Interestingly, this year's Bachelorette, Angie Kent, also claimed these factors no doubt contributed to their separation, admitting during a recent episode of Have You Been Paying Attention? that it's tough to make it work after the cameras stop rolling.
"Once you get out of the Bachie bubble, it's up to you then to kind of create a connection and see how it goes," the 29-year-old said. "It's hardcore.
With rumours swirling reality star Chels was blindsided by Matt's decision to end thing so suddenly, she seemingly confirmed this was the case late last night. When one fan questioned whether the breakup was mutual, instead of answering the inquiry with a video message as she did before, she posted a photo of a young girl's face— which became a viral meme a few months ago— giving the side-eye and looking confused. She later revealed she's never been able to break up with someone, "even if they're horrible" and the relationship is toxic.
Although Chelsie insisted "nothing bad happened" between the pair, she and her co-stars have hinted on multiple occasions that infidelity spelled the end of their romance. After admitting she was "triggered" when former contestant Jessica Brody shared a photo to Instagram with the caption, "Me ➡️vs.➡️ Me when he tells me I’m the only girl he’s talking to," Abbie Chatfield later echoed a similar sentiment on her Instagram story— leading many fans to believe Matt was doing the dirty on his girlfriend.
Then there are rumours Matt was "contractually obliged" to pick Chelsie during the final rose ceremony, hence why they announced their split so soon after the show's finale played out on our screens. According to New Idea's source, Matt knew from the get-go that he didn't intend to choose any of the women vying for his heart, however, a strict clause in his Network 10 contract prevented him from pulling a Honey Badger.
“He wanted to choose no-one, but obviously it was in his contract that he had to choose someone, so producers pushed him to pick Chelsie because she was the safe bet. If it happened two years in a row, the whole franchise would be done," the spy told the outlet.
“If they announced their split during Angie’s season, it would have put a bad taste in viewers’ mouths and could have impacted the ratings. So, he was made to keep the act up and do the required media rounds with Chelsie until Angie’s season had finished airing.”
While this theory makes a lot of sense, former Bachelor star Matty J— who's now engaged and shares a child with his season's winner, Laura Byrne— strongly refutes claims Matt was forced to profess his love for Chelsie before the season ended.
"I am going to disagree," he told his co-host Nat Bassingthwaighte during a recent episode of their new podcast, The babble. "I don't reckon there's anywhere they could've forced him to choose somebody. In the weeks leading up to the finale I had one of the producers come up to me and say, 'just letting you know, as you are making your decision, it's ok if you don't want to pick anyone. You are totally allowed to do that.'"
He continued: "They don't try and push you in any kind of direction. There is no wrong decision and whatever you choose is ok."
While Matty J understands the show's process and what goes on behind the scenes, Nat wasn't convinced, arguing Network 10 encourages the hunky men and women handing out the roses to pick someone so it looks better for the franchise.
"The success rate is 50 per cent," Matt hit back. "I can't imagine that legally that could be written into a contract."
