For Having Great Tits And Correct Opinions'. Then in June, she partnered with Dr Squatch to launch $8 soap bars infused with her actual bathwater – a move some interpreted as a bold, satirical poke at the objectification she often faces. Steering her ship through the sea of entertainment with self-awareness and humour is a savvy move, says Nick Ede, one of the UK's leading brand and culture experts and founder of Joyfulness Studios. 'What's great about Sydney is she embodies her generation and doesn't try to alienate herself from it,' says Nick. 'She wants to be relatable and lean into the stereotypes that she portrays, or is seen to portray. She isn't scared to be honest about who she is and has a unique way of being self-aware. She can laugh at herself, too. This allows her to manage her narrative, especially on social media. Her bathwater soap shows she's in on the journey as much as her fans or her critics.' Sydney is a rare Hollywood breed who manages her own social media content and, according to Stefanie Davis Kempton – an assistant professor of communication at Florida Gulf Coast University specialising in women's representation in the media – retaining control is vital for stars like her. 'Young women, especially, can be easy targets to become puppets and lose control of their own personal brand for the sake of corporate greed,' says Stefanie. What's great about Sydney is she embodies her generation and doesn't try to alienate herself from it Nick Ede, brand and culture expert 'It happens all the time, as women's voices have been historically marginalised. In today's age of social media, your identity is your brand and that brand can be worth a lot of money, but it can also be sabotaged if left in the wrong hands. Having control of your own voice, body, image and likeness is so critically important.' Launching her own production company, Fifty-Fifty Films, in 2020, was Sydney's creative solution to that problem, taking her from actor for hire to industry powerhouse. Dedicated to adapting stories by first-time female authors and up-and-coming screenwriters, she told Teen Vogue: 'I'm a big advocate for making sure everybody's voice is heard.' But carving out creative space hasn't been easy. In an interview with The Times earlier this year, Sydney admitted she's not always taken seriously as a producer, especially, she noted, by 'women who give me the hardest time.' Speaking on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast in March 2024, Sydney confessed that 'the roles that are challenging or creatively fulfilling are usually the ones that you have to fight for.' She went on to explain in The Times that casting directors often dismiss her due to her performance as Cassie, her overtly sexualised character in Euphoria, a role she reprised earlier this year for the long-awaited third season, due for release in 2026. 'I feel like I'm constantly having to be like: 'No, no – I'm an actor,'' she said. 'I'm supposed to play different characters.' That philosophy also extends to red-carpet appearances and talk-show interviews, spaces where Sydney says she feels most uncomfortable. To manage her nerves, she inhabits personas in the way she would on set, a place she describes as her 'playground' and where she feels 'at home'. Indeed, Sydney was just 10 when she discovered her love of performance at the family home in Spokane, Washington, on the Idaho border. There, she would build imaginary worlds and put on performances for her parents – her mum Lisa, a former criminal defence lawyer, and dad Steven, a pharmaceutical rep. 'Nothing I could do to help' She recently told Glamour that acting became a 'full-on obsession' alongside childhood passions like river swimming and hiking. Electronic devices, meanwhile, were banned by her parents so, as a teen, Sydney secretly streamed episodes of The Secret Life Of The American Teenager. When a low-budget zombie film began shooting in her town, Sydney persuaded her parents to let her audition by pitching them a PowerPoint five-year acting plan. It worked two-fold. She auditioned, then landed a small part in 2010 film ZMD: Zombies Of Mass Destruction. From there she began auditioning whenever possible – first in Seattle and Portland, and eventually in Los Angeles, travelling the gruelling 2,400-mile round trip every time by car. 'I owe everything to them,' she said of her parents on Happy Sad Confused, crediting them as her earliest champions. I thought that if I made enough money, I'd be able to buy my parents' house back and put my family back together Sydney Sweeney When Sydney became a victim of bullying at her private school – an education funded by financial aid – her parents home-schooled her for a while, before selling the family home and moving to LA to further her acting dreams. 19 Syd wearing that bra-exposing outfit at Cannes Film Festival Credit: GETTY 19 The star in The Handmaid's Tale, 2018 Credit: The Handmaid's tale 19 In a Hooters sketch for SNL Credit: GETTY But the move, when Sydney was 13, came at a price. Living costs proved too high and the family, including her younger brother Trent, found themselves crammed into a single motel room. By 2016, her parents had filed for both bankruptcy and divorce. Sydney, working $100-a-day acting jobs, cleaning bathrooms and babysitting, continued to dream of a breakthrough that might solve all their problems. 'I thought that if I made enough money, I'd be able to buy my parents' house back and put my family back together,' she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2022. 'But when I turned 18, I only had $800 to my name. My parents weren't back together. And there was nothing I could do to help.' Her longed-for break finally came in 2018, with roles in Marti Noxon's Sharp Objects and Netflix's Everything Sucks!, followed by a standout appearance in The Handmaid's Tale, and then Euphoria. Now reportedly worth over £30million, Sydney has built a brand empire, thanks to endorsement deals from Miu Miu to Kérastase. And her financial clout is set to grow even more with the launch of her lingerie line, backed by a $1.5billion investment from her pal, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell. That Bezos connection, insiders say, is also making Sydney a frontrunner for the next Bond girl role, now the movie is under Amazon MGM's creative control. 