The high-profile marriage breakdown of Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale has sent shockwaves through the Australian football community and beyond, but the saga has taken an even more personal turn with the involvement of influencer Tess Crosley and her husband, Ben Crosley. In a brief but devastating encounter on January 18, 2026, Ben Crosley delivered a stark six-word response that has captured national attention and underscored the collateral damage from the alleged affair: “She does not live here anymore.”

The statement came when a reporter approached Ben at the family’s home in Camp Hill, Brisbane, inquiring whether Tess was present or had any comment on the unfolding scandal. Ben, a finance director who has largely stayed out of the spotlight, poked his head out the door and delivered the blunt reply without further elaboration. The words confirmed what many had suspected: the Crosley marriage, which began in 2017 and produced a young son, appears to be over, at least in terms of shared living arrangements.

The drama traces back to late December 2025, when Lachie Neale, a dual Brownlow Medal winner and former co-captain of the Brisbane Lions, publicly confirmed his separation from his wife of seven years, Jules Neale. In a press conference at the Lions’ headquarters on January 2, 2026, Neale stepped down from his captaincy role and issued a heartfelt apology. “I can confirm, with regret, Jules and I have now separated,” he said. “While I won’t go into specifics, I can say that I have let my family down and I apologise for my actions, which have hurt those closest to me.”

Jules Neale, a popular hair stylist and social media influencer, had already broken her silence days earlier on Instagram, declaring she had been “betrayed in the most unimaginable way.” She promptly removed photos of her husband and deleted Tess Crosley—once described as her close friend—from her account. The fallout intensified when reports emerged linking Neale to an alleged affair with Tess, who is also a practising Mormon and social media personality known for her lifestyle content.

Tess Crosley, 30, and her husband Ben share a young son, and the family had long been part of the Brisbane social circle that included the Neales. The two couples were close enough to celebrate together at the 2025 AFL Grand Final, where photos captured them all enjoying the Lions’ victory over Geelong. Those images became a flashpoint when Jules publicly demanded Tess remove them from her Instagram, highlighting the abrupt end of what had appeared to be a strong friendship.

Insiders claim the alleged relationship between Lachie and Tess lasted for several months, possibly beginning around the time of the Grand Final in September 2025. Reports suggest the affair came to light after another Lions WAG spotted the pair together in a car, prompting Jules to confront the betrayal. The scandal has rocked not only the Neale marriage but also the Crosley household, thrusting Ben into an unwanted media storm.

Ben Crosley, who has maintained a low profile throughout the ordeal, had previously been seen enjoying time away from the drama. Shortly after the initial reports broke in early January, he posted from a luxury fitness retreat in Uluwatu, Bali, sharing images of workouts with friends and declaring he was “starting 2026 right.” The trip appeared to be a deliberate escape, allowing him space amid the intense scrutiny back home.

The six-word statement at the family home marks his most direct public acknowledgment of the situation. It reflects the pain of a man caught in the crossfire of a high-profile infidelity scandal involving his wife and a former friend. Ben’s response was calm yet definitive, leaving no room for ambiguity about the state of his marriage. He offered no further details, no accusations, and no pleas for privacy—simply the facts in the coldest, most concise terms possible.

The broader fallout has extended to the Brisbane Lions organization and the wider AFL community. Neale’s decision to relinquish the co-captaincy was seen as a necessary step to focus on personal matters, though it has sparked discussions about accountability for players in the public eye. Jules Neale has continued to express her hurt through subtle social media updates, while Tess has largely avoided comment, responding to one reporter encounter with a curt “No comment. Thank you, bye, see ya!”

Tess’s background as a practising Mormon has added another layer to the story, with reports indicating her family—described as devout and private—has found the public scrutiny particularly difficult. Her celebrity sister has also been mentioned in passing, though details remain limited. The scandal has highlighted the challenges faced by families in the orbit of professional sports, where personal lives can quickly become tabloid fodder.

As the dust settles, Ben Crosley’s brief words stand as a powerful symbol of the human cost behind the headlines. They tell a story of betrayal, separation, and quiet devastation in just six syllables. While Lachie Neale has apologized publicly and Jules has voiced her pain, Ben’s understated response speaks volumes about the silent suffering of those inadvertently drawn into the chaos.

The saga continues to unfold, with questions lingering about the future of all involved. For Ben Crosley, the chapter appears closed in one respect—Tess no longer shares the home they once built together. In the midst of Australia’s most talked-about sports scandal of the new year, those six words encapsulate the end of one relationship amid the wreckage of another.