Welcome to The Group Chat with Lucy Manly, where one of Australia’s most trusted society insiders delivers the gossip before it reaches the headlines
Fennell fronts court
Tom Fennell, dubbed the ‘Hugh Hefner of the east’, will contest allegations that he assaulted his socialite former girlfriend and damaged her property.
The 53-year-old private equity powerbroker appeared at Waverley Local Court on Thursday and formally pleaded not guilty to several domestic violence-related charges, including four counts of assault.
The alleged victim is 21-year-old Mackenzie Bridgewood, who was involved in a whirlwind relationship with Fennell that included first-class trips to Paris and Switzerland. The pair separated in June.
Court documents allege the incidents took place in Bellevue Hill between November 16 last year and October 30 this year.
Tom Fennell (right, with his lawyer Paul McGirr) will contest allegations that he assaulted his socialite former girlfriend Mackenzie Bridgewood and damaged her property
Fennell is accused of causing Ms Bridgewood actual bodily harm on two occasions. A further charge alleges he intentionally or recklessly damaged property belonging to her.
Ms Bridgewood reported the allegations to Maroubra Police Station last month.
On November 1, Fennell was granted bail and allowed to remain at his multimillion-dollar Bellevue Hill mansion, despite opposition from prosecutors.
During the bail hearing, the court was told Ms Bridgewood was pregnant with her second child, although the baby’s paternity had not been established.
The Group Chat understands Fennell, who has children with his former wife Vanessa Jacobs Fennell, denies being the baby’s biological father.
Fennell has engaged prominent criminal barrister Paul McGirr to defend him against the serious allegations.
Mr McGirr told the court on Thursday that he expected a future hearing to last one day, with June 29 next year set aside for the matter.
The case will return to court for a readiness mention on May 20. Fennell has been excused from attending that hearing.
Fennell is accused of causing Ms Bridgewood actual bodily harm on two occasions (left), while another charge alleges he intentionally or recklessly damaged property belonging to her
Fennell has previously made headlines for his lavish lifestyle, including a reported ‘Playboy Mansion’ themed 50th birthday party in 2023.
‘He’s always in trouble’
Fredrik ‘Freddie’ Blencke, the private wealth adviser whose personal life has often been turbulent, appeared at the Downing Centre this week. This time, however, he was not the person facing an accusation.
The Swedish-born founder of Cape Horn Capital returned to court on Wednesday for the outcome of an AVO application taken out to protect him. His former barrister, John Korn, had famously conceded before Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge in 2022 that Blencke’s ‘out-of-control behaviour is something that needs to be addressed’.
The application, filed by Constable Lachlan Bullen on Freddie’s behalf against Nazanin Sabzouri, was withdrawn and dismissed before Judge Susan Horan.
Nazanin, a Sydney property agent whose surname has also appeared as ‘Sabzpouri’ and ‘Sabzpoori’, did not attend court.
The court confirmed that three domestic violence charges had been associated with the AVO proceedings: stalking or intimidation, common assault, and destroying or damaging property valued at less than $2,000.
Those charges were withdrawn and dismissed on August 6 before then-Magistrate Milledge, now a judge.
Freddie and Nazanin are pictured during happier times. The Telegraph reported in 2022 that the society banker was ‘in a good place’ with the ‘down to earth’ mother of two
Nazanin declined to comment by phone on Thursday morning about the withdrawn charges and AVO application, but confirmed that her relationship with Freddie had ended
Freddie and Nazanin were previously a couple. In 2022, The Telegraph reported that the society banker was ‘in a good place’ with the ‘down to earth’ mother of two.
That domestic calm did not last.
Contacted by phone on Thursday morning, Nazanin declined to discuss the withdrawn charges or the withdrawn AVO application.
She did, however, confirm that the relationship was over.
‘Not with him… I have nothing to do with him,’ she said. ‘He’s in trouble all the time.’
Freddie was approached for comment through his solicitor.
Before his relationship with Nazanin, Freddie was married to socialite Annabelle Price. They separated in 2020 after a turbulent marriage that became the subject of court proceedings.
He was cleared in 2022 of assault allegations and of breaching an AVO, having consistently maintained his innocence.
Freddie and Annabelle were once prominent figures in Sydney’s high society, marrying in a lavish 2018 ceremony at Maison des Polytechniciens in Paris.
Following their split, Annabelle began dating investment banker Tom Fennell — the same man mentioned earlier.
She died by suicide at her Maroubra apartment in March this year.
All for a second-row seat
New-money socialite Laura Hazzouri has reportedly ruffled feathers again, this time with her ‘carry-on’ at last week’s Chanel cruise show in Sydney.