'Sydney's DMs are packed with messages from famous men' As well as clearing her mum's mortgage, Sydney has built an impressive property portfolio with her fortune. She has two homes in LA, her primary residence is a £10million Florida beachfront mansion, plus she repurchased her great-grandmother's former house in 2023, years after the family was forced to sell it. Now, Sydney is dreaming of a different kind of legacy. 'I want to have a family. I've always wanted to be a young mom,' she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2022, while still in a seven-year relationship with her businessman fiancé, Jonathan Davino. When the pair called off their engagement earlier this year, speculation mounted of romance between Sydney and her Anyone But You co-star Glen Powell, which they later admitted they allowed to swirl to help promote the film. But despite sightings with Orlando Bloom and Tom Brady at Jeff Bezos' Venice wedding in June, insiders say Sydney's single by choice. 'I'm learning a lot about myself, spending more time with my friends. And I'm loving it,' she told The Times in May. That's not to say she isn't without plenty of admirers – The Sun revealed that Premier League players from Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have all slid into her DMs to ask her out. But despite the offers, she has politely declined. An insider said: 'Her Instagram DMs are packed with messages from famous men trying to get in contact with her. 19 With her Anyone But You co-star Glen Powell Credit: GETTY 19 Sydney and ex-fiancé Jonathan Davino Credit: GETTY 19 Sydney and brother Trent with their mum Lisa at her controversial 60th birthday party Credit: trent Sweeney They offer her trips to Europe to see them and take her on a date, but she's not the kind of person who does that. 'Some of them are very insistent and have even tried to find her address to send her flowers, but she always refuses.' Behind the scenes, Sydney is an 'avid bookreader', trained MMA fighter and vintage car restorer – a hobby she calls her 'therapy' and documents for 1.9 million followers on her TikTok @Syds_garage. Whether she's creating or courting controversy, on-screen or off, Sydney Sweeney isn't just tagging along for the ride, she's firmly in the driver's seat of her extraordinary life. Sydney's sizzling style 19 In 2019, rocking a red Rosario dress at a Harper's Bazaar party Credit: GETTY 19 Wearing Alexander McQueen at a Variety event in 2023 Credit: GETTY 19 Pretty in Prada at The White Lotus premiere in 2021 Credit: GETTY 19 In a bouquet-style top by Balmain, last year Credit: GETTY 19 In LaQuan Smith at 2022's GQ Men Of The Year Awards Credit: GETTY 19 Wearing Miu Miu and a black wig at the 2024 Met Gala Credit: GETTY
The Guardian
42 minutes ago
- The Guardian
The moment I knew: crying over my ex, he comforted me without jealousy or judgment
'There's something I need to tell you,' said my new boyfriend, Brent. We were sitting on his leafy balcony in Sydney. His expression was grave, his skin pale – nothing like his usual relaxed, smiley self. He'd been hiding something from me and he'd finally decided to confess. My thoughts raced. He's married. He has a kid. He's moving to a small island in the South Pacific. 'I have a pet,' he blurted. I blinked. He rubbed his palms together nervously, then disappeared into his bedroom. I waited, beginning to guess where this was going. He reemerged clutching a writhing snake. Brent had been hiding his pet python from me because he was terrified it would be a dealbreaker. It wasn't, I actually love snakes – although if it had been a tarantula, this story might have had a different ending. We had met at my work Christmas party only a few weeks earlier. He was invited as a guest from another company and was busily chatting with a friend of mine whom he already knew. I stood on the sidelines and stared at his face. So handsome. Then, his eyes flickered to mine and held my gaze, and something quietly stirred within me. The shift was subtle, but it was unmistakably there. After my colleague drifted away, Brent and I started talking. We couldn't seem to stop. Noticing his accent, I made the rookie mistake of asking him (a Canadian) where he was from in America. He didn't mind at all. There wasn't much that bothered him. He was gentle, patient, kind – and irresistibly intelligent. We swapped numbers and for our first date, he took me to a buzzy Thai restaurant beside the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We talked so much our jaws ached. I still couldn't quite tear my eyes off him. Things moved fast. There were weekend drives in his cool vintage car, staying up all night babysitting wide-eyed puppies, countless red carpet events I dragged him to because I was working as an entertainment reporter, and more of that endless, joyful talking. He told me he believed that if we'd met when we were little kids, he would have wanted to be my best friend. I told him I could be locked in a jail cell with him for the rest of my life and never get bored. He was utterly fascinating to me. Still is. Not long after the snake reveal, my ex-boyfriend contacted me out of the blue asking if we could do a video call. When he and I broke up, it hit me pretty hard. Even though I was just about to leave to go to Brent's place, my ex said he had something to tell me. Apparently, those words are my relationship anthem. Somehow, though, I knew this wasn't going to be about a pet. Through the screen, my ex revealed he'd cheated on me while we were together. Not once, not twice – around 20 times. He'd come to realise he had some issues he needed to work out and part of that involved telling me the truth. And I do commend him for that. It can't have been easy. But at that moment, I felt as though I'd been punched in the chest. I was sick with hurt and humiliation. All the signs I had missed began flashing back in vivid detail. I thought I'd be fine by the time I got to Brent's; after all, my ex and I had been over for a while. But the grief and sense of betrayal wouldn't let me go. I walked into the apartment, sat down on the couch, and broke down in tears. I couldn't stop. I was so embarrassed – and horrified for Brent. This was supposed to be our honeymoon phase. Why was I crying over someone else? I tried to hide my face. He asked me what was wrong and I told him everything. I braced for confusion, jealousy, maybe even a fight. Brent had every right to question why I was so upset over another guy. But instead, he reached for my hands and looked straight into my eyes, his brow furrowed. He looked heartbroken – but not for himself. 