Turns out ‘Cocaine’ Cassie Sainsbury‘s SAS Australia 2023 contract was verrrrrry different to her co-stars’.
Per the Herald Sun, Cassie was caught attempting to smuggle 5.8kg of cocaine out of Columbia inside 18 headphone boxes in April 2017.
Naturally, SAS Australia fans were less than impressed that the Channel 7 series was featuring such a controversial figure. And, even more so after it was reported she was pocketing a six-figure paycheck for her appearance.
Yahoo! Lifestyle has since debunked those claims, revealing that Cassie only earned around $10,000 more than her co-stars’ stock standard fee of $30,000.
As reported in episode 321 of the So Dramatic! podcast, it wasn’t just the 28-year-old’s pay that was different to the other recruits.
In fact, sources have revealed that Cassie was contracted to appear in just two episodes of SAS Australia 2023.
“Cassie had a similar contract to [Season One’s] Schapelle Corby. It was almost identical,” they said.
“It was written into her contract that she was only signed on for two episodes. They only offered her two episodes. Schapelle was the same.”
The insider added that Cassie’s return flights from the set in Jordan were booked before the show was filmed.
“She knew the exact date she was leaving before filming even began.”
Cassie Sainsbury was ‘stunt casting’ for SAS Australia 2023
The insider told So Dramatic! host that Cassie’s “whole storyline” on SAS Australia was “pre-planned”.
“She was happy to go along with it because she just wanted some positive attention and redemption,” they explained. “Cassie was stunt casting.
“They cast her (and Schapelle) to create noise around the show to get people to watch, but they don’t want the whole show to be about them or to overshadow the other contestants.”
They added that Channel 7 may have also only contracted Cassie to minimal episodes to avoid potential backlash.
“While the network does cast controversial figures to create noise and interest in the show, they are also worried they will get criticised for glorifying criminals,” they said.
“So the less time they’re on the show, there’s less chance of this happening.”
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