Love Island Australia has only just begun, but already the season is full of controversy as Cooper Benson has been sentenced following a violet fight in a karaoke bar.
The Islander has since apologised for his actions, and explained that he hadn’t informed anyone on Channel Nine about the incident, which took place before Love Island Australia started filming.
Via Channel Nine
Cooper Benson pled guilty to the charges after he attacked two men during a karaoke bar fight on the Gold Coast prior to Love Island Australia.
According to The Gold Coast Bulletin, the court heard that the incident happened on March 23rd 2025 at Southport’s E Star Karaoke Bar.
As Cooper was leaving the bar, another man hugging his friend allegedly touched Cooper’s shoulder and neck, after which Cooper shoved the man in the chest and pushed him backwards.
The man tried to calm down the situation before Cooper allegedly punched his friend in the face, before striking both men in the head.
Via Channel Nine
CCTV footage was played to the court which showed Cooper and his co-accused assaulting the two men.
Police launched an investigation but were unable to contact Cooper, with a warrant for his arrest issued before he was pulled over in his car at the start of May.
The magistrate said the incident was “extraordinarily improper” and described it as a “sustained assault.”
She added: “This is not a one or two or three punch assault.”
However, she also noted Cooper’s youth, clean record and good work ethic before releasing him on a 15 month probation order with no conviction recorded for the assaults.
Cooper has been ordered to pay his victims $1,750 and $250 in compensation, fined $300 for the driving offence, and has been banned from driving for three months.
Cooper Benson has since released a statement regarding the incident, admitting he didn’t tell Channel Nine about the incident before he applied for the show.
He explained: “I am extremely remorseful and regretful for the incident that occurred at the start of the year,’ he said in a statement this week.
“I want to make it clear that I did not tell anyone on the Love Island production team or Channel Nine that this incident had occurred before my involvement in the show and I apologise to them for not doing so.
“By way of explanation, I was defending my friend but I accept I went too far. The judge agreed it was provoked and no criminal conviction has been recorded. Despite this, again, I am deeply remorseful for my actions.”
The Tab has reached out to Channel Nine for comment.
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