NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Entertainment

Home and Away star Mat Stevenson opens up about harrowing ordeal

By Bronte Coy of news.com.au
news.com.au·
8 May, 2022 09:41 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Mat Stevenson. Photo / Screenshot

Mat Stevenson. Photo / Screenshot

Home And Away star Mat Stevenson has opened up about being "drugged and raped" as a teenager, revealing the harrowing details in a Channel 7 documentary.

During Sunday's episode of Spotlight: The Fame Game, Stevenson, 53, admitted he was "uncomfortable" talking about it, but had decided to speak out following the death of co-star and friend Dieter Brummer.

Brummer, pictured here with Home And Away co-star Melissa George, was found dead last year. Photo / Supplied
Brummer, pictured here with Home And Away co-star Melissa George, was found dead last year. Photo / Supplied

Brummer, best known for his role opposite Melissa George as Shane Parrish on Home And Away, was found dead in his home in July 2021 at the age of 45.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I'm a bit uncomfortable opening up about my life because not many people know about it, but if it's going to help someone, that whole notion of being vulnerable, then I'm all for it," Stevenson said.

"I was basically drugged and raped and dragged into a spa and thought I was going to drown, and then woke up naked somewhere.

"I was 18. And then I won my role in Neighbours the next day. I was a pretty fit guy back then too, but when you're paralysed there's nothing you can do."

The actor played Skinner on Neighbours between 1988-1989 before landing his breakout role as Adam Cameron on Home And Away.

Mat Stevenson played Adam Cameron for 10 years on Home And Away. Photo / Supplied
Mat Stevenson played Adam Cameron for 10 years on Home And Away. Photo / Supplied

Stevenson explained that, at the time, he "suppressed" the traumatic ordeal and instead "suffered in silence", with his emotions presenting themselves in "toxic behaviours" including drinking and gambling.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

After leaving Home And Away, he admitted he had "wanted to find the bottom" as quickly as he could.

"When you're backing slow racehorses and drinking a lot, they're two vices that'll get you where you want to go pretty quickly," Stevenson told the programme.

"And when I found the bottom, I rang my brother up to snip him for some cash, and he said, 'Aren't you tired of making sh*t decisions?' And I said, 'Yeah. I am, mate. I think I am'."

Years on, Stevenson now describes his life as "bloody good", but said that he'd felt compelled to speak out following Brummer's death.

"I got a bloody good life now," he says.

"My greatest role has been [as] a dad. I've come through it. So [Dieter's] death ripped my heart out and I just don't want to lose another bloke. So, if you're suffering, reach out is the message."

Last year, Stevenson made headlines after symbolically adopting his transgender daughter Grace Hyland's best friend Belle Bambi after she was allegedly rejected by her own father.

Hyland shared the news on TikTok, applauding her dad for being so understanding.

"He's always supported me, and he wants to support Bambi, too," Grace said. 'We're sisters now! My BFF's dad left because she's trans. So we did this!'

While the adoption is not legally binding, the certificate recognises Stevenson as Belle's "chosen dad".

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Stevenson has also been a huge ally and advocate for his daughter's transition, after she began identifying as a girl at age 12.

The actor told The Sunday Project in 2021 that given the high suicide rate among transgender teenagers he didn't want his daughter "to become one of those statistics".

"Sadly in this country, we have a really high adolescent suicide rate and it's a tragedy. Trans-adolescents are 36 times more likely to self-harm, to commit suicide," he said.

"There's a distinct correlation between lack of support and self-harm."

Grace has been open about her journey, saying she consulted doctors, psychologists and experts in the field for a year before commencing any physical treatment.

Where to get help

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
• If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone call the confidential crisis helpline Safe to Talk on 0800 044 334 or text 4334. (available 24/7)
• Male Survivors Aotearoa offers a range of confidential support at centres across New Zealand - find your closest one here.
• Mosaic - Tiaki Tangata: 0800 94 22 94 (available 11am-8pm)
• Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list.
If you have been abused, remember it's not your fault.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Entertainment

Entertainment

'Hate him': Paul Simon's daughter chastises Richard Gere, hopes her dead pets will haunt him

10 Jul 02:09 AM
Entertainment

Stay or leave? The most surprising Mafs couple switch-ups of 2025

10 Jul 02:00 AM
Entertainment

Horner's future with Halliwell unclear after Red Bull dismissal

10 Jul 12:37 AM

Get your kids involved in your reno

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Entertainment

'Hate him': Paul Simon's daughter chastises Richard Gere, hopes her dead pets will haunt him

'Hate him': Paul Simon's daughter chastises Richard Gere, hopes her dead pets will haunt him

10 Jul 02:09 AM

Lulu Simon says Richard Gere will demolish her childhood home after promising not to.

Stay or leave? The most surprising Mafs couple switch-ups of 2025

Stay or leave? The most surprising Mafs couple switch-ups of 2025

10 Jul 02:00 AM
Horner's future with Halliwell unclear after Red Bull dismissal

Horner's future with Halliwell unclear after Red Bull dismissal

10 Jul 12:37 AM
Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry reunite for family photos amid split

Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry reunite for family photos amid split

09 Jul 10:03 PM
Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper
sponsored

Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP