“SHE IS A GOOD MOTHER!” — Public shock and heartbreak over Jo Silvagni’s ordeal this week has been overwhelming. 😢
“No one blames her for her son’s crime, but the world is waiting to see the one thing she must do next…” — a prominent figure said, leaving fans emotional and debating online.
👉 Full story and reactions below 👇
In a powerful and emotionally charged opinion piece published on December 20, 2025, prominent Australian columnist and former escort Amanda Goff (known publicly as Samantha X) has come to the defense of Jo Silvagni, declaring emphatically that the television personality is “a good mother” whose pain as a parent has been heartbreaking to witness. However, Goff – writing in the Daily Mail Australia – also delivered a direct plea, stating: “What I’ve heard about Jo Silvagni this week has shattered me. No one blames her for her son’s crime, but there’s one thing she must now do…”
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Goff, a high-profile public figure who has openly shared her own life experiences, began her column by condemning the “vitriol” directed at Jo and her husband, AFL legend Stephen Silvagni, in the wake of their youngest son Tom’s conviction and sentencing. “No mother deserves the hate Jo has received,” she wrote, emphasizing that parents cannot be held responsible for the criminal actions of their adult children. She described seeing Jo in court footage – aged by grief, visibly shattered – and initially feeling deep empathy: “I saw the pain etched on your face… I imagined I’d look the same way if I was in your shoes.”
The turning point for Goff came from reports of Jo’s behavior during the pre-sentencing hearing on December 12. Multiple outlets noted that Jo and Stephen did not enter the courtroom while the brave young victim delivered her harrowing 28-minute impact statement, in which she confronted Tom directly, calling his actions “calculated” and “evil” and detailing the lifelong PTSD and trauma she now endures. Instead, the Silvagnis entered afterward – and witnesses, including journalists, reported that Jo proceeded to “stare down” or “glare at” the victim across the room.
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This detail “shattered” Goff’s initial sympathy. While reiterating that “no one blames her for her son’s crime” and defending Jo against online hate, Goff argued that the reported glaring – whether intentional or not – was deeply hurtful to a survivor who had just relived her trauma in open court. She urged Jo to reflect on her actions and take one crucial step: acknowledge the victim’s suffering publicly or privately.
“The one thing she must now do,” Goff wrote implicitly through her plea, is to show compassion toward the young woman whose life was irrevocably changed in the Silvagni family home. Goff suggested that a genuine expression of sorrow for the victim’s pain – separate from maintaining Tom’s innocence or pursuing an appeal – could begin to heal some of the wider damage. “Jo, you are a good mother. But being a good person means seeing the pain you may have caused, even unintentionally, and trying to make it right.”
The column has sparked widespread discussion, with many praising Goff for striking a balanced tone: defending parental love while holding space for victim-centered accountability. Others echoed her call, arguing that the Silvagnis’ continued public assertions of Tom’s innocence – including Stephen’s tearful statement outside court vowing to “clear his name” – have felt tone-deaf to survivors.
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This comes amid ongoing fallout for the family. Chemist Warehouse, where Jo has been a beloved ambassador for over a decade promoting health and wellness products, has quietly removed some of her promotional content from social media and platforms, signaling potential strain on the long-standing partnership. Public backlash has included boycott calls, with many citing insensitivity toward sexual assault survivors.
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Tom Silvagni, 23, was sentenced on December 17 to six years and two months in prison (non-parole period of three years and three months) for digitally raping the woman twice through deception in January 2024 at the family’s Balwyn North home. Judge Gregory Lyon described the offenses as “egregious and callous,” noting Tom’s lack of remorse and attempts to shift blame, including forging an Uber receipt.
The victim has since shared messages of gratitude on social media for the support received, highlighting the judicial validation of her truth. Her courage has been widely admired, contrasting with perceptions of the Silvagnis’ courtroom conduct.
Goff’s piece underscores a broader societal conversation: how families of perpetrators navigate grief without diminishing victims’ experiences. While Jo has faced intense scrutiny – including for reportedly pushing away reporters post-sentencing – Goff’s defense reminds readers of her humanity as a mother, while gently calling for empathy beyond family boundaries.
As the Silvagnis reportedly consider an appeal and retreat from the public eye, Goff’s words resonate: true healing, for everyone involved, may require acknowledging all the pain caused that night in January 2024.
