A former Victoria’s Secret model revealed the moment when she chose to come up against her high school music teacher for sending her improper messages.
Aurelio ‘Bobby’ Gallo exposed Bridget Malcolm to “grooming-like behavior” while she was a student and after she graduated from Methodist Ladies’ College in Perth in 2008.
In August, the State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia terminated Mr. Gallo’s teaching license for three and a half years for “severe misconduct,” which included sending emails to Malcolm requesting topless images, a dinner date, and Skype requests.
Ms. Malcolm stayed unidentified until last Saturday, when she revealed herself in an emotional Instagram post.
Grace Tame, a survivor of sexual assault, prompted her to have a’responsibility to be absolutely truthful’ about her tragic experience.
A former Victoria’s Secret model (pictured: Bridget Malcolm) has described the moment she chose to come out against her high school music teacher for sending her improper texts.
Bridget Malcolm was subjected to ‘grooming-like behavior’ by Aurelio ‘Bobby’ Gallo (pictured) while she was a student and following her 2008 graduation from Methodist Ladies’ College in Perth.
She told The West Australian, “She has been such a forceful voice in shifting cultural conceptions about these types of challenges.”
Ms. Malcolm, a former intern at the United Nations, was assisting in the planning of an event for International Women’s Day in 2021.
She recalls witnessing Ms. Tame deliver a speech and feeling empowered after enduring sleepless nights and nightmares about the teacher for years.
She explained, “I also grappled with thoughts of self-blame, remorse, and shame.”
Ms. Malcolm stated that at the time, she viewed Mr. Gallo as a mentor who was giving her extra attention to assist her with her studies.
She added, “I thought it was amazing that I was receiving so much additional education and that my skills were developing.”
She stated that she was able to recuperate after discussing the horrible event with therapists, close friends, and medical specialists.
She stated that she had a’responsibility to be entirely truthful’ regarding her horrible experience and was inspired by sexual assault survivor Grace Tame.
Gallo continued to email Ms. Malcolm after her graduation, wanting to meet with her upon her return to Perth after moving abroad.
In March of last year, the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia received an email regarding Mr. Gallo’s inappropriate behavior, which was then investigated.
In a statement describing the decision to suspend Mr. Gallo’s license, the board ruled that the music instructor had participated in “grooming-like behavior.”
The board discovered that the duo had first emailed about school-related concerns, but the tone of their correspondence shifted over time.
On July 14, 2007, Mr. Gallo wrote an email from his personal account requesting the student’s number.
After she graduated, he continued to email Ms. Malcolm, wanting to meet with her when she returned to Perth after moving abroad.
Ms. Malcolm became a model for Victoria’s Secret in 2015 and 2016 as well as for Ralph Lauren and Stella McCartney.
Aurelio ‘Bobby’ Gallo taught at Perth’s exclusive all-girls Methodist Ladies’ College when he engaged in “grooming-like conduct” with Australian model Bridget Malcolm (pictured)
Examine a few of the eerie texts Bridget Malcolm received.
In an email written on February 2, 2009, Gallo requested images and complained that he had not gotten any “topless” shots.
He said, “Glad to hear that you are being cared for and also becoming conscious of people.”
‘Regrettably, you do not always perceive what is necessary.
‘The second-hand accomodation news came from [name of another teacher], who proceeded to tell me that she chatted to you for an hour and informed me of the topless images that you definitely did not send me!!! Why not may I ask!’
A day later, Gallo wrote another email referencing the unique charm he had given her.
“Remember, when the going gets tough, to hang on to the particular charm I gave you and to think of all the special things that bring you joy – I know it will give you strength,” he wrote.
In an email written on February 2, 2009, her old teacher requested images and complained that he had not gotten any “topless” shots.
A day later, Mr. Gallo wrote another email referencing the particular charm he had given her as a graduation present.
“Remember, when the going gets tough, to hang on to the particular charm I gave you and to think of all the special things that bring you joy – I know it will give you strength,” he wrote.
Mr. Gallo was also removed from his position as head of performing arts at John Paul College in Logan, Queensland, where he currently works, as a result of news articles regarding the matter.