Latest news with #TitusDay
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Taylor Swift tour at centre of allegations against Guy Sebastian's ex-manager
Guy Sebastian's former manager is alleged to have embezzled $187,000 earnt by the pop star for supporting Taylor Swift, leaving the Australian Idol winner to take home $23,000 from the tour, a court has been told. Titus Emanuel Day is standing trial in the NSW District Court where he has denied embezzling hundreds of thousands in royalties and performance fees from the pop star. The court has been told that Mr Day was Mr Sebastian's long-time manager – through his 6 Degrees agency – and friend before they had a bitter falling out in 2017. The Crown alleges that Mr Day failed to remit performance fees and royalties that were collected on Mr Sebastian's behalf by Mr Day. Mr Day 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. On day two of his trial on Friday, his lawyers told the jury that Mr Day denied doing anything dishonest or fraudulent. One of the charges relates to an allegation that Mr Day failed to remit $187,000 to Mr Sebastian for performance fees as a support act for Swift on her 2013 tour of Australia. Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC told the court that the booking agent paid $494,000 – in the form of four payments of about $123,000 – into a 6 Degrees trust account following the four arena performances. According to the Crown case, Mr Day was entitled to a commission of $59,000 and Mr Sebastian should have been paid $435,000 according to the 80-20 split in his contract with 6 Degrees. However, Mr Hatfield told the jury, Mr Sebastian was only paid $247,500, leaving $187,500 unpaid. Mr Sebastian paid $179,000 to his band and for other expenses for the tour. 'You'll see effectively when you look at it that Mr Sebastian, of the $247,000 paid to him, he had already paid out of his own pocket $179,000,' Mr Hatfield said. 'Effectively he cleared $68,000 out of which he also had to pay GST of $45,000. 'So effectively he made about $23,000 for those four performances, while the accused retained about $246,000, whereas he should have been paid $59,000 as his commission.' It's alleged that Mr Sebastian was also not paid for corporate gigs, performances at the Opera House, a Big Bash game and Dreamworld and for singing at weddings in Italy and Sydney. The court was told that in 2018 he filed proceedings against Mr Day in the Federal Court that prompted his former manager and 6 Degrees to file a counterclaim Mr Sebastian took the stand before the lunch adjournment on Friday afternoon. He told the court that he first met Mr Day through the manager's wife, Courtney, whom he met via his record label. And three years after he won the inaugural Australian Idol, he agreed to join Mr Day, who was working at the 22 Management agency at the time. 'I was signed to Sony Music and one of the employees that I had a lot to do with on the recording side was Courtney Day,' Mr Sebastian told the court on Friday. 'And Courtney Day is married to Titus. And Courtney was recommending her husband as a manager.' The court has been told that in 2009, Mr Sebastian agreed to follow Mr Day when he opened his own agency, 6 Degrees. Mr Day's barrister Thomas Woods, in his opening remarks to the jury on Friday morning, said his client firmly denied doing anything criminal. 'There will be no dispute that on some occasions money did come into that account which my client should have transferred onto Mr Sebastian but did not,' Mr Woods said. 'For many of the charges, the real question is not going to be whether my client failed to transfer the money to Mr Sebastian but whether his failure to do that was criminal.' He said there was a 'major dispute' in the case about whether there was any fraud or dishonesty in Mr Day's actions. 'The background is the breakdown of a personal relationship … and a commercial relationship between the two men that went on for many years,' Mr Woods said. 'What was once a close friendship and business relationship turned sour. Both men claimed that the other owed him money.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Guy Sebastian to take stand in trial of ex-manager over embezzlement allegations
Guy Sebastian is set to take the stand 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 the Battle Scars hitmaker. 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, 43, is expected to take to the stand in 'the coming days', The Australian reported on Friday. 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. 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. 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. 'Through his role as Mr Sebastian's manager, and his capacity of collecting his money on behalf of Mr Sebastian, the accused is alleged to have embezzled Mr Sebastian's money and he's done that by collecting Mr Sebastian's money and failing to remit it in accordance with his agreement,' Hatfield said. 'Mr Sebastian will tell you that this agreement reposed significant trust in the accused and the Crown case is that the accused abused this trust by dishonestly embezzling Mr Sebastian's money.' Before the trial's commencement, Day spoke to about his ongoing, eight-year legal battle. 'I also just want it over,' he told the publication. Aside from Sebastian, Day has also managed a raft of high-profile clients including Grant Denyer, Sophie Monk, Tina Arena, and Stephanie Rice.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Guy Sebastian to take stand in trial of ex-manager over embezzlement allegations
