Radio host Lauren Phillips has been slammed by SEN radio boss Craig Hutchison for defending her pal Matt Damon against claims he was paid to attend the Melbourne Cup Carnival earlier this month.
Damon surprised Derby Day racegoers after he and wife Luciana Barroso attended the Lexus Marquee as a guest of Philips and her aviation tycoon fiancé, Paul O’Brien, at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.
The actor’s appearance has since ruffled feathers, after Hutchison speculated on his The Sounding Board podcast that Damon was paid for his appearance.
According to Hutchison, Phillips later texted his co-host Damian Barrett to inform him that Damon ‘wasn’t paid a cent’ for his surprise appearance, before telling the radio mogul to ‘shut the beep up’.
Hutchison has since hit back at Phillips on his podcast, saying: ‘You’re not the first person to have a famous friend — yeah, we know you know Matt Damon. Well done, congratulations, you know a famous person.’
Radio host Lauren Phillips has been slammed by SEN radio boss Craig Hutchison for defending her pal Matt Damon against claims he was paid to attend the Melbourne Cup Carnival earlier this month. Left is Hutchison, right is Phillips and fiancé Paul O’Brien with Damon
‘You don’t need to reach out and remind us, as if you’re the PR flak defending whether he was or wasn’t paid,’ he ranted, before suggesting that Phillips is desperate to be associated with the Hollywood star.
‘Yeah, I know you’re in the shot, of course you’re in the shot, you don’t miss any shots,’ he said, presumably referring to photographs of Phillips posing with Damon and other A-listers including Chris Hemsworth’s wife Elsa Pataky and actress Pia Whitesell in The Birdcage.
Phillips, who lives in Byron Bay, was introduced to Damon by her neighbours the Hemsworths several years ago, and the gang are often spotted partying together whenever the Good Will Hunting star is in town.
Matt and Luciana Damon attended the Lexus Marquee during Derby as a guest of Lauren and her aviation tycoon fiancé, Paul O’Brien, at Flemington Racecourse (all pictured)
The actor’s appearance has since ruffled feathers, after Hutchison speculated on his The Sounding Board podcast that Damon was paid for his appearance. Lauren pictured at Derby Day alongside Barroso (centre) and Elsa Pataky (left)
It comes after Phillips bragged about her Derby Day celebrations with Damon and Barroso during her KIIS FM radio show Jase and Lauren.
‘A lot of people came [up] to [Damon]. But no, he’s a great sport. He’s happy to chat to anyone that wants to chat to him,’ Lauren said of the Oscar winner.
‘We didn’t walk around a lot. We got into Lexus marquee, and we pretty much stayed put,’ Lauren added.
According to Hutchison, Phillips later texted his co-host Damian Barrett to inform him that Damon ‘wasn’t paid a cent’ for his surprise appearance, before telling the radio mogul to ‘shut the beep up’
‘You don’t need to reach out and remind us, as if you’re the PR flak defending whether he was or wasn’t paid,’ he ranted, before suggesting that Phillips is desperate to be associated with the Hollywood star. (Pictured: Phillips rubbing shoulders with stars including Damon in The Birdcage)
The radio star confirmed The Bourne Identity star had no commercial agreement with Lexus, adding organisers had no idea he was her ‘guest’ on the day.
‘They [Matt and his wife] weren’t paid. They just came out. We had a bunch of friends [there],’ she confirmed.
‘They love the horses, and they love Melbourne, so I was excited.’
Lauren explained she gave the Hollywood lovebirds a tour of Melbourne, including restaurant Gimlet, one of the city’s ritziest eateries.
Lauren also took the pair to karaoke for a night out in the city.
READ MORE: Inside Matt and Luciana Damon’s secret whirlwind trip to Melbourne – and the very surprising cheap and cheerful restaurant they dined at while in town
