Australian pop duo Royel Otis is facing growing criticism online after band member Otis Pavlovic posted a photo with actress and singer Lola Tung, sparking speculation that she may appear in the group’s upcoming music video. While some fans welcomed the collaboration, others accused the band of using the post to distract from renewed allegations against Royel Maddell, whose legal name is Leroy Bessington.
The controversy traces back to May 2025, when a since-deleted post on the subreddit r/triplej alleged that Maddell had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student while teaching at Kings Cross Conservatorium in Sydney. A month later, another Reddit user claimed Maddell, then in his 30s, was discovered by the girl’s parents and injured himself while attempting to escape from her bedroom window. That post included what appeared to be court hearing records. According to users, the incident was known in the local music scene and led to Maddell being dropped by his label and blacklisted by Australian broadcaster Triple J.
The allegations resurfaced after entertainment account Pop Crave reshared Pavlovic’s photo with Tung, igniting online backlash. Some X users labeled Maddell a “predator,” with several claiming the band was exploiting Tung’s image for “damage control.” Others suggested the controversy could jeopardize Pavlovic’s career, while some reported being blocked by the band after commenting about the matter on Instagram.
This is not the first time Royel Otis has faced criticism. In May 2025, the duo came under fire for the lyrics of their single Moody, which fans described as misogynistic. In a statement reported by Billboard, the group apologized, saying the song was written from a specific perspective and was not intended to generalize about women.
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