The woman raped by Tom Silvagni has issued a powerful public response after vile online commentary questioned her credibility on the basis of her appearance and social media activity following his conviction.
The 23-year-old son of Carlton great Stephen Silvagni and TV infomercial queen Jo Silvagni (née Bailey) was found guilty of two counts of rape in the Victorian County Court in December.
He was sentenced to six years and two months in prison, with parole eligibility after three years and three months, but has appealed.
While the victim has public social media accounts where she has spoken about the trial and addressed Silvagni’s conviction, her identity remains suppressed by the courts and the Mail cannot name her.
She posted a statement on her Instagram Stories this week responding to online commentary she summed up as: ‘Her social media doesn’t look like she’s a victim.’
In a direct reply, she wrote: ‘After going through hell, best believe I am going to rock up to Pilates in a cute matching set.’
Tom Silvagni (pictured), the son of Carlton great Stephen Silvagni and TV presenter Jo Bailey, was convicted of rape in December. (He is seen outside court on November 24)
Stephen Silvagni and his wife Jo depart the County Court of Victoria during their son’s trial
In a subsequent post, the woman addressed a number of claims she said had been made about her conduct, appearance and online activity since Silvagni’s guilty verdict.
‘What someone chooses to post on social media is not giving consent or “asking for it”,’ she wrote.
‘What a survivor chooses to put on social media doesn’t mean they aren’t traumatised or that “it never happened”.’
She also rejected suggestions that clothing choices or lifestyle decisions undermine claims of sexual assault.
‘What someone chooses to wear is not giving consent (even if it’s “revealing”),’ she wrote.
‘What a survivor chooses to wear has nothing to do with “well they can’t be traumatised if they’re going out like that”.’
The woman further stated that life choices made after an alleged assault do not negate trauma or imply falsity.
‘Choices a survivor makes with their life after going through trauma doesn’t mean they’ve “made it up” or “it never happened”,’ she wrote.
Tom Silvagni, pictured in a court sketch, is planning to appeal the rape conviction
‘There’s no “right way” to heal from trauma. Everyone’s different.’
The posts were public and visible on her Instagram for 24 hours before expiring.
The jury heard the offences occurred at the Silvagni family home in Balwyn North, Melbourne, in the early hours of January 14, 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, the complainant had attended the house with her casual intimate partner at the time, Anthony LoGiudice, and Silvagni’s girlfriend.
The court heard the complainant and LoGiudice later had consensual sex before LoGiudice ordered an Uber and left the property shortly before 2am.
The jury was told Silvagni later entered the complainant’s bedroom, falsely told her that LoGiudice’s Uber had been cancelled, and then pretended to be LoGiudice before digitally raping her.
The prosecution said the complainant realised it was Silvagni after touching his hair, which was longer than LoGiudice’s, prompting him to flee the room.
The jury heard Silvagni later returned to the room, asked if the complainant was okay and requested a hug from her.
Tom Silvagni, left, arrives at the County Court of Victoria in Melbourne on November 24, 2025, with his defence barrister David Hallowes SC and, behind him, parents Jo and Stephen Silvagni
In the days following the incident, Silvagni fabricated an Uber receipt to suggest LoGiudice had remained at the house and was present at the time of the assault.
Silvagni admitted forging the receipt but claimed he did so because he panicked after being falsely accused. The jury rejected that explanation.
During sentencing, Judge Gregory Lyon described Silvagni’s conduct as ‘egregious’ and criticised his attempts to mislead the complainant and undermine her credibility.
‘Your conduct towards Samantha* was egregious,’ the judge said, using the complainant’s court-assigned pseudonym.
‘You repeatedly lied in an attempt to avoid responsibility.’
The judge noted the complainant did not suffer physical injuries but said she experienced significant psychological and emotional trauma. He commended her conduct throughout the trial process.
Silvagni has since filed an appeal against his convictions in the Victorian Court of Appeal.
Court documents show he argues trial errors were made, including the treatment of a pre-recorded phone call with the complainant as evidence of incriminating conduct and the directions given to the jury.
He has not appealed his sentence. A date for an oral hearing has not yet been set.
Silvagni’s parents have previously stated their son maintains his innocence and intends to clear his name through the appeal process.
The case remains before the courts.
