Friend of Tess Crosley Condemns Media and Online Abuse in AFL Marriage Saga
A close friend of Tess Crosley, the woman linked to the Lachie Neale affair that led to the AFL star's marriage breakdown, has released a personal statement addressing the messy fallout, unfair media coverage, and severe online abuse Crosley has endured. Former journalist and PR consultant Lyall Mercer described the media scrutiny, including paparazzi photographs, as "unconscionable" and condemned the social media "vitriol" directed at her.
Personal Statement Highlights Emotional Toll and Privacy Invasion
In a post on LinkedIn, Mercer clarified that he is not representing Crosley or her family officially and is not being paid by any party. He explained, "I simply know Tess on a personal level and have seen the effects of recent media coverage on her." He noted that more than three months ago, a social media post from Jules Neale about her marriage brought intense public attention to both her family and Crosley, despite no one knowing the full details or facts behind the situation.
Since then, Mercer stated that Crosley has faced endless media coverage of her personal life, resulting in ongoing social media abuse, threats to her safety, and invasive public commentary. He emphasized, "This has – and continues to take – a significant emotional toll on her wellbeing and, by extension of that, her family." Mercer, who usually issues statements on behalf of others, called this one personal, urging the media to heed a wake-up call about the darker side of the story.
Criticism of Media Practices and Public Interest
Mercer pointed out that Crosley is not a public figure and criticized media outlets for paying photographers to follow her for over three months during daily activities such as going to the gym, shopping, and driving from Brisbane to the Gold Coast to visit family. He argued, "There is no public interest in pictures of her on the beach with her son or dropping off her son to his father." Each media article, he said, not only invades her privacy but also triggers more personal hatred and threats on social media, making her increasingly vulnerable.
Recently, it was reported that 30-year-old Crosley deactivated her Instagram account, which had been active just last week. Prior to this, she shared a series of selfies, including images in a low-cut white halter dress, captioned "as of late x". Speculation around her personal life has intensified, with social media comments likening her to "Monica Lewinsky #2". Crosley has not publicly responded to claims about her involvement in the Neale marriage breakdown.
Lachie Neale's Emotional Response and Broader Impact
At the end of March, Lachie Neale, a Brownlow medallist and premiership hero for the Brisbane Lions, shared a glimpse into his emotional state on Instagram. He posted a reflective update featuring moments with his children and a clip from the television series Peaky Blinders, captioned "Tommy x", referencing the main character Tommy Shelby. In the clip, Shelby asks love interest Grace Burgess to sing a sad song, with dialogue hinting at a broken heart, seemingly mirroring Neale's own emotional struggles post-separation.
Mercer concluded that there have been no winners since the news of the Neale affair became public, underscoring the widespread negative impact on all parties involved. The statement serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of media intrusion and online harassment in high-profile personal matters.
