This is an email I recently received from Mark Lee the director of Matts upcomming movie 'The Bet'.
Mark Lee is a former actor who you may remember from Gallipoli and Vietnam.
He is obvioussly VERY upset with the Matt Newton scandal in his frank response.
From: Mark Lee [mailto:mlee@*******.com.au] Sent: Wednesday, 7 February 2007 5:14 PM To: ****** Subject: Remarks on Matt
Gday ******,
Thank you for your well wishes for my film "The Bet".
All I can really say right now mate is that we are all extememly upset with Matty. We all knew Matty was going through some private problems with alchohol but I had no idea he was dabbling in dangerous drugs like meth.
During the filming of "The Bet" I must say that Matt was a true proffesional.
That is why with utter shock I have been dragged into this shit fight.
I also know Brooke who is a sweet sweet woman - very talented as well. In my opinion Matty needs to clean up his fucking act. What he did is absolutely disgusting.
His little scandal has thrown the release of "The Bet" into crisis mode. We were planning for an Easter 07 release but this will not happen now. There is no way my distributors are going to release this film until the trial is over.
Thats all I really want to say right now mate .. to be perfectly honest the whole thing is making me sick.
There you have it, a personal statement from director Mark Lee.
Dont expect this movie to be released in 2007.
The distributors of this film are LIVID with anger towards the Matt Newton scandal.
This movie was propped up as a 'breakthru' role for Matt. NOT ANYMORE.
Unfortunately the ugly criminal trial he is involved in has caused the distributors to put 'The Bet' on hold until the outcome of the trial.
Either way, this a BAD publicity for Newton and is going to hurt the film.
We should feel sorry for the other actors in this film who do NOT beat their spouses or abuse drugs.
YOU ARE FINISHED MR MATT SPEWTON
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Here is what we have learnt in the past week .. .very interesting developments.
Matt Newton spent 3 days inside a psychiatric hospital. His parents would not sign him out, the Otto family did. Drugs are said to be involved.
Matt Newton gouged at the face and eyes of Brooke. Threatened to kill her and Brookes mother. Matt smashed up their house on many occasions. Told friends he "would kill Brooke".
Trial date set for June. It will be a 3 day hearing. 12 Police Witnesses for Brooke. 4 witnesses for Matt (not police).
The Bet will not be released this year. No release date has been set.
His contract has NOT been renewed with Stupid, Stupid Man Season 2 slotted to start filming later this year.
Her will appear in a theatre stage show on April 4 which will give activists of the AMNM a golden opportunity to picket and confront Matt Newton in person.
Just came across this incredible post in a Matt Newton Fan Blog.
I will first start by saying that I'm not here for a fight. And secondly that I know what I'm talking about because I am one of Brooke's family and I was there supporting her before any of this came out.
Last year I was in Sydney with my Mother and we organised to meet up with Brooke. Normally we would meet up at her place and hang out but this particular time she wouldn't let us in because Matt was sleeping. Later she admitted it was because he had destroyed their home. In October and November we were on the phone with her distraught mother after he had threatened her (Jane that is). She was convinced that he was doing something to Brooke. Since we were the only ones in the family that had seen her recently we had to calm her down. Later, when Brooke told her mother the truth and then us, we were the ones that were sent to check on her while she was stuck working on a job and therefore couldn't move back to Melbourne.
I am closer to any of this than you fans of Matthew. I have spent a long time around the both of them. I have been helping with the aftermath as well. He and his supporters are fighting the charges because otherwise he won't be able to work in America. That will stunt his career somewhat.
I'm not saying Matthew is evil but I do think he is sick. He spent something like 3 days in psychiatric care after the last incident. And I'm not just spitting this out after reading the recent articles. I knew back in December.
Brooke's case is actually very strong. She has many more than just the 12 witnesses she's calling in June. I honestly believe none of this should have been mad public. The case should have gone through without the publicity so that Brooke and other women don't have to be afraid of having their personal shame plastered all over the National news. And how can Australia claim to have such a firm stance on violence against women if men can't even seek help for a problem without it being on the news and without the threat of a sentence that could quite possibly ruin or at least stunt his career.
I'm not picking fights with you all. And I'm not trying to make you hate Matt. When I first found out about poor Brooke, my family loyalty kicked in and I wanted to see him hurt. But after dealing with it and keeping it quiet for so long, I've had time to think and all I really want for him is for him to get help. I don't like him like I did the first Christmas he spent at Brooke's family home but I do wish him help.
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maggottv's journal
at the demise of Spewton
