Less than two months before Sam Wood was arrested and charged over alleged domestic violence offences, the former Bachelor contestant made a throwaway comment about what happens if his career goes “really pear-shaped.”
The Melbourne-based fitness entrepreneur, 46, was arrested on Saturday after Queensland Police received reports of alleged domestic violence at a Noosa property.
On Sunday, he was charged with the domestic violence offence of assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation in a domestic setting.
Before his arrest, Wood had been publicly open about the “pressures” that came with running a fitness empire and being responsible for the livelihoods of employees and customers.
In a video posted to Instagram on August 15, the former reality TV contestant and fitness entrepreneur spoke candidly to fellow founders about the “sleepless nights” that come with building a business and the challenges of “switching off”.
“The fact you never switch off even when it’s family time. It’s family slash founder time because there’s a little part of your brain always ticking away,” Wood said in the video.
“There’s the pressure of what if all of this crumbles and people lose their jobs, there’s people relying on me and there’s members all around Australia that are dependent on this program and what if it’s not there for them.”
He described entrepreneurship as offering “freedom”, “high risk, high reward” and “complete autonomy”, but said there were aspects of the business that were often “overlooked”.
“Now of course, I am speaking in hypothetical and things are going great, and it’s something I don’t take for granted ever, but there really is a side to being a founder that I think is often overlooked, particularly when you’re doing well, and particularity in Australia there’s a bit of tall poppy everyone sort of thinks, I don’t know, no one wants you to do well,” Wood said.
It was while reflecting on his career path that Wood made a throwaway comment about if his situation was to change.
“I was thinking the other day, I’ve never been to a job interview in my life and I never will, hopefully, touch wood, unless things go really pear-shaped,” he said.
Just weeks later, Wood’s professional life would come crashing down after he was “terminated” by his own company in the wake of the allegations.
DBG Health, the parent company of 28 by Wood, announced on Tuesday it had ended all commercial arrangements with him, effective immediately.
“Yesterday DBG Health announced Mr Wood had been placed on indefinite leave,” the company said in a statement on social media.
“As a result of further considerations, DBG Health has now terminated all arrangements.”
Wood and his wife, Snezana shared an identical statement on their social media accounts on Monday morning, addressing the situation on behalf of the family.
“This is a difficult time for all of us, we are working through this as a family and are thoroughly co-operating with the authorities,” a statement posted to their Instagram Story’s read.
It is understood Wood, Snezana and their daughters were staying at The Sebel on Hastings Street when police were called to the property about 9pm Saturday.
Wood has spent several nights in custody and is expected to apply for bail at Maroochydore Magistrates Court, with his lawyer Matthew Cuskelly confirming his client will defend the charges.
“He’s simply worried about his family. A bail application will be heard on Thursday,” Mr Cuskelly told AAP.
“The charges will be defended.”
Lifeline 13 11 14
If you or anyone you know is experiencing violence and abuse you can call the national 24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line on 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.
with AAP
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