Channel 10 reporter involved in drunk driving incident
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Well-known Channel 10 journalist and presenter Natasha Exelby has found herself in hot water after being caught drunk driving and driving while suspended in Melbourne.
The incident serves as an important reminder to drive responsibly and for those who have been drinking to arrange alternative transport instead.
Exelby, 34, who fronted the Melbourne Magistrates' Court and escaped conviction after admitting her faults, was busted earlier for crashing her white Kia Cerato into a parked car along Orrong Rd in Toorak.
Two police officers detected alcohol during a preliminary breath test which reportedly showed she had a blood alcohol concentration of .220.
The journalist, who quit the morning show Studio 10, claimed she only drank 'two seltzers' and did not believe she was driving while suspended.
Regardless, Exelby took ‘full responsibility’ for her actions.
'It's no secret that I’ve suffered from major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder for many years,' she said.
'At the time of the incident, I was going through a very dark period with multiple medication changes.'
'Never in my life did I think I would be capable of what happened, but regardless of my mental health, my actions were shocking beyond words, and I take full responsibility.'
Exelby, who now works as a communications and media consultant, along with her defence lawyer Raj Malhotra claimed that a conviction would be detrimental to her career.
In September 2022, while speaking to host Tristian MacManus about R U OK? Day—a day of action dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and reminding people to ask 'Are you okay?' in support of those struggling in life—Exelby spoke emotionally about her mental health struggles on Studio 10.
She shared that she’d 'spent hours and hours' crying 'for no reason' and discussed the importance of R U OK? Day.
'I think R U OK? Day is so important. I've been deliberately pretty open with the fact that I've danced with the depression devil for 24 years,' Exelby said.
'I hope we don't just do this [talk openly about mental health] as a one-off.'
'Mental illness is an illness. If I have to have a day off because I have tonsillitis, I've got to have a day off because I'm fighting depression.'
'We've come a long way, but we've still got a long way to go.'
Exelby had also shared her battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after covering stories in Middle Eastern war zones.
She also opened up about her mental health on social media, saying she was on medication for major depression and had been in therapy for years.
'In a time when depression, anxiety and self-harm are at record highs, I thought it might be helpful to show that if you do feel like you're drowning, you are not alone,' Exelby wrote.
'I was diagnosed with major depression at 15 and [have] been on meds ever since and consistent psychiatric therapy and exercise.'
'You will never be fully cured, but I promise, there is light at the end of the tunnel…even if it's a long tunnel!'
'I hope that if you're reading this and feeling helpless or know someone who is, it will encourage you to get the help you deserve.'
In 2017, Exelby made headlines after getting caught daydreaming live on-air and fumbling with a pen during a live news broadcast.
'I think I probably owe a bit of that to Russell Crowe because when he tweeted about it, that's when it really tipped the viral scale,' she said.
Despite initially feeling 'pretty sick' about the clip that spread online and needing to turn off her phone due to multiple media requests from all over the world, she now acknowledges that the clip was a ‘bit of fun' as it made people smile.
If you, or anyone you know, need help with a mental health issue, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 for confidential support and advice.
Let us know your thoughts on this story below!
The incident serves as an important reminder to drive responsibly and for those who have been drinking to arrange alternative transport instead.
Exelby, 34, who fronted the Melbourne Magistrates' Court and escaped conviction after admitting her faults, was busted earlier for crashing her white Kia Cerato into a parked car along Orrong Rd in Toorak.
Two police officers detected alcohol during a preliminary breath test which reportedly showed she had a blood alcohol concentration of .220.
Natasha Exelby left Channel 10 last February. Image source: Instagram/@natashaexelby27.
The journalist, who quit the morning show Studio 10, claimed she only drank 'two seltzers' and did not believe she was driving while suspended.
Regardless, Exelby took ‘full responsibility’ for her actions.
'It's no secret that I’ve suffered from major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder for many years,' she said.
'At the time of the incident, I was going through a very dark period with multiple medication changes.'
'Never in my life did I think I would be capable of what happened, but regardless of my mental health, my actions were shocking beyond words, and I take full responsibility.'
Exelby, who now works as a communications and media consultant, along with her defence lawyer Raj Malhotra claimed that a conviction would be detrimental to her career.
In September 2022, while speaking to host Tristian MacManus about R U OK? Day—a day of action dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and reminding people to ask 'Are you okay?' in support of those struggling in life—Exelby spoke emotionally about her mental health struggles on Studio 10.
She shared that she’d 'spent hours and hours' crying 'for no reason' and discussed the importance of R U OK? Day.
'I think R U OK? Day is so important. I've been deliberately pretty open with the fact that I've danced with the depression devil for 24 years,' Exelby said.
'I hope we don't just do this [talk openly about mental health] as a one-off.'
'Mental illness is an illness. If I have to have a day off because I have tonsillitis, I've got to have a day off because I'm fighting depression.'
'We've come a long way, but we've still got a long way to go.'
Exelby had also shared her battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after covering stories in Middle Eastern war zones.
She also opened up about her mental health on social media, saying she was on medication for major depression and had been in therapy for years.
'In a time when depression, anxiety and self-harm are at record highs, I thought it might be helpful to show that if you do feel like you're drowning, you are not alone,' Exelby wrote.
'I was diagnosed with major depression at 15 and [have] been on meds ever since and consistent psychiatric therapy and exercise.'
'You will never be fully cured, but I promise, there is light at the end of the tunnel…even if it's a long tunnel!'
'I hope that if you're reading this and feeling helpless or know someone who is, it will encourage you to get the help you deserve.'
In 2017, Exelby made headlines after getting caught daydreaming live on-air and fumbling with a pen during a live news broadcast.
'I think I probably owe a bit of that to Russell Crowe because when he tweeted about it, that's when it really tipped the viral scale,' she said.
Despite initially feeling 'pretty sick' about the clip that spread online and needing to turn off her phone due to multiple media requests from all over the world, she now acknowledges that the clip was a ‘bit of fun' as it made people smile.
Let us know your thoughts on this story below!
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