Victoria’s Secret model Bridget Malcolm sent inappropriate messages by her school teacher
A former Victoria’s Secret model has revealed how her high school music teacher sent her ‘inappropriate’ messages when she was a teen after the man had his teaching licence suspended.
Bridget Malcolm, 30, was a student at the prestigious all-girls Methodist Ladies’ College in Perth, where she was taught by Bobby Gallo, 53.
Mr Gallo had his teaching licence suspended for three years last month by the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia due to ‘serious misconduct’ against a student.
In an emotional video shared to Instagram on Saturday, the model revealed she was the schoolgirl Mr Gallo’s ‘misconduct’ had been directed at.
Former Victoria’s Secret model Bridget Malcolm, 30, was a student at the prestigious all-girls Methodist Ladies’ College in Perth, and was taught by Bobby Gallo, 53, who has now lost his teaching licence
Malcolm revealed she was the student Mr Gallo had been found to have had ‘serious misconduct’ towards in an emotional video
‘I’ve gone back and forth on whether or not to waive my right to anonymity because I was a minor when it all happened,’ Malcolm said.
‘But you know I’m not a minor anymore.
‘I’m still in shock, I’m still processing and I’ve definitely had a lot of feelings today.’
Ms Malcolm received an outpouring of support on social media for her ‘courage and bravery’, with the model saying she’d speak more on the matter at a later date.
The Board first received an email about inappropriate behaviour from Mr Gallo in March last year and the complaint was then investigated.
Malcolm received an outpouring of support on social media for her ‘courage and bravery’, with the model saying she’d speak more on the matter at a later date
In a document published by the Board detailing the decision to suspend Mr Gallo’s licence, it found the music teacher had engaged in ‘grooming-like behaviour’.
He had ‘fostered a friendship’ with Malcolm while she was in her final years of school in 2007 and 2008, and after she graduated, by sending her emails, texts and photographs.
Mr Gallo also gave her a personal graduation gift of a silver charm in 2008.
The Board found the pair had initially emailed about school matters but the conversation changed overtime.
In the early months of 2009 Mr Gallo had emailed Malcolm asking for photographs and whether she was going to visit him on her return to Western Australia, with the model having moved overseas after school.
He is also seen asking her why she wouldn’t add him on the video chat platform Skype.
One email from Mr Gallo to Malcolm in February 2009 – after she had graduated – read: ‘Thought you may like a photo to remember me by. Hope you like it! I do.’
Malcolm was a teenage student at Perth’s Methodist Ladies’ College (pictured) when Mr Gallo fostered a friendship with her
Malcolm waked the runway for Victoria’s Secret in 2015 and 2016
The day after he wrote: ‘Thought I would go first seeing that you still not have sent me any pictures yet!
‘I must say it was a little hard the other day to walk by the spot where you would put your music stuff … it was sad to see it empty!’ the message continued.
He then said it was ‘exciting’ that Malcolm may be coming home to WA in March of that year.
‘I might be lucky enough to see you or even better DINNER. But I must not get my hopes up,’ he wrote.
‘I must say it will be hard not seeing you in my office and missing our regular chats. Remember when things get hard hold on to the special charm I gave you … I know it will give you strength,’ he wrote in another email.
The model received texts and emails from her teacher during her final school years and after she graduated
Mr Gallo often signed off with ‘luv always’ and repeatedly asked Ms Malcolm if she would visit him when she returned.
In another email in March, 2009, which Mr Gallo wrote in Italian, the translated message showed him telling Malcolm ‘it seems very difficult at times to say what I want’.
The Board found Mr Gallo’s actions ‘constitutes serious misconduct rendering him unfit to be a registered teacher’.
It also found he ‘breached professional boundaries in his inappropriate interactions with the student’.
The model said it had been an emotional day after learning her high school music teacher had his teaching licence suspended
The 30-year-old had been sent ‘inappropriate’ messages by the teacher via email and text
Mr Gallo admitted to the ‘serious misconduct’ and accepted it was ‘inappropriate’.
He denies grooming Ms Malcolm, and has shown ‘insight and remorse’ into his behaviour, the Board found.
‘The actions of the teacher were out of character and do not reflect his performance or conduct over the course of his career,’ the document said.
Ms Malcolm, who is now a mental health advocate, was discovered by modelling scouts on the streets of Perth at the age of 14.
She went on to walk the runway for Victoria’s Secret in 2015 and 2016 but has since spoken out about the toxic culture in the fashion industry which saw her develop an eating disorder.
The model, who has walked for Ralph Lauren and Stella McCartney, now works with brands that make her feel good about herself.
Mr Gallo had been the director of music at MLC.
The school’s principal, Dr Marie Perry, said the school learnt of the ‘deeply upsetting’ complaint in March last year.
Dr Perry said support has been provided to Malcolm and that none of the inappropriate behaviour was known until the complaint was made.
‘This is a deeply upsetting situation and the College sincerely regrets that one of its students was subjected to such behaviour by a then member of the College staff,’ she told Wa Today.
Malcolm, who is now a mental health advocate, was discovered by modelling scouts on the streets of Perth at the age of 14