A ready-made meal company has ended its partnership with fitness influencer and former The Bachelor star Sam Wood after he was accused of assaulting his wife.
Wood is expected to remain in custody for several nights before applying for bail on Thursday, following his weekend arrest on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
The 46-year-old Melbourne man was arrested after police received reports of an incident at a Noosa property on Saturday night, where he was holidaying.
Police charged him on Sunday with assault occasioning bodily harm in a domestic violence context, as well as strangulation in a domestic setting.
Wood was indefinitely stood down on Monday by the online fitness business he fronts, with another of his commercial partnerships now also ending.
Foxes Den announced on Monday that it was terminating its partnership with 28 by Sam Wood “effective immediately”.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the charges involving Sam Wood,” the company said in a statement posted to Instagram.
“While this matter is before the courts, we’ve made the decision to step away from this partnership.”
Sam Wood has been dropped from his partnership with meal supplier Foxes Den
The family-run company issued a statement on Monday night
Wood’s lawyer, Matthew Cuskelly, confirmed he would seek bail after the case was mentioned in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.
“He’s simply worried about his family. A bail application will be heard on Thursday. The charges will be defended,” Mr Cuskelly said.
Foxes Den was founded in 2011 by the Dyt and Mims families and operates from Melbourne.
The pre-packaged meal company had partnered with 28 by Sam Wood for six years.
The Wood family addressed the charges in a statement shared on social media on Monday.
Posted to Wood’s 253,000 Instagram followers, the message said the family was “working through this”.
“This is a difficult time for all of us,” the statement said.
“We are working through this as a family and are thoroughly co-operating with the authorities.”
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The company makes ready-made meals focused on clean eating
His wife, Snezana, whom he met on The Bachelor, also shared the statement on social media in her first public comment since the arrest.
Wood earned a national profile as a star of The Bachelor’s third season in 2015, going on to found his successful home fitness business, ’28 By Sam Wood’.
He sold it in 2022 but remained the face of the online platform.
The charges are allegations only and are yet to be tested in court.
The wellness businesses behind the platform on Monday said Wood had been stood down indefinitely following the charges.
‘DBG Health, the parent company of 28 by Sam Wood, has zero tolerance for domestic violence,’ a DBG Health spokesperson said.
‘While the matter is under investigation and before the court, Sam Wood is on indefinite leave from his duties. Our thoughts are with the family and anyone in the community affected by domestic violence.’
Mark Watkins, 28 Group’s Chief Operating Officer, would be leading the business in Wood’s absence, it said.
Wood with the Foxes Den co-founders Hayden and Heidi Dyt at their Melbourne factory
‘We have all been shocked and saddened by the matters involving Sam Wood,’ Mr Watkins said in a separate statement posted across the fitness and nutrition business’s social media platforms on Monday.
Queensland Police on Monday confirmed Wood was charged after officers received reports of alleged domestic violence and attended a Hastings Street address about 9pm on Saturday.
Wood did not appear in court when his matter was heard on Monday.
It was adjourned until Thursday for the bail application.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491