An Australian influencer has launched a scathing attack on Sam Wood’s lawyer, Mathew Cuskelly, after he told a court the former Bachelor star’s professional reputation was taking “a hell of a beating” amid domestic violence charges.
Cuskelly made the comment during Wood’s bail hearing at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday.
While arguing that his client should be allowed to seek professional support, the lawyer said Wood needed access to mental health professionals in an effort to protect his career and rebuild his public standing.
“Mr Wood’s depression is regarded as extremely severe,” Cuskelly told the court, referring to an affidavit from forensic psychologist Professor Ian Coyle.
“He ought to be given the chance to engage with mental health professionals to try to salvage something of his professional reputation and career, which is taking a hell of a beating at the moment.”
Lauren, who runs the maternal mental health account Mental as a Mother, condemned the language in a blistering video shared with her followers. She accused the defence of drawing attention away from the alleged victim and towards the possible impact of the charges on Wood’s career.
An Australian influencer has criticised Sam Wood’s lawyer, Mathew Cuskelly, after he said the former Bachelor star’s professional reputation was taking “a hell of a beating” while he faces domestic violence charges.
Lauren, who runs the maternal mental health account Mental as a Mother, accused the defence of shifting focus from the alleged victim to the potential damage to Wood’s career in a scathing video shared online.
“Are we actually f**king serious with this s**t?” she began.
“Sam Wood’s lawyer is apparently concerned that his client’s professional reputation has taken a hell of a beating. A hell of a beating. Those are the actual words that he chose to use.
“Because apparently the great tragedy that we’re all being invited to consider here is the damage to a man’s personal brand. Won’t someone think of the brand partnerships?”
Lauren, who said she has a background in communications and crisis communications, argued that the defence appeared to be trying to shape the public narrative surrounding the case.
“But words matter. Once again, the person who’s suffering that you centre in a story matters.”
She went on to criticise what she described as a recurring pattern in public discussions about alleged violence against women, in which attention turns to the accused man’s professional consequences.
“And I’m so f**king tired of watching public conversations about men’s violence against women become conversations about the future of men’s careers,” she said.
Lauren stressed that her comments were directed at the wording used in court, not at Wood’s right to legal representation or a fair trial. She said she was not arguing that anyone should be denied due process.
Lauren, who said she has a background in communications and crisis communications, suggested the defence was attempting to influence the public narrative. “But words matter. Once again, the person who’s suffering that you centre in a story matters,” she said.
However, she was particularly troubled by the lawyer’s use of the phrase “taking a beating” while representing a client charged with strangulation.
“If you’re going to publicly defend a man in the context of (alleged) domestic violence, perhaps don’t reach for a metaphor about his reputation taking a f**king beating,” she said.
Her post was applauded by many of her followers, one of whom wrote: ‘I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one that saw this and had the same thought.’
‘So f**king angry about this,’ another raged.
Wood, 46, was denied bail on Thursday and will remain behind bars after his arrest on Saturday night when police were called to La Mer on Hastings Street where the couple were staying with their three children, and Wood’s stepdaughter Eve, 21.
Sgt Grigoris told the bail hearing that Eve called Triple Zero and ‘referred to the victim having been choked’.
Sgt Grigoris said Snezana, 45, had not made a formal statement to police but had given a version of events of what happened in a video recording.
It is alleged a row broke out as the couple were packing their belongings to return home to Melbourne, and Snezana was pushed into a wardrobe before Eve intervened.
Wood was denied bail and remanded in custody until November 23. He has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm in a domestic violence context and strangulation in a domestic setting following an alleged incident involving his wife, Snezana, (right) during a family holiday in Noosa
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Eve told Wood to stop shouting, prompting him to approach her ‘aggressively’ before Snezana tried to get between them, the court heard.
Wood is then alleged to have put his hands around Snezana’s throat and forced her to the floor, where he pinned her down and banged her head on the floor, leaving her unable to breathe.
She told police she thought ‘this was it… her life was going to end’. She said she thought Wood was ‘going to kill her’, the court heard.
The prosecutor told the court Snezana was now living in fear of retribution from the former Bachelor star.
She told police Wood was ‘volatile and prone to angry outbursts’, and said she had to ‘walk on eggshells around him’.
She told police the alleged attack ended only when one of the children called out.
The court was shown photographs of her alleged injuries and was told Snezana supported the criminal charges against Wood
‘The complainant and her children returned to Victoria the following morning,’ said Sgt Grigoris.
Wood asked to be bailed to an address in Victoria, but Sgt Grigoris said that would increase his risk of failing to appear when the matter returned to court as he had no ties to Queensland
‘However, police are in possession of the video recorded statement. In my submission, it’s strong evidence in terms of the offence.’
Sgt Grigoris said Wood had made ‘partial admissions’ in a record of interview, including referring to an argument in the bedroom.
‘He’s essentially victim-blaming in my submission,’ she said.
Wood’s solicitor Cuskelly said his client denied strangling or assaulting his wife.
The court heard Wood may rely on self-defence if domestic violence charges over an alleged attack on his wife go to trial.
Cuskelly said it would be alleged stepdaughter Eve was being hostile, Snezana approached Wood, and he pushed her away.
‘My client may indeed be entitled to a self-defence argument,’ Cuskelly said. These are matters that need to be further explored.’
While a paramedic had made a statement there was an injury to the left side of Snezana’s head, Cuskelly said two tendered photographs did not show that injury.
The lawyer added: ‘He repeatedly denied that this had occurred. Where’s the injuries to her throat? They’re not there.
‘My client denies committing these offences.
‘He’s never been before the courts before. He’s a businessman [and] Mr Wood’s depression is regarded as extremely severe.’
Wood asked to be bailed to an address in Victoria, but Sgt Grigoris said that would increase his risk of failing to appear when the matter returned to court as he had no ties to Queensland.
Sgt Grigoris said the most important factor when determining whether or not to grant Wood bail was the safety and protection of Snezana and their children.
Wood founded fitness and training business 28 by Sam Wood, which he sold for $71million to DBG Health in 2022 while remaining the face of the online platform under its new owner.
DBG Health quickly distanced itself from Wood on Monday, stating it had ‘zero tolerance’ for domestic violence. On Tuesday, the company cut all ties with Wood.
The entrepreneur married Snezana in an outdoor ceremony in Byron Bay on the NSW north coast in 2018.
The Woods live in Brighton, a coastal suburb in Melbourne where they recently bought a $7million home.