While Richie has steered clear of the spotlight in recent months, he made headlines earlier this year when he shockingly admitted every on-screen romance we saw on last season of Bachelor In Paradise wasn't exactly real.
"That would be a real simple one: No," he said when asked whether there were any genuine connections formed between his co-stars.
After realising he inadvertently admitted his fling with "stage five clinger" Cassandra Wood was all for show, he backtracked.
"I don't think anyone's 'faking' a relationship, It's easy to spark a relationship— Whether or not that will last outside of paradise is a whole different kettle of fish."
During the show's finale, Richie abruptly ended his relationship with Cass, admitting out of nowhere he was hoping to move on with his life.
"When I came into Paradise I was really cautious about the steps I wanted to take with someone," he told a devastated Cass during an awkward date. "I guess what I was looking for was, 'Can I trust this person? Do they like me for me?' and in every way, you certainly haven't let me down," he said.
Eventually, Richie admitted the long-distance element of Cass living in Sydney, and Richie living in Perth was playing on his mind, as he said he was fearful he was repeating the same mistake he made with Alex Nation on his season of The Bachelor.
As we know, Richie's appearance on the show wasn't easy. Viewers saw him face a grilling from ex Alex after coming face-to-face with her for the first time in 18 months. They alluded to a very personal incident when Richie wasn't there for Alex at a time she desperately needed him.
"I feel like people would have a very big opinion of a woman, being left alone, to do something that involved both of us," Alex said to Richie in an awkward confrontation. "I was left alone, to go through something massive that no woman should go through!"
