MY Kitchen Rules contestant Adam Andersen spoke about his less than “ideal” situation with his children prior to his ex-wife’s scathing A Current Affair interview, where she accused him of being a “deadbeat dad”.
The first wife of Andersen and the mother of his five children, Cindy, appeared on Nine’s ACA Monday night, claiming her ex-husband owes their kids more than $36,000 in support payments and has had limited contact with them since marrying his MKR partner, Carol Molloy.
The former tennis pro told TV WEEK before the ACA exclusive went to air: “Obviously I’d like to spend more time with them.”
Andersen also admitted his five children — aged eight to 15 — “live with their mum” and the situation is “not ideal”.
“Any split from a former wife is going to be tough and yeah it is tough.
“Things end because both parties are unhappy. If everything was great we’d still be together,” he said.
Andersen has not yet responded to his ex’s interview, including the alleged $36,000 owing in child support.
Andersen, who was a highly competitive contestant during round two of MKR’s instant restaurants, was accused of blocking the phone calls of his ex and two daughters; as well as squibbing on an alleged deal to pay half of his family’s school fees.
The explosive story also claimed Andersen has personal ties with MKR judge Pete Evans — with his ex-wife stating Evans was coached by her former husband, then later employed him to work the door at Evan’s former eatery, Hugo’s in Kings Cross.
It is understood Pete Evans has refuted claims he’s ever been coached by Andersen while a source pointed out Hugo’s is now owned by Evan’s brother, Dave.
Cindy told ACA reporter Brady Halls that her ex-husband had dodged child maintenance for the past 12-13 months.
Despite spruiking to Seven and NewsCorp Australia that he was a tennis coach at private schools — including guiding teams for Shore, Grammar and Wenona Girls College — Andersen had allegedly been pursued for payment unsuccessfully by the Child Support Agency.
Cindy told Halls “the children have no emotional support, nothing. They don’t receive a card in the mail (for their birthdays) ...”.
She said seeing him boast about his happy relationship and claim on MKR’s website his children “visited as often as they can” had “sickened me”.
Her greatest support came from her terminally ill father who she feared would die unsure whether his grandchildren would be looked after financially.
The single mother produced a copy of a letter allegedly sent to Channel 7 asking for confirmation Andersen was being paid by the network, so she could make arrangements to have his child support debt “garnished” from his TV wages.
(All reality TV contestants are paid some appearance money, regardless of any prizes won).
Cindy said the system of recovering money from delinquent parents was “flawed and even when there’s someone (on TV) they still can’t access money for the children”.
News Corp is seeking comment from Andersen.
A Channel 7 spokesman said: “Production did not receive the letter. This is a private matter between the parties involved, therefore Channel 7 has no further comment.”
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