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Knives out for socialite whose mag covers didn’t add up… Plus, the swindling florist is back – and Merivale PR girl raises eyebrows after 60 Minutes exposé: THE GROUP CHAT

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Swindler back in season

He was once the talk of Sydney’s cliquey eastern suburbs – for all the wrong reasons.

However, due to his repeated deceit towards numerous housewives and failure to settle outstanding debts, the high-society residents of Double Bay grew tired of Double Bay florist Brennon Mrzyk’s actions. As a result, they welcomed his departure from their community.

Since leaving the Harbor City in 2022, his whereabouts and activities have been unclear, however, it is now disclosed that he has stealthily returned to his profession of flower arrangement.

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In this current week, I’ve been keeping an eye on the digital scene and couldn’t help but notice my colleague, Mrzyk, showcasing their most recent floral endeavor with two other associates. Rest assured, none of them have been implicated in any unlawful activities.

Let’s hope he’s not handling the books this time!

As a devoted devotee, I once oversaw the operations of Mr. Flamboyant on Knox Street, Double Bay, until allegations of credit card fraud led to my charges at 28 years old in Tasmania.

Over a dozen individuals asserted that Mrzyk didn’t settle their outstanding debts. Furthermore, a well-known real estate agent declared finding transactions on her credit card that were allegedly made by Mrzyk to foreign firms. These payments were subsequently linked back to him by his bank.

During that period, he maintained that the accusations were a premeditated scheme by locals aimed at undermining him, following his breakup with his well-known local partner.

Judge Miranda Moody expressed a different opinion, finding him guilty in his absence for the crime of acquiring an unfair benefit through deceit.

In this case, since he had no prior criminal record, the penalty for his offense was a fine of $2,000 and an order to repay a courier service. He faced a maximum seven-year sentence, but that was not applied due to his clean past.

Hold the front page 

Being the renowned gossip columnist of Perth’s west suburbs involves a lot of hard work, even though I live as distant as possible from those upscale neighborhoods wrapped in greenery.

Following the popularity of my investigations into questionable dentist Dr. David Hurst and his late wife Clara, my email has been flooded with rumors about the various unsavory characters within our city.

The funniest advice I’ve come across is about persistent self-marketer Steph Adams, who appears to personify the phrase ‘act as if you’re successful until you actually are.’

Indeed, it’s worth noting that Steph, once close to Bianca Rinehart, is recognized in various media outlets as an acclaimed figure in the world of fashion and literature. She has established a distinguished reputation marked by creativity, novelty, and impact.

Move along, Bill Gates. We have a multi-hyphenate prodigy in our midst!

To be honest, despite their impressive appearance, a quick peek reveals that these magazines fail to live up to their prestigious image.

It’s striking that she’s graced the cover of Vanity Fair Denmark. Elle Colombia is intriguing as well. As for Hollywood Times, I must admit I’m not familiar with it, but its name does hint at a connection to the entertainment industry, much like The Hollywood Reporter.

While these outlets might possess websites where articles are published, it’s essential to note that they don’t officially represent or are endorsed by the company depicted on their covers.

Neither Vanity Fair nor Elle magazine has an officially released Danish or Colombian edition respectively. Contrastingly, Hollywood Times puts out monthly issues featuring cover celebrities who may not necessarily have direct connections to the Hollywood entertainment industry.

So, what gives?

These titles are linked to supposed ‘pay-for-interview’ platforms – where individuals pay to secure an interview in a publication that imitates the appearance of genuine news media.

Look, it’s all perfectly legal and a common PR tactic for self-promoters these days. 

The on-set experiences, snapshots, and magazine covers are authentic, but there’s a hint of deception since a casual observer might think Stephanie appeared in Vanity Fair Denmark based on her cover photo. However, that is not the case.

Steph, who is a graphic designer, seems to have utilized her Photoshop abilities to place herself digitally on the covers of well-known magazines such as Harper’s BAZAAR Vietnam.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, let me share a bit about my discovery: Unlike some renowned fashion publications such as Vanity Fair Denmark and Elle Colombia, Harper’s BAZAAR Vietnam is not just a figment of imagination – it’s very much alive! This esteemed magazine is proudly published under a licence by our local media company, Sun Flower Media.

Contrary to her Instagram claims, Steph wasn’t on the cover of the November 2023 issue. Instead, it was Tong Yao, a Chinese actress, who graced the cover that month.

A friend mentioned that her magazine covers are causing quite a stir, but her Instagram announcements about her new release often elicit sighs or indifference.

My source remarked that the graphic designer not only designs but also features herself on the cover art, giving the impression of it being genuine, and he found this amusing.)

‘She doesn’t tag the publication, and if she tries, the publication removes her.’

… and on to the next course! 

This past week has been nothing short of torturous for Merivale, as they’ve found themselves under fire from two directions: investigative reports by 60 Minutes and the Sydney Morning Herald revealing suspected wrongdoings within their hospitality organization.

For CEO Justin Hemmes, who has just welcomed his third child, this recent turn of events is causing significant harm. We’ve learned that Merivale’s legal team is putting in extra effort to handle the situation.

Instead, they took an unusual step by alleging that Nine’s reporters had harassed and intimidated them through their broadcasting service, when they sent a comprehensive list of 77 questions to the company and Hemmes, seeking responses.

Please. 

Instead of discussing the ongoing investigation, it’s worth mentioning that those allegedly involved have repeatedly denied any misconduct. Yet, there are a couple of pieces of information that have brought a smile to our faces.

Initially, the higher-ups at Merivale strongly dislike some of the pictures featured in their articles and on 60 Minutes, particularly photo booth images from a Merivale staff event that include Justin Hemmes and his partner Madeline Holtznagel. They find these photos especially bothersome.

It seems that the photos make him appear significantly older, emphasizing the noticeable difference in their ages (he’s 52, while she’s 28).

Additionally, we found it interesting that none of the reports made any reference to Holly Kaiser (née Asser), who is the Head of Public Relations at Merivale, in their content.

It seems unusual that the head of public relations for the company isn’t visibly addressing the massive negative press we’re seeing, but rather it appears legal representatives from Merivale are providing statements instead.

In an attempt to discover his recent activities, we scoured Instagram and discovered that on the day following the 60 Minutes expose (Monday), Kaiser shared a picture showing his Cavoodle in a cozy state.

On Tuesday, following a critical report in the SMH regarding alleged criminal activity at Level 6, the exclusive club situated within The Ivy complex, Kaiser steered her audience towards an adulating article from Time Out Sydney, celebrating a Merivale employee as the Bartender of the Year.

Move along, nothing to see here!

  • Additional reporting by Jo Scrimshire

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2025-07-03 17:34

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