Guy Sebastian is expected to take the stand in a Sydney court in the coming days as his former manager battles allegations he embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Aussie pop star. Titus Emanuel Day is standing trial in the NSW District Court where he has denied he embezzled hundreds of thousands in royalties and performance fees owed to the superstar musician. On day one of Mr Day's trial on Thursday, Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC told the jury that the inaugural Australian Idol winner had an arrangement with Mr Day and his company 6 Degrees to manage his career and affairs. Mr Hatfield told the court that Mr Sebastian placed a 'significant trust' in his manager and that he 'abused' that by embezzling his money. 'Through his role as Mr Sebastian's manager, and his capacity of collecting his money on behalf of Mr Sebastian, the accused is alleged to have embezzled Mr Sebastian's money and he's done that by collecting Mr Sebastian's money and failing to remit it in accordance with his agreement,' Mr Hatfield said. Mr Day 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. Mr Sebastian is expected to be called to give evidence in the coming days. The court was told on Thursday afternoon that Mr Sebastian was previously managed by the 22 Management agency, where he first worked with Mr Day. He then agreed to join Mr Day's 6 Degrees company as a marquee client when Mr Day broke away and formed his own company in 2009. The court heard that their relationship began to deteriorate over time after he found what he alleged were irregularities in his financial records. The court heard that Mr Day worked on a commission of 20 per cent of Mr Sebastian's income after costs. It's alleged by the Crown that Mr Day failed to remit performance fees and royalties which were collected on Mr Sebastian's behalf. The court was told that one of the charges related to an allegation that Mr Day failed to remit $187,000 to Mr Sebastian for performance fees as a support act for Taylor Swift on her 2013 tour of Australia. The court was told that in 2018 Mr Sebastian filed proceedings in the Federal Court, which prompted Mr Day and 6 Degrees to file a counterclaim. 'Mr Sebastian will tell you that this agreement reposed significant trust in the accused and the Crown case is that the accused abused this trust by dishonestly embezzling Mr Sebastian's money,' Mr Hatfield said. The trial before Judge Alister Abadee will continue with Mr Hatfield's opening submissions on Friday before Mr Day's barrister Thomas Woods will give his opening to the jury.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Guy Sebastian reveals the shock reason for his 10kg weight loss as he was left 'rake thin' after plunging down to just 67 on the scale
Guy Sebastian has revealed that his weight plunged as he was locked in a legal battle with his former manager. The Battle Scars hitmaker told the A Life of Greatness with Sarah Grynberg podcast this week that the stress of the court clash left him 'rake thin'. 'I was right smack bang in the middle of the biggest tour I've ever done, really…I should be feeling on top of the world. But in fact, I weighed 67.5 kilos' he said. 'Which is almost ten kilos less than what I normally weigh. I was rake thin.' The 43-year-old pop star went on to explain the physical toll the legal war took on him. 'I was not sleeping. I had black eyes underneath. I was in a terrible place, going from the witness box' he said. 'I had to charter a plane to get to my sound check on time to do a meet and greet soundcheck, and then fly back and give evidence the next day. 'So mentally going from one extreme to the next, survival mode.' Guy's former manager Titus Day was jailed for at least two and a half years in November 2022 after a jury found him guilty of 34 fraud-related charges, including misappropriating more than $620,000. He successfully quashed his convictions on appeal last year and is back in court for a retrial this week. The manager to the stars has continued to deny the allegations against him. Guy said that he still hasn't processed the difficult situation and was dreading the return to court. 'It's a really difficult process and I don't even know what I can talk about' he admitted. It comes after Guy sensationally quit his high profile gig on The Voice Australia. The 43-year-old pop star went on to explain the physical toll the legal war took on him. 'I was not sleeping. I had black eyes underneath. I was in a terrible place, going from the witness box' he said. Pictured at court in 2022 (right) and left before the trial The Australian Idol winner shared the lengthy shock announcement to Instagram in October across several black and white slides. 'I have some news to share with you all regarding my role as a Voice coach,' he began. 'I have made the decision to take a break from the best red chair on the planet. 'It's been six amazing years as a coach and it's honestly been the best gig ever! I have nothing but good things to say about the show itself, and sharing the panel with such amazing coaches has been a pleasure.' Continuing, Sebastian admitted he was walking away from the show to focus more on writing and performing. 'For me right now, it's time to focus more on my core, which is writing and performing new music,' he wrote. 'I am busy planning shows in Australia and worldwide and I am really looking forward to getting out and connecting with you all there.'
