“I Honestly Don’t Care”: Tess Crosley’s Perceived Indifference Ignites Fresh Backlash Amid Lachie and Jules Neale Marriage Saga
As the dust barely settles on one of Australian football’s most explosive personal scandals, Tess Crosley – the woman thrust into the center of Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale and his wife Jules’ marriage breakdown – has broken her silence in a way that has only poured fuel on the fire. While she hasn’t issued a direct public statement, her continued carefree social media posts over the Christmas period, including festive snaps with friends and family, have been widely interpreted online as a defiant “I honestly don’t care” attitude toward the unfolding drama.
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On Christmas Day 2025, Crosley shared a series of joyful Instagram photos capturing her in a strapless brown dress, cradling her young son in a sunny garden setting and enjoying drinks with female friends. The posts, radiating happiness and normalcy, came just days after headlines exploded with details of her fallout with Jules Neale. Many followers and online commentators viewed this timing as tone-deaf, with social media buzzing with accusations of insensitivity. “Posting like nothing happened? She honestly doesn’t care,” one viral comment read, echoing a sentiment that has amplified the backlash.
The controversy reignited when Jules Neale, in a bombshell Instagram post earlier in December, revealed she had been “betrayed in the most unimaginable way” and was not “working through” any issues with her husband. Sources close to the situation allege the betrayal involved Crosley, a longtime close friend of the couple, though no explicit details of infidelity or wrongdoing have been confirmed publicly. Jules quickly scrubbed her social media of all traces of Lachie and unfollowed both Tess and her husband Ben Crosley.
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The tipping point came when screenshots surfaced of a now-deleted comment from Jules on one of Crosley’s posts: “Take these down, you idiot, you’re embarrassing yourself.” The post in question was a carousel from the Brisbane Lions’ 2025 grand final celebrations, featuring jubilant photos of the two couples – Lachie, Jules, Tess, and Ben – on the MCG field and in the locker rooms. Tess has kept the photos up but disabled comments, a move that has further fueled perceptions of defiance.
Prior to the rift, the foursome appeared inseparable. Photos from a November Gold Coast holiday showed the families vacationing together, with bikini-clad Jules and Tess posing on the beach and candid backyard shots of Lachie and Tess. An earlier TikTok video from June captured them participating in the viral “Hope our husbands like each other” trend, ending with Lachie and Ben arm-in-arm. These once-heartwarming glimpses now feel painfully ironic, resurfacing online and intensifying public scrutiny.
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Tess Crosley, a former Mormon missionary who served in Perth and married Ben in 2017, has maintained a relatively private life until now. The devout mother-of-one, known for her softly-spoken demeanor, previously ran a business focused on women’s health products. Her decision to keep her Instagram public amid the storm – while turning off comments on sensitive posts – has been seen by critics as a silent rebuttal, projecting unbothered confidence.
The backlash has been swift and fierce. Online forums and social media threads are filled with outrage, with many labeling her posts as “cruel” given Jules’ evident pain and the couple’s two young children, Piper and Freddie. “How can she post happy Christmas pics like that? It screams ‘I honestly don’t care’ about the family she helped destroy,” one user wrote. Others have expressed disbelief at the rapid unraveling of what seemed like a tight-knit group.
Meanwhile, Jules has fled to her home state of Western Australia, sharing poignant posts from Busselton Jetty accompanied by broken heart emojis. A moving truck was spotted at the Neales’ Brisbane home, signaling a potential permanent split. Lachie Neale, the dual Brownlow Medalist, has remained stoically silent, continuing his off-season training while still following Jules on social media.
This latest chapter has captivated AFL fans and gossip watchers, turning a private heartbreak into a public spectacle. Tess Crosley’s perceived nonchalance – through her festive, solo-focused posts excluding her husband Ben in many shots – has only heightened the controversy. Questions swirl: Is this deliberate indifference, a bid for normalcy, or something else entirely?
As 2025 draws to a close, the saga shows no signs of fading. With no official statements from Tess addressing the rumors directly, her actions continue to speak volumes, leaving the public stunned and divided. In an era where social media lays bare every emotion, her apparent detachment has become the most talked-about response of all.
Neither party has commented further, and speculation remains just that. But one thing is clear: in the court of public opinion, Tess Crosley’s silence – and smiles – are being heard loud and clear.
