His now-defunct production company, Stripe Studios, reportedly owed the Baywatch star money after filming a
series in New Zealand in 2023.
The series became stuck in post-production after the collapse, with creditors owed more than $20 million across various projects.
NZ Herald Media Insider, Shayne Currie has spent years following the Alex Breingan story. He told The Front Page UK-born Breingan has relocated to Los Angeles leaving a trail of failed projects in his wake.
“Alex left New Zealand in 2024, just as the Serious Fraud Office had started investigating just how he was financing, funding, and receiving funds for 13 shows.
“He’s been out in Los Angeles since, and I’ve tracked him down to Hollywood, where he has tried to establish himself in the TV and film industry.
“He was married in New Zealand to former TV3 reporter and now very well-known Instagram personality, the ‘One Handed Baker’ aka Rachel Hart.
He is now living with a woman in Los Angeles called Darci Penn, who’s a part-time administrator.
“I’ve painted a picture for the Media Insider column of his new life. It’s quite an upmarket life he’s living, in an upmarket suburb in the Santa Market foothills,” he said.
Last week, Hart posted on her ‘onehandedbaker’ Instagram profile her “definition of a narcissist” along with an account of what she said transpired in 2024, ahead of his move to LA.
In response to one follower’s message of support, Hart wrote: “Don’t worry, you couldn’t pay me to take him back. She’s very welcome to him!”.
Read more about Shayne’s investigation into Breingan.
Listen to the full episode to hear more about:
- Breingan’s disputed credits
- Hollywood connections
- The NZ Screen Production Rebate
- Where audiences can see David Hasselhoff travel NZ.
The Front Page is a daily news podcast from the New Zealand Herald, available to listen to every weekday from 5am. The podcast is presented by Chelsea Daniels, an Auckland-based journalist with a background in world news and crime/justice reporting who joined NZME in 2016.
You can follow the podcast at iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
