Winners & Losers star Paul Moore suspended from teaching after ugly spat with ex-wife Sarah Grace
Winners & Losers star Paul Moore has been suspended from teaching after sending a fake email to parents at his ex-wife’s drama school.
Moore played Wes Fitzpatrick in the TV show from 2011 to 2016 alongside his then-wife Sarah Grace, who played his on-screen wife Bridget Gross.
Since the show ended, he has appeared on streaming TV shows and taught acting at Moore Acting Instinct.
However, the Victorian Institute of Teaching temporarily suspended its teaching registration on Thursday, according to its register of disciplinary action.
Paul Moore pictured himself with his ex-wife and former co-star Sarah Grace when they were on Winners & Losers together
It is not suggested that his suspension was related to the fake email and the ensuing defamation case, and the reasons for that are unclear.
Moore wrote a cryptic Facebook post after the suspension was issued before deleting it.
Everything happens for a reason in life. What’s the lesson? Learn from it and move on. Time to recharge! Even more difficult!!! Haters will hate,” it read.
Moore and Grace started acting school Mooregrace in 2006, funded in part by the $48,000 he won on Deal Or No Deal in 2007.
He also proposed to Grace on the game show.
But after their marriage ended in 2016 and he left the school, which is still run by Grace alone, he hacked into the school’s email account.
Since the show ended, he has appeared on streaming TV shows and taught acting at Moore Acting Instinct, but he is now banned from teaching
Moore and Grace started acting school Mooregrace in 2006, funded in part by the $48,000 he won on Deal Or No Deal in 2007
Moore’s bogus email, which was sent to the school’s full contact list, falsely claimed that one of the staff had engaged in “inappropriate conduct” with a student.
“We are shocked and upset,” read the September 2016 email, which claimed that a parent with a long association with the school made the complaint.
‘Although we support all our teachers, we take these complaints very seriously.
‘I can assure you [the teacher] will no longer work at Mooregrace until we have all the answers.
“It’s a very sad day for Mooregrace, ashes [the teacher] is loved by many of our students and staff.’
Grace and the falsely accused teacher sued Moore in 2017 for defamation, claiming the email was a deliberate attempt to damage the school’s reputation.
Moore admitted to sending the email at the time, claiming he was provoked and wanted to “scare” the teacher into taking him seriously.
But after their marriage ended in 2016 and he left the school, which is still run by Grace alone, he hacked into the school’s email account.
Grace has sons Jack, 4, and Leo, 1, with her boyfriend of five years Adamo Di Biase and spoke about her joy of being a mom last year
The email was sent at a time when Moore’s marriage and professional life were falling apart and he was struggling with anxiety.
“I’ve learned to let go of toxic negative thoughts and am now slowly trying to rebuild my life,” he said at the time.
Moore said he was “totally ashamed” of his actions and resolved the matter with Grace.
Grace said at the time that she filed the lawsuit to clear the name of the school and that of the falsely accused teacher.
“While (Moore’s) has done some things that are really hurtful, I want the best for him,” she said. The lawsuit was later dropped.
Grace continued to run the school in Geelong, now called Grace Acting Studios, which employs 16 staff and taught hundreds of students.
She has sons Jack, 4, and Leo, 1, with her boyfriend of five years Adamo Di Biase and spoke about her joy in being a mother last year.