Guy Sebastian’s long-running battle with former manager Titus Day has ended with a confidential settlement after the talent agent admitted he had not paid the singer all the money owed to him.
‘There were many instances in which payments that should have been passed on to Guy were not,’ 53-year-old Day conceded in a statement.
Sebastian’s relationship with Day began to unravel almost a decade ago when he became concerned his close friend had failed to pass on payments due to him.
The Battle Scars hitmaker eventually turned to police after multiple attempts to resolve the dispute failed, providing evidence that led to Day’s arrest and prosecution.
Day pleaded not guilty to 50 charges of embezzlement as a clerk or servant, and 50 alternative counts of stealing. The charges related to about $900,000 in allegedly missing royalties and performance fees.
A NSW District Court jury found Day guilty in 2022 of embezzling almost $625,000, resulting in a maximum prison sentence of four years.
Day served seven months behind bars before being released on appeal, paving the way for a retrial in 2025.
This time he was found not guilty of four counts of embezzlement, but jurors could not reach verdicts on the remaining 31 charges.
Guy Sebastian’s long-running legal battle with former manager Titus Day (pictured) has ended in a confidential settlement, with Day apologising and admitting payments owed to the singer were not passed on
Sebastian’s relationship with Day began to unravel almost a decade ago when he became concerned his close friend had failed to pass on payments due to him. The pair is pictured
Prosecutors opted against a third trial, prompting Sebastian to resume a civil claim.
A settlement brought the bitter dispute to an end on Tuesday.
‘I would do things differently if I had my time again,’ Day said.
‘At an early stage in the dispute, I should have been more reasonable and less emotional, which I have no doubt would have led to a swifter and more conciliatory outcome. I take full responsibility for this.
‘Looking back on the latter half of the time when I was managing Guy’s career, I can see that I had become a poor steward of Guy’s income, including income that my company continued to receive after Guy left my management company in late 2017.’
Day said his company, 6 Degrees, failed to ‘properly account for and pass on those payments, which was the result of his mistake.
‘I accept that my failures at that time had a serious and regrettable impact on Guy and his family, for which I apologise,’ he said.
‘During the time when I was managing Guy, and after it, I made a number of regrettable decisions which have had painful consequences, not only for me and my family, but also for Guy and his family.
The talent agent managed Sebastian for about a decade and the men were once close friends
A NSW District Court jury found Day guilty in 2022 of embezzling almost $625,000, resulting in a maximum prison sentence of four years. Day and Sebastian are pictured
‘I acknowledge that, long before any criminal investigation, charges or trials, Guy attempted to settle with me on what I now consider to be incredibly fair terms.
‘I would do things differently if I had my time again.’
‘I thank Guy for his willingness to discontinue the civil legal proceedings against me and allow each of us and our families to move on from the dispute.’
Sebastian said he pursued the legal dispute as a matter of principle.
‘I never could have imagined the twists and turns this ordeal would take,’ he said.
‘With the accountability shown and the apology Mr Day has provided in his statement, I am prepared to put aside my claim against him, forgive, and move forward.’
Sebastian’s lawyer, Mark Faraday, said Day’s statement ‘speaks for itself’.
‘It contains a clear apology, an acceptance of responsibility and an acknowledgement that payments owed to Guy were not passed on,’ Faraday said.
Sebastian found ‘anomalies’ in financial records after he split from Day
Sebastian and his wife Jules were once extremely close to Day and his wife Courtney. Sebastian is pictured with Jules
‘As stated by Mr Day, my client was willing to resolve this matter very early, and on incredibly fair terms. A private resolution has always been Guy’s preference.
‘Unfortunately, this did not happen, and the matter took many unexpected turns over a long period of time.
‘Obviously, Guy wishes Mr Day had taken this approach much sooner. However, he appreciates that the parties have finally arrived at a place where they can all move on.
‘For Guy, this is not just a legal settlement; he genuinely wishes Mr Day and his family better times ahead.’
Sebastian and Titus were once close friends.
‘Our kids grew up together; they were best friends,’ Sebastian told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘You think about the times we sat across the table from each other, and the times our kids ran through the park under sprinklers. [Day’s wife] Courtney and Jules were constantly hanging out and Titus and I were travelling the world.’
Sebastian broke down sobbing in a court toilet cubicle while giving evidence against Day and, in desperation, he prayed.
‘Then I felt guilty,’ he said. ‘It was like, “Ah, I’ll just say a prayer when the s*** hits the fan.” I haven’t prayed for so long [and now I’m] just asking for help when things are rubbish.’
