‘Appalling’: My Kitchen Rules star pleads guilty to child cruelty

A former contestant on My Kitchen Rules has had rape and other historical abuse charges dropped, and has been released into the community after pleading guilty to cruelty to children.Claudean Uamaki-Mu was facing several charges, including 12 counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and assaults occasioning bodily harm. But she was discharged of those counts.She instead pleaded guilty to two counts of cruelty to children under 16 on Monday morning.Chief Judge Brian Devereaux described Uamaki-Mu’s offending as appalling during her sentencing in the District Court.Uamaki-Mu appeared alongside her partner, Anthony Mu, on the popular cooking reality show aired on Channel 7 in 2023.Former My Kitchen Rules contestants Anthony Mu and Claudean Uamaki-Mu leave Brisbane Supreme Court on August 31, 2026.Cloe ReadThe Queensland couple were promoted on the network as a “fiery Italian and a super-chill Samoan with hearts of gold” when they appeared on the show.Their identities were suppressed by a non-publication order in the earlier stages of their court proceedings, until it was lifted last year.Supporters, including Mu, filled the public gallery. The two complainants also sat in the court, and were emotional at times.One of the complainants read her victim statement to the court, detailing how she suffered from flashbacks, severe panic attacks and chronic insomnia.“Once I was in consistent therapy, I was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder … the symptoms of my diagnosis prevent me from working,” she said through tears.“This is because every day of my life I experience flashbacks and intrusive memories of the harm that occurred.“I live in a constant state of always feeling on edge and watching for danger.”Claudean Uamaki Mu and Anthony Mu were contestants on cooking show My Kitchen Rules.Crown Prosecutor Luke Smoothy read a victim impact statement from the other complainant. She detailed how the offending had reached every aspect of her life.She said she had developed an eating disorder, and became dependent on alcohol to escape anxiety.Barrister Simon Lewis, representing Uamaki-Mu, said the case was not one where his client presented as a danger to the community.He listed several jobs where Uamaki-Mu had worked, including as a carer for disadvantaged children, school chaplain, and volunteer chaplain at Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre.He submitted his client should receive up to two years imprisonment, but would be suspended, meaning she would not face any actual time in custody.The court heard Uamaki-Mu previously pleaded guilty to six counts of historical common assault.In sentencing, Chief Judge Brian Devereaux described the offending as criminal.“What’s appalling is that you treated them the way you did. It’s criminal,” he said.Husband and wife Claudean Uamaki-Mu and Anthony Mu were contestants on Channel Seven’s My Kitchen Rules.The court heard Uamaki-Mu’s childhood was marked by violence, and she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.Devereaux said psychology reports showed Uamaki-Mu had appeared to genuinely show remorse.“There is no escaping that you have left a trail of misery for [the complainants],” he said.Devereaux sentenced Uamaki-Mu to two years’ imprisonment, to be released immediately on parole.Mu, who was charged with several offences including assault occasioning bodily harm and common assault, was found not guilty earlier this year.The allegations against Mu included that he dragged a complainant down a hallway and choked her. Mu’s sentencing magistrate found there were several differences in the versions of events that were presented by complainants and witnesses before the court.Outside court after Uamaki-Mu’s sentencing, Mu told reporters “it’s all lies and bullshit”.Hetty Johnston, who spoke on behalf of the complainants, said they were happy with the outcome.“We’re just really proud of them and their strength and courage to come forward,” she said outside court.“Today’s the first day of the rest of the lives.”Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.Cloe Read is the crime and court reporter at Brisbane Times.Connect via X or email.From our partners