Several guests at the supposedly exclusive fashion event were unimpressed by the mother of three, who is from Dubbo and married property developer and AFR Rich Lister Charbel Hazzouri. One guest criticised what they described as her ‘ridiculous’ behaviour in pursuit of a second-row seat.
‘She had a string of personal photographers capturing her every move, all for a seat in the second row,’ the guest said.
Apparently, one photographer was not enough. Laura is said to have brought along a small glam team, including a videographer, make-up artist and hairdresser. She also reportedly booked a hotel room, despite living only 15 minutes from the venue.
One photographer even boasted that he shot and edited her content within an hour, allowing her to publish it during peak viewing time. The aim, it seems, was to ensure Instagram engagement did not fade before her Chanel look appeared online.
New-money socialite Laura Hazzouri (left) has reportedly ruffled feathers again, this time with her ‘carry-on’ at last week’s Chanel cruise show in Sydney
Several guests were unimpressed by the mother of three, with one criticising what they described as her ‘ridiculous’ efforts to secure a second-row seat
One photographer boasted that he shot and edited Laura’s content within an hour so she could publish it during peak viewing time
‘There were people in the front row who quietly sat there, admired the fashion and supported the brand, without the theatrics that seemed to accompany this overhyped fashion event,’ the guest said.
Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie and DJ Dom Dolla led the A-list arrivals, while a number of well-known Australian fashion and society figures also attended.
But Laura’s apparent determination to record every moment became the main topic of conversation, with another guest questioning the extent of her social media updates.
‘I’m confused. Margot and Nicole didn’t feel compelled to give us an insight into what colour briefs they were wearing, so why does Laura from Dubbo feel the need to? Or think anyone cares to know?’
Others seen among the guests included Sarah Lucas, wife of Melbourne restaurateur Chris Lucas and one of Chanel’s biggest Australian spenders; the so-called ‘Queen of the Birdcage’, Jaimee Belle Kennedy; Paddington interior designer Tamsin Johnson; and socialites Stephanie May and Kate Champion.
Baby mamas at peace
Birthday celebrations are plentiful within hospitality heavyweight Justin Hemmes‘ complicated family circle.
Only a fortnight after the Merivale billionaire hosted a lavish 30th birthday celebration for his second baby mama, Madeleine Holtznagel, at his expansive Narooma ranch, his first baby mama, Kate Fowler, was celebrating her partner’s milestone.
The Kiwi beauty and mother of two recently hosted an elegant 40th birthday party for her partner, David Oettlé, surrounded by their close circle of friends.
The couple are famously private and have been together since around 2020, keeping their relationship largely away from public attention.
Kate Fowler, Justin Hemmes’ former partner (pictured together in November 2016), recently hosted an elegant 40th birthday celebration for her partner David Oettlé
Kate, the older sister of model Georgia Fowler, ended her three-year relationship with the billionaire pub baron in 2018. They share daughters Alexa and Saachi.
It is not known whether Kate attended Maddie’s country-themed birthday celebration, or whether Madeleine was invited to David’s party. However, I’m told the two couples remain on friendly terms.
The blended family has even holidayed together, suggesting their private relationships are considerably more amicable than the usual baby-mama drama might suggest.
Artificial, unintelligent
Some days, this column barely needs to write itself, particularly when Sydney’s social set continues to produce this kind of bizarre behaviour.
Today’s example is a very public Kashaya Williams AI controversy.
The disgraced florist posted a series of heavily altered selfies on social media. Judging by the reaction, a little less artificial intelligence and a little more reality may have been welcome.
‘She has completely AI’d herself – does she think her followers don’t have eyes? She does not look like that and never has,’ an eastern suburbs socialite told me.
‘The first image was supposedly taken while she was holidaying up north on Hamilton Island. How she can afford that, I have absolutely no idea.’
Perhaps she has been relying on the hospitality of her new-money millennial friends. Kashaya is reportedly often seen third-wheeling influencer Elle Salagaras and her investment banker husband, Lucas.
Disgraced florist Kashaya Williams (centre, apparently) posted a series of heavily altered selfies on social media, prompting calls for a little less AI and a little more reality
‘She has completely AI’d herself – does she think her followers don’t have eyes? She does not look like that and never has,’ an eastern suburbs socialite said. (Left, Kashaya as she appears on Instagram; right, Kashaya when I photographed her in real life)
It is an eye-catching social circle, given Kashaya’s well-documented legal history.
She was pushed to the margins of Sydney society after the NSW Supreme Court found in 2020 that she had used a forged letter to secure ownership of her late grandfather’s home during a bitter inheritance dispute.
The former wedding planner later filed for bankruptcy, was involved in a traffic incident and was rumoured to have been evicted from her Double Bay home over alleged unpaid rent.
None of that, however, appears to have diminished Kashaya’s appetite for luxury — or her apparent willingness to embrace a Claude-assisted makeover.