Shortland Street is taking the threat of a stalker seriously and, at their request, the Herald on Sunday has agreed to not name the 25-year-old accused man, who is unemployed and lives in Ponsonby. Producers feared naming him might feed his desire for attention.
Shortland Street spokeswoman Tamar Munch said: "Identifying him vindicates him in some capacity and may escalate the situation."
What had happened to Blakely, she said, was a "very unusual circumstance. It's absolutely unique".
The actor should not have to put up with such unwanted attention.
"It shouldn't be part and parcel of the job they do."
The accused man appeared in the Auckland District Court on Friday and was remanded on bail. The full charge states he "harassed Teuila Blakely with intent to cause fear for her safety", in December last year.
A quietly-spoken man, he told the Herald on Sunday he did not understand why he was being charged.
"I don't know why, it's stupid," he said. "Nobody knows what I'm about."
He claimed he had known Blakely for a long time and they had been in a relationship. "We used to hook up," he said.
A show spokesman said that was not true.
