The Wiggles sued by former CEO in lawsuit
Long-standing children’s band The Wiggles are being sued by their former CEO, Luke O’Neill.
The Guardian reports that the former Wiggles CEO has claimed that Blue Wiggle, real name Anthony Field, “undermined him” in front of other staff. He also alleged that Field excluded him from a meeting with Kmart when discussing the potential sale of Wiggles toys.
O’Neill is officially suing Wiggles Holdings Pty Ltd, Field, and general counsel Matthew Salgo for not being paid a bonus for his work, and for other alleged breaches of the Fair Work Act.
O’Neill’s documents show a long list of reported complaints. After he began the role of CEO on January 8th, he complained numerous times about actions taken by Field, such as hiring a nephew, Luke Field, to work on the show, hiring a director from New Zealand, and approving costs for air travel on “numerous occasions” for a friend of his daughter.
As such, Field also allegedly tried to implement a bonus plan for a friend and for the boyfriend of Field’s daughter. O’Neill consequently had an issue with Field’s “determination to implement, without approval and in contrast with the usual employee bonus scheme which was 15% of base salary paid.”
Around July 15th, O’Neill also reports that he was let go unfairly, a dismissal which he says is adverse action under the Fair Work Act, as there was no reasonable basis to let him go following positive reviews from the Wiggles’ directors. In his eyes, he had increased the Wiggles’ business from $2m in FY23 to a forecasted $6.5 to $7m for FY25.
He also filed a complaint against a bonus he received in the sum of $86,266, which is less than the amount expected.
A first case management hearing will take place on September 8th.
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