[ad_1]
Explosive rumours are emerging of private WhatsApp groups where Melbourne celebrities openly share photos of themselves attending drug-fuelled parties during the strict Covid lockdown.
A well-placed source claimed last week’s leaked video of Nadia Bartel snorting white powder was not an isolated example of a privileged Melburnian flouting the rules.
Many socialites and WAGs are said to be swapping videos of themselves engaging in illegal activity while millions of Victorians remain trapped in their homes.
Scroll down for video
Explosive rumours are emerging of private WhatsApp groups where Melbourne celebrities openly share photos of themselves attending drug-fuelled parties during the strict Covid lockdown. Pictured: Nadia Bartel, who breached lockdown on Thursday to attend a gathering at which she was filmed snorting white powder believed to be cocaine
The insider, who spoke to Daily Mail Australia on the condition of anonymity, said: ‘Lots of socialites are on the bags, holding illegal gatherings during lockdown and having drugs delivered to their door.’
‘These sorts of videos of celebrities behaving badly are doing the rounds everywhere – in private WhatsApp groups and Facebook chats. The fact this video leaked to the press and went public broke the code,’ they added.
Ms Bartel has apologised for flouting Melbourne’s lockdown by hosting a gathering on Thursday night at which she snorted white powder believed to be cocaine.
A well-placed source claimed last week’s leaked video (above) of Nadia Bartel snorting white powder was not an isolated example of a privileged Melburnian flouting the rules
Ms Bartel was recorded snorting the powder off a $1.50 Kmart plate in a video mistakenly shared to Instagram by her friend and business partner Ellie Pearson
Pearson had meant to sent the video to her sister, but due to a cracked phone screen posted it on social media by accident and didn’t delete it until 10 minutes later
She wrote on Instagram on Friday evening: ‘Hi everyone, I have let you all down by my actions. I take full responsibility and I am committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure I make better choices in future.
‘To my family and friends, my business partners and the public health workers trying to keep us all safe, I am embarrassed and remorseful.
‘I am truly and deeply sorry. I hope I can earn your forgiveness and, in time, your trust.’
An insider told Daily Mail Australia, ‘Lots of socialites are on the bags, holding illegal gatherings during lockdown and having drugs delivered to their door.’ Pictured: Nadia Bartel
She was recorded snorting the powder off a $1.50 Kmart plate in a video mistakenly shared to Instagram by her friend and business partner Ellie Pearson.
Pearson had meant to sent the video to her sister, but due to a cracked phone screen posted it on social media by accident and didn’t delete it until 10 minutes later.
But that was enough time for one of Nadia’s ‘frenemies’ – an enemy who falsely poses as a friend – to download it and send the damning footage to media outlets.
In the aftermath of the scandal, Nadia was dropped by one of her sponsors, vitamin brand JSHealth, for ‘not sharing the company’s values’.
She has also faced trolling on social media, partly for flouting the lockdown but also for snorting the powder off a cheap Kmart plate.
Police have spoken to Bartel about the video but no fines have yet been issued.
‘These sorts of videos of celebrities behaving badly are doing the rounds everywhere – in private WhatsApp groups and Facebook chats. The fact this video leaked to the press and went public broke the code,’ the source added
‘Victoria Police has made contact with a 36-year-old Windsor woman who is assisting with inquiries. As the investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time,’ a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
Private and public gatherings are not permitted in Melbourne, where Nadia lives, under Victoria’s Covid restrictions.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has warned Ms Bartel will receive no special treatment and expects she will be slapped with a $5,452 fine for breaching lockdown restrictions.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has warned Ms Bartel will receive no special treatment and expects she will be slapped with a $5,452 fine for breaching lockdown restrictions
Speaking at his Covid-19 update on Sunday, Mr Andrews compared the gathering to the infamous illegal engagement party held in North Caulfield last month, where police issued more than $300,000 in fines to the attendees.
‘My understanding that that matter would be treated no differently to the engagement party,’ he told reporters.
‘A number of people were doing the wrong thing.
‘It wasn’t a matter of breaching confidences and calling into question whether people tell us truth when they are contact tracing, and that is worth much more than any fine we might give out.’
‘This video is no different to the engagement party as it’s out there in the public domain and it would be anticipated that every single person at that house will be getting a $5,542 fine.
‘These really are decisions for the Chief Commissioner, but I would be absolutely certain he would want the law applied equally, regardless of whether you used to be related to a footballer.’
Ms Bartel (right) has since apologised for flouting Melbourne’s lockdown. She is pictured here with Ellie Pearson, the longtime friend who accidently posted the white-powder video online
‘I have let you all down by my actions. I take full responsibility and I am committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure I make better choices in future,’ Nadia wrote on Instagram on Friday
He added it was ‘everybody’s business’ and had an absolute expectation that people should be treated equally.
‘Otherwise it wouldn’t be fair, would it?’ Mr Andrews added.
‘For those people at that engagement party who have all been issued, as I understand it, except for the kids, they have all been issued with a $5,542 fine.’
He also fired a shot at Nadia’s father, Tony Coppolino, who was seen visiting his daughter at her home on Friday when Victoria recorded 208 coronavirus cases, the highest daily number in a year.
‘I also see on social media other people potentially visiting that house. No visits means no visits,’ Mr Andrews said.
Nadia is the ex-wife of retired AFL star Jimmy Bartel (right), a Brownlow Medallist who spent his career with the Geelong Cats. The couple split in 2019 after five years of marriage
[ad_2]
