The Daily Telegraph - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
Article from: The Sunday Telegraph
Hayes cleared but smeared
By Jonathon Moran
September 23, 2007

No charges ... Darren Hayes with Richard Cullen.

SINGER Darren Hayes has spoken for the first time about his humiliation after being arrested and accused of racism.

Speaking exclusively to The Sunday Telegraph, Hayes told how he believed he was singled out because of his celebrity status.

Hayes was arrested and released on bail last month after he was accused of racially abusing a doorman at London's Busaba Eathai restaurant on July 22.

After a month-long investigation, the former Savage Garden singer was officially cautioned yesterday but no charges were laid and police ruled out any notion of racism.

"I had a feeling of helplessness. I couldn't do anything and I felt humiliated actually," Hayes said.

"This would not have happened to me had I not been a famous person. One of the few negatives about being a public person is that you are open to allegations."

The police caution relates to section five of the Public Order Act, relating to disorderly behaviour.

"I had an argument with a rude door person," Hayes explained. "We didn't even get inside. It was a person of Afro-Caribbean decent. It wasn't an Asian or anything that the press reported and nor did it have any bearing on our behaviour."

The gay singer was with husband Richard Cullen when the incident occurred and has dined there regularly over the past four years.

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