Titus Day admits failing to pass on money to Guy Sebastian after legal battle

Pop star Guy Sebastian's former manager Titus Day has admitted he failed to pass on money owed to the singer and apologised for his actions, after the pair reached a settlement in a nearly decade-long legal battle.

In a statement issued after the confidential settlement, Mr Day said that during the 11-and-a-half years he was Sebastian's manager, he "made a number of regrettable decisions which have had painful consequences".

"Looking back on the latter half of the time when I was managing Guy's career, I can see that I had become a poor steward of Guy's income, including income that my company continued to receive after Guy left my management company in 2017," he said.

He said the failure to pay was the result of his mistake, adding, "I accept that my failures at that time had a serious and regrettable impact on Guy and his family, for which I apologise."

'I would do things differently if I had my time again'

Mr Day had been Sebastian's manager for more than a decade when the pair split over a financial dispute in 2017.

The pop singer launched legal action to try to recoup the money owed to him by Mr Day.

In 2022, Mr Day was sentenced to four years in prison for embezzling $600,000 from his star client between 2013 and 2020, before his convictions were quashed on appeal.

A retrial was ordered and last year a jury acquitted Mr Day of four charges, but failed to reach a verdict on the others.

In the statement on Wednesday, Mr Day conceded that Sebastian previously attempted to settle with him on "incredibly fair terms," adding that "I would do things differently if I had my time again".

Sebastian also issued a statement, thanking his family, friends and legal team for carrying him through the long legal ordeal.

"I know this impacted a lot of people, but I believed it was something I couldn't walk away from," Sebastian said.

"With the accountability shown and the apology Mr Day has provided in his statement, I am prepared to put aside my claim against him, forgive, and move forward."

'A private resolution has always been Guy's preference'

The pop star previously opened up to the ABC about the pressures of giving evidence in the witness box against Mr Day during the day, then performing in front of thousands of fans in an arena by night.

Sebastian's lawyer Mark Faraday said: "Today's statement from Mr Day speaks for itself. It contains a clear apology, an acceptance of responsibility and an acknowledgement that payments owed to Guy were not passed on.

"As stated by Mr Day, my client was willing to resolve this matter very early, and on incredibly fair terms. A private resolution has always been Guy's preference.

"For Guy this is not just a legal settlement, he genuinely wished Mr Day and his family better times ahead."