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Bert Newton's son Matthew 'unlikely' to attend his dad's funeral
Bert Newton will be honoured with a state funeral in Melbourne after passing away at the age of 83 on Saturday at a private clinic.
However, it seems as though his son Matthew Newton, 44, is 'unlikely' to attend, according to Confidential.
An insider reveals Matthew moved to New York in 2012, when his relationship with his parents Bert and wife of 46 years Patti Newton, became strained.
It's believed Matthew is living in the States with girlfriend Catherine Schneiderman, the daughter of former New York attorney-general Eric Schneiderman.
According to Confidential, there were rumours the pair were secretly wed in 2017, however, it's unclear whether they're still together.
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Matthew has previously battled with addiction and mental health issues and has a tumultuous past.
The actor has been arrested twice while in Miami, Florida in 2012 – once for trespassing and resisting officers and another incident that saw him charged with battery and resisting arrest.
Following this, he checked into the Betty Ford Centre in California for 90 days of alcohol and drug treatment.
In 2018, Matthew was forced to withdraw from directing the Hollywood film Eve, due to a social media backlash over his alleged history.
Woman's Day reports that Matthew has given up on Australia and is happy with his life in the US.
"Because of his scandals over the years, he can't face coming home to Australia," a source told the publication.
"Matthew lives a private, almost reclusive, life with his partner Catherine in New York now, where he is rarely bothered. He has no desire to reawaken old demons by returning to Australia."
The Newtons' daughter Lauren lives near her parents' home in Melbourne with husband Matt Welsh and their six children.
Bert has previously spoken of his son's struggles, telling A Current Affair 10 years ago, "A lot of things that have unfolded in recent times, the great majority of those things we’ve learned about them through the media."
"People might have had the impression that whatever happened, and whatever was done, we condoned it, and when a situation like this comes along, you don’t.
"A lot of people don’t have the experience, but when it concerns your child you say ‘well, of course we love him and we support him’.
"I think I made an error in saying that because I do love him and I do support him, but I don’t support or condone any of the things that have happened. We should have seen the signs... but we didn’t."
Bert had been receiving palliative care at the time of his death following a long health battle that led to one of his legs being amputated in May due to a life-threatening infection.
Speaking to the Herald Sun, Patti said Victorian Premier Dan Andrews called her on Sunday morning to offer a state funeral for Bert.
“I said yes to a state funeral because as I said, a little boy from North Fitzroy and having success in show business and having all these wonderful accolades go his way,’’ Patti said.
“And then a state funeral — Bert would love it. His mum and his sister, they would be so thrilled — and I’m thrilled for him. It’ll be very nice and it’s a wonderful gesture because he’s very Melbourne, Bert. Even though he’s worked in all different states, Melbourne was his state and his love so that was a very nice thing.”
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews described Newton as "an icon, a larrikin and a born entertainer".
"We have never known TV without Bert," he said.
"He was there from the beginning. From black and white to colour, as TV changed, Bert endured."
Melbourne-born Newton started in the radio business aged 12 and scaled the heights of Australian entertainment on stage and screen.
Alongside Graham Kennedy and Don Lane he was part of a trio known as the kings of Australian television.
His TV credits include In Melbourne Tonight, The Graham Kennedy Show, The Don Lane Show, Good Morning Australia, New Faces, Bert's Family Feud and 20 to 1.
On stage he played roles in the musicals Wicked, Annie, Grease and as narrator in The Rocky Horror Show.
Details of Bert's state funeral will be shared in the coming days.
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