Former Carlton president Luke Sayers allegedly claimed to the AFL that his estranged wife, Cate Sayers, was “mentally disturbed” and battled bipolar disorder to distance himself from a scandal involving a lewd image.
Allegations in Court Documents
Court documents filed in Victoria’s Supreme Court outline Cate Sayers’ defamation lawsuit against her ex-husband. She contends he falsely accused her of accessing his X account without permission and posting a photograph of his penis in January 2025.
The filings assert that Sayers shared details of her private life, including sexual history and medical information, to depict her as unstable, untrustworthy, erratic, and a potential risk to herself. Cate Sayers seeks damages for the emotional distress, hurt, and embarrassment resulting from these statements.
Background of the Explicit Image Incident
The controversy began in January 2025 when an explicit image briefly appeared on Sayers’ X account, tagging a senior Bupa executive. The post vanished after about 15 minutes, with Sayers attributing it to a hack.
The AFL Integrity Unit investigated and concluded Sayers bore no responsibility for the post and violated no rules. He subsequently resigned as Carlton president. Sayers also served as chief executive of PwC Australia.
Family Support and Legal Status
Sayers has yet to file a defense in the case, and his spokesman declined to comment.
In January, two of the couple’s four daughters, Bronte and Claudia Sayers, issued a joint statement affirming their support for their father and their readiness to provide evidence in his defense.
