Todd Mckenney
His shock revelation cements a rift
Musical theatre star Simon Gallaher and his wife Lisa were “shocked and devastated” after her famous brother Todd Mckenney last week reignited a years-old family feud, revealing the shocking secret that caused the bitter rift. Todd, 53, was accused by his niece Gigi of “publicly outing” Simon, 59, after he revealed on a podcast he dated Simon for five years before his sister Lisa married him a year after they split.
OPEN SECRET
“It’s incredible that he could still be so bitter all these years later,” tells one close family friend, who says Simon’s former relationship with Todd has long been an “open secret” in showbiz circles, even though it came as a shock to fans and some older family members. “They met when Simon, who was a huge star at the time, was performing in the musical Pirates Of Penzance with Todd, who was at the time just a chorus boy. It was very messy when Simon ended it with Todd, who was heartbroken.” Simon married Todd’s older sister Lisa after “she swept him off his feet” and the couple went on to have three children – Saxon, Tyron and Gigi – and are still “utterly in love and devoted to each other” today.
This shocking family secret was only revealed last week after Todd opened up on the Word For Word podcast about his “weird relationship” with his sister.
WEIRD RELATIONSHIP
“I have a sister. She’s 11 months older than me. She married my ex-boyfriend. She’s still married to my ex-boyfriend but just has never mentioned it to me,” he said.
“It’s weird, isn’t it? I think this is the first time I’ve ever talked about it publicly. I went out with Simon for five years. It wasn’t a weekend fling at the drive-in. We split up and I went on with my life and he went on with his.”
Todd, who was a judge on Dancing With The Stars and is currently starring in the stage production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, went on to say he only found out his ex-lover was dating his sister when he saw a newspaper headline screaming “Simon’s love child”.
He also said on the podcast there were no hard feelings between him and Lisa but his shock revelation changed that, with “angry” Lisa posting on Facebook, “My brother is being a douche bag. We have to duck the fallout now. Selfish lying idiot.”
Simon attacked his brotherin-law on social media and
‘I went out with Simon for five years. It wasn’t a weekend fling’
declared his love for Lisa, “I have only one thing to say. Todd Mckenney is a Headline Whore. Shame on him. His sister on the other hand is the love of my life and wife of 31 years. I love her to the end of the world.”
When Woman’s Day contacted the Gallahers at their home in Tamborine Mountain, Queensland, last week, Simon declined to comment further, saying only he was shocked and upset Todd had used a past chapter of his life to garner some headlines.
FAMILY PAIN
Close friend and former Prisoner star Amanda Muggleton was dumbstruck Todd would do something that could cause so much pain for his own family.
“Why would someone who is doing so well, is so successful and should be so grateful for his talent and gift, do something this low and so deliberately hurtful to two of the dearest people I know...” she posted on Simon’s private Facebook page.
Simon and Lisa’s daughter Gigi, who lives in London and caught up with Todd there two months ago, also lashed out, telling Word For Word host Ben Norris “publicly outing someone is just wrong” and confirming she knew of her father and uncle’s relationship, but not all her family did.
A close family friend says Simon’s parents were not aware of his relationship with Todd until last week when the scandal erupted. “Lisa and Todd have never been close, but I think this really is the final straw for her.”