The former president of the Carlton Football Club, Luke Sayers, has issued an apology to his ex-wife, Cate Sayers, as her defamation case regarding a lewd photo has been settled. The apology was read in the Victorian Supreme Court on Friday, marking the closure of a painful chapter for both parties.
Apology and Settlement
During the court proceedings, barrister Sandip Mukerjea, representing Luke Sayers, stated:
“"I acknowledge the extreme hurt and harm caused to Cate Sayers by suggesting she posted or may have posted [the lewd photo]. I accept she did not do this. To the extent I may have suggested otherwise, I apologise unreservedly to her."
Cate Sayers had accused Luke Sayers of defaming her in a statutory declaration, which alleged that she accessed his X account and posted a photograph of his genitals in January 2025, tagging a female executive at Bupa. This declaration was sworn by Luke Sayers shortly after the controversial post, which was quickly deleted amid investigations by the AFL and Carlton.
Legal Proceedings
In May, Luke Sayers sought to transfer the case to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for a private hearing. However, Justice Andrew Watson denied this request in June, determining that the Supreme Court was the appropriate venue for a defamation claim. On Friday, the judge dismissed the proceedings and praised both parties for reaching a settlement, the specifics of which were not disclosed in court.
