Tina Arena has spoken publicly for the first time about her ex-husband Ralph ‘The Rug’ Carr’s rape conviction.
The Australian music icon made the comments at the world premiere of her documentary Tina Arena: Unravel Me at the Melbourne International Film Festival on Wednesday night.
During an on-stage Q&A, Arena addressed the news that Carr had been found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against a former employee who visited his Melbourne home in March 2023.
“You reap what you sow, so now he’s reaping what he sowed,” Arena opined. “I believe that justice has been done and the right thing has happened.”
Arena said she did not know her ex-husband’s victim, who remains legally anonymous, but the Chains singer praised the woman’s courage in coming forward.
“I don’t know her name; I have never met her. My heart goes out to her, to her mum, her family for having the courage to come forward in unbelievably complicated circumstances,” Arena shared.
“So first and foremost a big thank you to you, whoever you are darling, wherever you are, a big thank you, not only from me but a big thank you from a lot of people.”
The comments come more than a week after the celebrity manager was unmasked as a convicted rapist, following the lifting of a long-standing suppression order protecting his identity.
Carr was married to Arena from 1995 until their divorce in 1999. He then married Emma Gibson, a former competitive swimmer, model and martial arts coach, in 2009. The couple, who divorced in 2018, share three children.
The talent manager’s other clients include singers Vanessa Amorosi and Kate Cebrano.
He is currently in custody awaiting sentencing.
