The former CEO of a peak industry body has fought back against a Daily Mail article which he says falsely reported that he stalked Australian reality TV star Simone Holtznagel.
Benjamin Reeves, 59, has hit the Dailymail with a defamation suit in the Federal Court over a September 2022 article which alleged he stalked Ms Holtznagel and had an apprehended violence order taken out against him by another woman.
Ms Holtznagel rose to fame on Australia's Next Top Model. She has modelled for Bras N Things, Playboy and Guess and has appeared on a number of reality TV programs including SAS Australia and I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!
Reeves was CEO of the Australian Association of Graduate Employers until he was terminated when the article was published.
He has been charged with one count of stalk/intimidate and an AVO application made by police on behalf of Ms Holtznagel, although these cases are still ongoing.
Reeves claims the Daily Mail article falsely reported he was subject to an AVO by the unnamed woman for two years and that he was guilty of separately stalking her and Ms Holtznagel.
He said the report destroyed his reputation, leading to him losing his job at the AAGE.
"(Reeves) had held the CEO role for the last 16 years and expected to continue in this role until his retirement," he wrote in a statement of claim filed with the Federal Court.
The article was shared around the 375 members of the AAGE, which included large corporations and the state and federal governments, preventing him from finding a job at these entities, he said.
Reeves also claimed he was asked to leave his triathlon training club after its members felt uncomfortable with his presence there.
"(Reeves) has been gravely injured in his character, his personal reputation, and his professional reputation, and has suffered and will continue to suffer substantial hurt, distress and embarrassment," he wrote.
He is seeking damages including aggravated damages from Dailymail.Com Australia, including any financial losses caused by his termination as CEO, and his legal costs.
He has also asked the court for orders permanently restraining the Daily Mail from publishing the allegedly defamatory material.
The Daily Mail declined to comment on the defamation suit, which has yet to come before the Federal Court.
A hearing for the criminal matter against Reeves has been scheduled on June 15 at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court.
