Chapter 1: What happened after the chaotic night in Bondi?
Hello and welcome to part two of the night that changed everything and when I say changed everything I'm not just talking about the relationships between some of the couples and the friendships but I'm also talking about how production then operated behind the scenes for the rest of the season and in this episode I'm going to pick up exactly where part one ended.
The cast had all just fled icebergs in Bondi in various different cars. They were all raging at me, accusing them of fucking them over with the paparazzi. They were also shouting amongst each other, accusing each other of being the leak. And I was then left stood alone, outside the bar, questioning my life choices.
Chapter 2: How did the phone call with Chris escalate the situation?
And then my phone started ringing. I pulled it from my pocket and it was an unknown number. Hey Josh speaking, who's this? If I see you again, watch what will happen to you. It was Chris, he was furious and I could hear like other voices in the background, presumably the cast still arguing amongst themselves.
Chapter 3: What was the reaction of the cast after the incident?
Seriously, watch what will happen to you, Chris continued. I can't wait to see you again, just watch what will happen to you. Two things then happened. Firstly, I responded by saying this exact sentence. Chris, the only way to perceive this is as a threat of violence.
Chapter 4: How did the production team respond to the fallout?
And as I said that, I put my phone onto loudspeaker, opened the notepad app and started writing down everything he said, word for word. This isn't a threat. It's a warning. Just watch what happens next time I see you. As I then asked if he understood the magnitude of what he was saying here, Chris responded with, I don't give a fuck.
Chapter 5: What were the consequences for the cast following the night out?
And once again, just watch what happens. And then he hung up. Now also remember, as I said in part one of this podcast, the first thing Chris said to me at the start of this night was how he'd have bashed me if I was at his wedding. And now he's ended the night saying he's going to physically assault me if he ever sees me again.
As that phone call ended, I walked around the back of Icebergs in Bondi, away from the noise of the drunks all leaving the bar now, and I just sat there for a second.
Chapter 6: How did the police become involved in the aftermath?
The pitch black ocean slamming against the rocks I was now on. Just reflecting and thinking, what the fuck was that? I was so mad in that moment that I even got my phone back out and I recorded a voice memo, which I didn't know if I'd ever use or play or what it was even for. I just had to vent and get my feelings out in that moment.
And I know that I'm a chill guy mostly, but I honestly was furious and it wasn't necessarily at the frets, which yes, they were concerning, but it was also just that the absurdity of everything that had happened that night.
Chapter 7: What changes were implemented in production protocols?
But I'm like, what is going on here? These cast members are acting like they're superstars. They're swearing at the pap. They're trying to sneak our fire exit. It's like, what?
Chapter 8: What reflections does the host share about the experience?
I've worked in this industry for a long time. The ego and the arrogance on some of these people already. Fucking hell. And then the phone call to me is like, nah, you're not a good person in the slightest. Everything I thought earlier you have just confirmed times 100. Who are you to threaten anybody? Who are you to think you're above anybody else? Who are you to give me a phone call like that?
Before I got a chance to finish that voice note to myself, my phone starts ringing again. This time though, it wasn't an unknown number. It was the cast member who'd initially invited me to the night out. Hello, I said flatly. How could you do that to us? They said. How could you fuck us over like that?
Even though I was still raging on the inside and even though I hate confrontation, I kept my cool and I said, quite sternly, are you serious right now? You literally invited me and said, these are your words, come and get loads of content. All of that is what you asked for. No, I didn't, they responded. Yes, you literally did.
This then went back and forth for several minutes before said cast member eventually went, well, promise me you won't tell anyone it was me who told you. Please don't tell anyone it was me. I won't, I said, explaining that despite that entire shit show, I still won't betray my previous word and reveal a sauce, but I did say how I will be emailing production in the morning about Chris.
Now, in the promo video I made for this podcast that I assume most of you have watched by now, it ended with a clip outside of a police station with much speculation whose night ended up at the police station. And I'm sorry to say that no one's evening ended there, but my morning started there.
As I woke up that next day on the Sunday morning with this feeling of who does Chris and also the rest of the cast who were raging at me think they are, I did two things first. Firstly, at 6.30am, I emailed the Channel 9 publicist for the show. Hey, sorry to email on a Sunday. Are you handling maths again this year?
Or would you have a contact for whoever is looking after publicity from a production side? 45 minutes later, at 7.45am, they replied. And they said, yeah, they're still the best contact. What's the story? Azai then detailed my phone call from Chris and the threats he made in my reply. And I asked how they plan to proceed with this information internally.
Especially after last year's season of the show was overshadowed by a domestic violence storyline, questions surrounding background checks, and how the cast members overall are safeguarded on set. Guess how the publicists responded? They didn't. 185 days have passed since that email, and I'm yet to hear a single thing back.
That's not to say that my email wasn't received though, because fuck, it was. And the ripple effect it caused was huge. As I then got out of bed, got on with my Sunday and made my way down to the police station, which I will get to, bear with me, shit officially hit the fan back at production.
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