Luke Sayers, former Chief Executive of PwC Australia and former President of the Carlton Football Club, is currently engaged in a defamation lawsuit filed by his estranged wife, Cate Sayers. The legal action stems from a social media incident in early last year involving a photograph posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, which Mr. Sayers asserts was the result of a hack.
Overview of the Lawsuit
Cate Sayers has initiated legal proceedings against Luke Sayers in Victoria's Supreme Court. The lawsuit centers on a statutory declaration made by Mr. Sayers, which Mrs. Sayers alleges falsely implicated her in the posting of a male genitalia photograph on his X account.
Mrs. Sayers claims the declaration contained false and private information about her, intended to damage her reputation and attribute responsibility for the post to her.
The Social Media Incident
In January of last year, an image of male genitalia was posted on Mr. Sayers' X account, remaining visible for approximately 10 minutes. Mr. Sayers publicly denied posting the image, asserting his account had been compromised by an unauthorized individual.
Following this incident, Mr. Sayers resigned from his position as president of the Carlton AFL Football Club. His consultancy business, previously known as Sayers Group, was subsequently rebranded as Tenet Advisory.
Investigations and Sayers' Response
The Australian Football League (AFL) conducted an investigation into the incident, concluding that Mr. Sayers had not breached AFL rules and that his X account had indeed been compromised by an individual other than himself.
In the weeks following the deleted post, Mr. Sayers made a statutory declaration that became central to the subsequent legal dispute. Mrs. Sayers alleges this declaration accused her of accessing his X account, posting the image, and tagging a female executive at Bupa.
Mr. Sayers is expected to file a statement of defence in response to his wife's statement of claim, which remains sealed by the court.
Both Luke and Cate Sayers deny responsibility for the initial posting of the image.
Allegations by Cate Sayers
Mrs. Sayers' lawsuit alleges that Mr. Sayers' statutory declaration contained false information regarding her sexual and medical history, mental health, personal relationships, and interactions with law enforcement.
She claims this information was used to portray her as "unstable, untrustworthy, erratic, mentally disturbed and/or as presenting a live risk to her own safety, and the health and safety of her own family."
According to Mrs. Sayers, the disclosure of this information was intended for Mr. Sayers' "personal, reputational and commercial benefit" and was calculated to persuade recipients that she was responsible for the X post. She also alleges that the document requested police and/or the AFL not to interview her, thereby preventing her from responding to the accusations.
Mrs. Sayers is seeking exemplary damages and equitable compensation, stating she has experienced "significant distress, hurt and embarrassment" and has been "shunned and avoided" within social and professional circles.
Family Context and Support
The matter has evolved into a complex family dispute. Two of the Sayers' daughters have publicly expressed support for their father.
Recent reports have indicated that Cate Sayers was located approximately 250 kilometers away from Luke Sayers at the time the image was posted.
Amidst the initial controversy, Mr. Sayers held a private lunch, reportedly attended by around 25 influential figures, including former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews, former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, former AFL head Gil McLachlan, and sports personality Eddie McGuire. His business network also includes individuals such as former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg and various investors in Tenet Advisory.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The legal proceedings are ongoing, with Mr. Sayers yet to file his official defence.
The court is expected to provide further clarity regarding the origin of the X post as the case progresses.