As his long-standing feud with Lee Elliott continues to quietly simmer, an emotional Dean Wells has opened up the Bachelorette star calling him a “sexist” and “chauvinistic bigot”, admitting he was deeply offended by these accusations.
“He doesn’t even know. I think I may have met him at a party once, but I definitely didn’t display any of those characteristics he was mentioning, that’s for sure,” the Dancing With The Stars contestant told News.com.au before appearing on the premiere episode last night.
The former Married At First Sight bad boy— who was infamously embroiled in a cheating scandal— also claimed Georgie Love’s fiance was looking to be thrust back into the spotlight, hence why he publicly unleashed on him.
“I think he just wanted a bit of attention,” said Dean who cheated on his TV bride Tracey Jewel. “He saw that as an opportunity to put someone else down to make himself look better or feel good… for me, that’s just not my style, but everyone’s entitled to their opinion.”
Their unexpected and extremely strange dispute came as a result of Lee’s Instagram takedown in which he slammed Channel 10 for casting the MAFS alum, accusing them of “celebrating” an “intolerable, sexist, chauvinistic bigot”.
After the Bachie star’s comment made headlines, Dean broke his silence on January 17, strongly refuting his claims while admitting Lee was completely out of line.
“I am as far from any of those things as a person can be,” said Dean, who once called himself an “alpha male”.
“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. However, if he had ever actually met me, he would know that I am as far from any of those things as a person can be. I don’t judge anyone based on gender, ethnicity, sexuality or any other such traits.
“I am choosing to ignore negativity and focus on the challenge of learning to dance and hopefully raising money for my nominated charity, the BridgIT Water Foundation. That’s what it’s [the show] all about. Dancing with the Stars is such a great show and I am honoured and humbled to be chosen amongst such a talented bunch of people,” Dean concluded.
Unfortunately, the backlash has continued, with Dean copping major heat over his less than impressive DWTS performance last night. Not only was he slammed by judges Mandy Moore, Sharna Burgess and Tristan Macmanus, but the general public was also pretty disappointed with his lacklustre moves which led him to come in 10th place.
“I thought nothing could top Dean’s rap from MAFS… And then that dance happened,” one fan tweeted after the controversial reality contestant finished his cha-cha.
While it’s safe to say he’s been unable to shed his bad-boy reputation, he pleaded with DWTS fans to give him a second chance, despite the fact host Amanda Keller was quick to bring up his racy appearance on MAFS.
“Tonight Dean Wells is dancing the cha-cha. Correct. Yet, on a reality show, a long time ago on a channel far, far away, he got into a lot of trouble for doing the horizontal cha-cha,” she said.
He later hit back, saying: “Maybe I’m not like the bad guy that so many people thought of me on the last reality show I was on,” he said. “Maybe a terrible dancer, but maybe not the bad guy or the villain, hopefully.”
He also echoed a similar sentiment while chatting to News.com.au, telling the outlet that he’s working hard to change people’s thoughts.
“I didn’t like the way I was portrayed on MAFS, so it definitely wasn’t a decision I made lightly,” he said. “After MAFS, people wanted to cling on to what they saw in the past of me. It was not me that people saw; it was such a manipulated situation, it just wasn’t who I am.
“With Dancing, all I can really do is be myself, try my hardest and learn the dances, get my discipline and my commitment levels up … If Australia sees a different side of me through that, then that’s great.”
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