'I am so sorry,' he said. 'That must have been really awful to hear.' Then, he pulled me into a tight hug, his palm stroking my back. He never once made it about him. His concern was all for me. That was when I knew what a good man looked like, and that I had fallen in love. Seventeen years later, we're still together. We've lived overseas for 10 of those years, been married for 12, and have two amazing children – plus the slightly alarming reptile who has been with us all along. Brent is still my favourite person to talk to. With him, I've found a kind of safety and comfort that I hope lasts a lifetime. Natalie Murray is the author of Lights, Camera, Love (Allen & Unwin; $22.99) Do you have a romantic realisation you'd like to share? From quiet domestic scenes to dramatic revelations, Guardian Australia wants to hear about the moment you knew you were in love. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian.
The Guardian
42 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘Dump it, or we'll dump you': secretive consultancy group sends Liberal MPs barrage of emails over net zero policy
Liberal MPs have been sent a barrage of emails demanding they drop net zero targets or 'risk losing our support' by a group connected to conservative right-wing lobby group Advance. The mass emails, seen by Guardian Australia, have been sent to multiple Liberals by Whitestone Strategic, a secretive political consultancy group and come as the Coalition reviews its energy policy. Coalition MPs began receiving the emails – which one described as looking as if they were sent by AI bots – on Monday night. Some MPs received more than 100 within 48 hours from the same address. Sign up: AU Breaking News email One of the emails reads: 'A message to the Liberal Party and Nationals: Net Zero is causing irreversible damage to our nation. Our economic health is declining … immediate action is required. Dump Net Zero policies now, or we will stop supporting your agenda.' Another reads: 'Net Zero is a dangerous joke. It's time to dump it, or we'll dump you.' The email sender appears to be Whitestone Strategic but the email address is listed as CiviClick – a US-based platform that describes itself as AI-Powered grassroots advocacy software, that allows users to 'reach elected officials with powerful policy messages'. A Guardian Australia investigation in October revealed Whitestone Strategic's close ties to Advance, the rightwing advocacy group behind the main organisation promoting a no vote in the Indigenous voice referendum, Fair Australia. A separate investigation also found Whitestone Strategic billed taxpayers almost $135,000 over two years for work providing media messaging for conservative politicians during the voice to parliament campaign. Whitestone Strategic's work for Coalition members has extended beyond the voice campaign. None of the emails, sent since Monday, are addressed directly to the politician, or signed off by a member of the public. Many of the dozens of emails received by MPs contain the same message and some contain what appears to be coding left in unintentionally. Advance announced on 8 August it would launch a campaign targeting 'weakling' Liberals, by pressuring them to drop their support for net zero by 2050. On 15 August, it said its supporters had sent 19,897 emails to coalition MPs and senators. Several members who received the emails expressed frustration over the tactic. One Liberal, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they received at least 50 emails in 24 hours, none directly addressed to them. 'The policy review process is important, we must take the time to do it right,' they said. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'We cannot be distracted by external groups with their own agendas.' Another Liberal, who asked not to be named, derided the emails and said they looked like they had been sent by 'AI bots', due to multiple of the same message being sent. This MP, who said they were previously supportive of Whitestone's work, said 'Why can't Whitestone get this stuff right?'. Liberal Senator for South Australia, Andrew McLachlan, a vocal supporter of net zero and climate action, confirmed he'd received dozens of emails from Whitestone Strategic over the last 48 hours. He said maintaining emissions reduction targets is critical and said he would continue to advocate for the target. 'It is not 'weakness' to support targets to reduce pollution. You are not a 'weakling' to be committed to exploring every possible solution to respond to our changing climate,' he said. The Liberal party is reviewing its energy policies, led by the shadow energy minister, Dan Tehan. The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, hasn't committed to keeping net zero, but some vocal members of the Coalition – including Barnaby Joyce, Michael McCormack, Matt Canavan and Tony Pasin – have been publicly and privately lobbying against the target. In response to questions from Guardian Australia, Advance said they wouldn't comment on individual emails from supporters, but that 'it is no secret that we are campaigning against net zero and have asked our supporters to contact MPs to voice their opposition'.
