The real drama of Melbourne: A court warrant and a Housewives casting secret

Former Real Housewives of Melbourne star Venus Behbahani-Clark isn’t usually one to miss her moment, but on Wednesday the former reality star failed to show up in court over the alleged theft of a mobile phone from her wannabe pop star sister, Rebekah Behbahani.

London-based Venus was charged with theft of the phone in January this year, but has now missed her past two court appearances in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, prompting Magistrate Michelle Hodgson to issue a bench warrant for her arrest.

Unlike her sister, Rebekah, who is engaged to billionaire Alex Waislitz, was in court for the case, which relates to a phone that Venus, sometimes known as Vanessa, says Rebekah gave to Venus’ daughter in late 2020.

The phone and its contents have been central to a bitter separate court battle between the now-estranged sisters. The device was seized amid a police probe into how photos of a nude celebrity ended up circulating online.

Venus told CBD when contacted on Thursday that as a legal practitioner she had the utmost respect for the court and would never knowingly fail to appear.

“I was deeply distressed to learn of a hearing of which I had no knowledge,” she said. “I have been residing in England and had no knowledge that this hearing had been listed or that my attendance was required. I am urgently clarifying what occurred, and I welcome the opportunity to
speak with Victoria Police.”

Venus first came to public attention as part of season four of The Real Housewives of Melbourne, which aired in 2017-2018. She was on the show for just one season.

The most recent season was released in 2021, but Foxtel confirmed on Thursday that it was bringing back the reality show franchise. The rebooted series is set to start filming next year.

OG housewife and Melbourne lawyer Gina Liano – famous for her bouffant hairstyle, bronzer and bling – is the first confirmed cast member of the new era.

Casting catch-ups and a chemistry test seeking to put together a new crop of housewives to join Liano have taken place in Melbourne in recent months. Among the well-known women to have taken part are Booby Tape founders Bianca and Bridgett Roccisano, clothing designer Nadia Bartel, style queen Rozalia Russian, cosmetic injector Alex Pike, model Lorinska Merrington and dating expert Lauren Hunter.

CBD hears another name sounded out by the casting team was none other than Rebekah Behbahani.

Silvagni parts ways with chemist giant

Former TV presenter Jo Silvagni has parted ways with one of her most high-profile commercial roles.

For the past decade Silvagni has been one of the biggest names in the team that fronted Chemist Warehouse’s Healthy Break infomercials. However, she has been noticeably absent from the TV and online video clips since December, when her son Tom was found guilty of rape.

Now Chemist Warehouse has confirmed it has quietly parted ways with the experienced media performer.

“Jo Silvagni has elected to step away from her role promoting the Healthy Break advertising and promotional materials with Chemist Warehouse,” a spokesperson told CBD.

A new member is expected to join the Healthy Break team later this year.

Silvagni, the wife of Carlton football great Stephen Silvagni and also mother of former Carlton player Ben and current St Kilda player Jack, has kept a low profile following youngest son Tom’s sentencing in December to six years’ jail, with a three-year and three-month non-parole period, after a jury found him guilty of two charges of rape.

The case played out over a two-week trial in the County Court, but it wasn’t until Tom’s conviction that it attracted wide public attention as his identity and that of his famous family had been previously suppressed. In January, the former AFL player agent filed an application to appeal his conviction.

The issue of suppression orders preventing identification of well-known individuals facing criminal charges has become a hotly debated one in Victoria off the back of the Tom Silvagni case and the more recent Ralph Carr case.

Premier Ben Carroll and Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny last month pledged to amend the state’s Open Courts Act to limit the use of suppression orders if Labor is re-elected in November.

Jo Silvagni, known as Jo Bailey before her marriage, was a TV presenter, including on game show Sale of the Century in the early 1990s and Seven News a decade ago.

Sayers stoush delayed

The much-anticipated latest chapter in the high-stakes legal fight between Luke Sayers and ex-wife Cate has been delayed.

Cate Sayers, a former Melbourne Fashion Festival board director, is suing Luke, a former Carlton Football Club president, for defamation over his handling of a lewd-photo scandal that erupted in January last year when an image of his penis popped up on his X account.

The photo disappeared from social media after 13 minutes, but it has led to an extraordinary legal battle.

The next chapter in the feud between the ex-couple was due to kick off in the Supreme Court on Friday, but on Thursday the hearing was adjourned until September 11, the same day as America’s NFL takes over the MCG with a historic match between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers.

It is going to be an action-packed day in Melbourne.

Dolly Parton still sparkles

Much has been written about the death of singer-songwriter and cultural force for good Dolly Parton last week – Jeff Kennett even called for the cancelled Daniel Andrews statue to be refashioned into a tribute to the US hitmaker.

But it would seem fans are also raising a toast to a marvellous life with Parton’s namesake wine.

CBD called Dan Murphy’s to see how stocks of the “fresh yet intriguingly elaborate” Dolly Parton Sparkling NV were going in the wake of her death.

“Across both Dan Murphy’s and BWS, we have seen a significant surge in demand for the Dolly Parton Sparkling NV, with sales exceeding 10 times our typical trended volume,” a spokesperson for Endeavour Group, which owns both chains, told us.

Here’s to you Dolly.