Oliva Newton-John’s husband, John Easterling, and daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, are too consumed by grief to attend a charity event being held in the late actress’s memory in Australia this September.
Speaking to Sunrise on Wednesday, August 24, Newton-John’s niece, Tottie Goldsmith, shared the news that Easterling and Lattanzi will forgo the Walk for Wellness fundraiser taking place in Melbourne to honour the Grease star’s legacy.
“I don’t think John and Chloe are going to make it. It’s too hard for them at the moment; it’s too soon,” Goldsmith told Sunrise.
“Chloe and John need to grieve privately, as you can imagine. [Getting] on a plane or flying out here… would be chaotic for them.
“They just want to be in their hearts and their soul and go through this like normal people, but we’ll definitely be doing [the charity walk] for everyone in love with her.”
However, Goldsmith reassured attendees that Newton-John’s brother, Toby Newton-John, as well as members of the Newton-John family who are living in Australia, will be in attendance.
“We are going to keep her legacy alive if it’s the last thing I do…It’s going to be really powerful and really beautiful,” she expressed, adding that she believes that her Aunt will be there in spirit.
The Grammy award-winning singer and actress, who is best known for her role as Sandy in the ’70s musical Grease, died in her southern California home on August 8, at 73 years old after a long battle with cancer.
Australia has continued to pay tribute to the late actress and singer in more ways than one.
Last week 7News aired a TV special to honour Newton-John where they shared an abundance of intimate memories from the late star’s life.
Meanwhile, Victoria is currently preparing to host a memorial tribute for Newton-John, which Goldsmith said she can’t provide any concrete updates on but that talks are still “fluid”.
However, Victora Premier Dan Andrews has said previously said the state memorial will be “celebrating her life … her music and film and all the other amazing contributions that she made”.
“She took her cancer journey and used that to save lives and change lives, and that’s just a deeply impressive thing,” he said.
The upcoming fundraiser has been held annually by the Oliva Newton-John Wellness Cancer and Research Centre, participants who are unable to attend the live meet-up can still partake in the event virtually as the organisation will also live stream the occasion to connect with supporters from around the world.