Allegra Bottrell-Thorburn, the estranged half-sister of Cassandra Thorburn, has suggested she is preparing to release an explosive family tell-all, which would also feature Karl Stefanovic, Cassandra's ex-husband. Bottrell-Thorburn posted a video on TikTok simulating a documentary, with text overlay reading, 'Me when they make a documentary about how my sister, who was married to Karl Stefanovic, told me [redacted for legal reasons] and the battle we had in the media after our Dad's death.' She added the caption, 'I have so much lore, it's insane.'
In comments on the video, Bottrell-Thorburn indicated Stefanovic would be included in her narrative, stating, 'He is still my family. He was my brother-in-law for 18 years. I know my family better than anyone.'
Cassandra Thorburn, who is currently undergoing treatment for occult breast cancer, responded to her sister's posts. She acknowledged the difficult circumstances Allegra is facing with their mother's illness but stated that her claims were false. 'No one in my immediate or extended family has ever spoken ill of Allegra,' Thorburn said. 'I wish her all the best and feel for her navigating the illness of another parent.'
Bottrell-Thorburn's announcement has drawn criticism online, with some accusing her of exploiting her sister's health struggles for attention. Bottrell-Thorburn defended her decision, stating, 'My mum actually has the same cancer my sister currently has so I'm not exploiting anyone.' She also claimed, 'She doesn't care for us at all.'
This is not the first time Bottrell-Thorburn has made public statements about her sister and Stefanovic. In a 2020 interview, she claimed to be their father Max Thorburn's favorite, which she said fueled family tensions. She also described Cassandra and Karl's relationship as filled with arguments, likening it to a 'war zone' and stating she was unsurprised by their divorce.
Max Thorburn, a former radio and television personality and Victorian city councillor, died in October 2018 at the age of 72. He was married to his wife Pat for 20 years before meeting Allegra's mother, Janelle, with whom he remained until his death. Bottrell-Thorburn claimed that during the period of Cassandra and Karl's divorce, she stayed at Cassandra's house and was asked to monitor news feeds while Cassandra was on the school run, seeking to know what people were saying. Bottrell-Thorburn also stated in that interview that the divorce had 'changed her as a person.' Cassandra Thorburn previously denied these claims in a since-deleted Instagram post.