Former Carlton president Luke Sayers apologises in settled defamation case over lewd photo

Luke Sayers, the immediate past president of the Carlton Football Club and former PwC Australia chief executive, settled a defamation suit brought by his former wife, Cate Sayers, in the Victorian Supreme Court. During the hearing, Sayers, through barrister Sandip Mukerjea, acknowledged the severe harm caused by implying Cate had posted a lewd photograph of his genitals on his X account in January 2025 and offered an unreserved apology.

The claim arose from a statutory declaration Sayers filed after the controversial post was quickly removed and investigated by the AFL and Carlton. Justice Andrew Watson rejected Sayers' request to move the case to the Federal Circuit and Family Court, deeming the Supreme Court the proper venue, and later dismissed the proceedings after the settlement. While the exact settlement details remain private, Cate Sayers accepted the apology, stating it allowed her to move forward and that she had succeeded in establishing the truth. The case highlights the legal repercussions of public accusations and the scrutiny faced by high-profile sports administrators.