An American man whose partner died after injecting his genitals with a silicone substance to enhance them has sued Network 10’s The Project for defamation.
Dylan Hafertepen’s Australian partner Jack Chapman (feature image) died in October 2018 from a lung problem caused by a silicone embolism, which raised questions about the nature of his death and the relationship between the two men.
Hafertepen and Chapman blogged about their BDSM relationship where Hafertepen was the “master” and Chapman was a “pup”.
The pair also documented their body changes for their online followers, which included gaining massive muscles and Chapan enlarging his genitals by injecting them with silicone.
On November 6 2018, The Project aired a confrontation between Hafertepen and Chapman’s mother, which was filmed when he brought his partner’s ashes back to Australia.
As reported on Buzzfeed News, Hafertepen has filed a lawsuit against 10 in the Australian Federal Court, alleging The Project‘s report defamed him.
The report, created by Hamish Macdonald, focused on Chapman’s mother, who described him as a “gentle giant” who changed after entering a relationship with Hafertepen.
Macdonald said in a voiceover on the program: “Dylan had introduced Jack to dangerous body manipulation and master servant role-play.”
Hafertepen said the report was “over-sensationalised” and wrongly accused him of causing Chapman’s death.
He is also alleging 10 “tricked” him into giving an interview without “informing him that it intended to publish the matter complained of and under false pretences”.
In court documents, Hafertepen alleges the report defamed him by painting him to be abusive, domineering and manipulative towards Chapan and that he caused his death by giving him silicone to be injected into his genitals.
Hafertepen has asked for the story to be removed from 10’s website and is also seeking damages.
His lawyer told the Federal Court on Monday that the “very serious allegations, criminal allegations” broadcast by 10 caused Hafertepen to lose his senior role at Google.
Ten’s barrister Lyndelle Barnett said: “This is a very serious case, with very serious imputations.
“Any truth defence will be very detailed.”
Hafertepen is also currently being sued for wrongful death by Linda Chapman (the deceased’s mother) in the US.
10 declined B&T‘s request for comment.
The case is set to return to court on February 11 2020.