Courier-Mail
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Guy's ex-manager breaks silence on fallout
Don't miss out on the headlines from Celebrity Life. Followed categories will be added to My News. Guy Sebastian's former manager and close friend Titus Day have spoken to on the eve of his return to court on Monday for his embezzlement trial. Day has long maintained his innocence relating to the charges which arose after the two men, friends for a dozen years, had a bitter falling out in 2017 over claims and counterclaims they each owed the other hundreds of thousands of dollars. Day, 52, has avoided the media since he was charged in 2020. This week the reserved Sydney agent let his guard down to speak to about his shattered friendship with the singer and his wife Jules Sebastian, whose media career Day also launched and guided for five years. Much changed by his experience, Day acknowledged the eight-year legal battle had taken its toll on him and his family. Titus Day and Guy Sebastian, before their bitter falling out. MORE: 'Guy is paranoid': Aussie stars in neighbour wars Wife Courtney will be missing from the district court on Monday when the trial begins. 'Courtney won't be there because we've both decided it's in our kids' best interest to be protected from it as much as possible. They don't need any further exposure to it. She will be with them,' Day said. From the outset, Day's three children have seen too much of their father's distress concerning the business dispute. Day had just sat down to dinner with them in the family's Bondi home on a Wednesday night in July 2020 when police knocked on his door and arrested him. The intensely private Day, who has never courted media attention, said that the shock of the arrest had been 'very tough' on his young family. 'It's been very tough for me but even more so for my wife and children,' he said. While unable to discuss the allegations that will be put by the court next week, Day recalled the time when he and Sebastian were remarkably close, so close in fact at one time stories surfaced in the press claiming Day's other clients were envious of their manager's relationship with the Sebastians. Titus Day and wife Courtney. Day began representing the 'Battle Scars' singer in 2006, two years after the he'd won the inaugural season of Australian Idol on Network Ten. 'Idol had been massive for Guy but by the time I approached him his career was starting to dwindle,' Day recalled last week. 'I thought he was very talented but being poorly managed and so made the approach and ended up signing him. 'My first album with him went to number one and we had a number of hit records and tours together after that.' With Sebastian's career going from strength to strength, a few years later Day's Six Degrees Management launched the career and podcast of Jules, the singer's then little-known wife. 'I took her from just being known as Guy's wife to being a successful media personality in her own right. We launched and built her Tea With Jules brand. We did all her TV deals, her endorsements and built her profile,' Day said. Guy Sebastian with wife Jules, who was also managed by Day. Picture: Jonathan Ng The joint management arrangement would see the two couples, the Sebastians and the Days, spend more time together. Day explained that a good management relationship is 'like a marriage'. 'Quite often management is like a marriage itself and you become very close friends with your clients,' he said. 'When Guy and I would be on the road touring, Jules and their kids (Hudson and Archer) would sometimes go and stay at my house with my wife. The lines definitely blur occasionally but that's not always a bad thing. My work is most of my life and so it's natural that my clients become friends.' Day has represented a roster of high profile stars including game show host Grant Denyer, presenter Sophie Monk, Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice, singer Tina Arena, and UFC world champion Robert Whittaker. As a result of his arrest however he is today unable to work as a company director. Before he can do so, he will need to clear his name before the court. Asked if he looked forward to having his day in court on Monday, a contemplative Day said 'yes and no'. 'I am looking forward to righting a wrong but I also just want it over. Being persecuted and going through two jury trials is extremely hard,' he said. 'I wouldn't wish what I've been through on anyone. It's been going on for nearly eight years now and I just want it to end so we can move on with our lives.' Originally published as Guy Sebastian's ex-manager Titus Day breaks silence on pair's fallout ahead of trial
