Disgraced TV star Andrew O’Keefe suffers another devastating blow in the wake of legal dramas

Former Channel 7 star Andrew O’Keefe has been forced to hand back his Order of Australia after complaints were made he still held the honour following his assault and drug convictions.

The Council of the Order of Australia, the body responsible for recommending and terminating appointments, published the decision in a notice dated June 4.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn ‘accepted the resignation as a member of the Order of Australia in the General Division of Andrew Patrick O’Keefe,’ the notice stated. 

The disgraced star, who has faced a string of drug and domestic violence charges in recent years, would ‘cease to be appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, By Her Excellency’s Command’. 

It follows anti-domestic violence campaigner Phil Cleary issuing a powerful call to action to O’Keefe in Daily Mail Australia earlier this year.

‘I think if he wanted to reclaim his standing he probably should resign the position and then try to regain our trust,’ Mr Cleary, who campaigned alongside O’Keefe, said.

O’Keefe was awarded his honour in 2017 ‘for significant service to the broadcast media as a television presenter, and to social welfare and charitable organisations’.

His role as a founding Australian ambassador for the White Ribbon campaign, a global anti-domestic violence movement, was cited when he was given the honour. 

Andrew O’Keefe was once one of Channel 7’s biggest stars until a string of legal problems

Mr Cleary, a former federal MP and ex-Aussie Rules great, was drawn to the cause after his sister Vicki was murdered in 1987 by a former partner.

‘If I was speaking to Andrew I would be saying the first thing you should be doing is coming out and apologising. 

‘I believe in compassion and redemption but Andrew is in a position at the moment where he has damaged the campaign and he needs to apologise.’

A Member of the Order of Australia (AM) is one of the highest appointments in the Australia Day Honours system, exceeded only by the Officer (AO) or Companion (AC) of the Order.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Monday night, Mr Cleary said O’Keefe had set a precedent.

‘It’s important that he has done this. It’s significant. I’m glad that he has done this.’

‘By handing back his AM, O’Keefe has set a standard for other men convicted of acts of violence or coercive behaviour towards a woman.’

O’Keefe was found guilty in January last year of assaulting a woman during an argument in 2021.

The disgraced star has faced a string of drug charges in recent years and pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of methamphetamine in February

After his arrest in 2022, White Ribbon Australia CEO Melissa Perry shared her ‘dismay’ over O’Keefe’s arrest.

The disgraced TV star played no role with White Ribbon since its reformation in 2020, after the previous organisation was liquidated in 2019.

He lost an appeal to overturn his domestic violence convictions in September 2024.

In February, O’Keefe escaped with a fine and licence suspension after pleading guilty to driving while under the influence of methamphetamine.

The 53-year-old tested positive for the drug after being pulled over for random testing about 11.30am on July 28 at Bellevue Hill, in eastern Sydney.

O’Keefe’s lawyer Jahan Kalantar told the court the TV personality had been in rehabilitation and was co-operating with court orders.

‘We accept he has a poor traffic history and has struggled with addictive substances,’ he said. ‘He’s taken rehab very seriously.’

Magistrate Michael Barko fined him $404 and suspended his licence for six months.

The same court was told in October that O’Keefe would make a genuine attempt to turn his life around if given the opportunity to enter drug rehabilitation rather than face jail time.

He pleaded guilty on that occasion to drug possession, trespassing and breaching a court order, with prosecutors agreeing to withdraw an additional charge of intimidation.

At the time, Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge told O’Keefe if he continued to offend the court may come to the view he was unable to be rehabilitated.

‘Your life has just completely gone off the rails,’ she told O’Keefe. ‘The only person that’s going to make your life any different is going to be you.’

Mr Kalantar previously said O’Keefe was at a crossroads and risked becoming institutionalised if he continued down the wrong path.

The ex-host was on bail in September when he experienced a near-fatal heroin overdose.

He was subsequently arrested and his grey Mercedes was searched, resulting in the discovery of a ‘clear crystal substance’ when he reported to Rose Bay police station.

O’Keefe was a Seven presenter for more than 15 years, most notably hosting game show Deal or No Deal and breakfast program Weekend Sunrise.