When Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell revealed that they had hastily tied the knot at Australia Zoo, it seemed like the good news story everyone was hoping for.
But just hours after saying “I do”, the couple have faced extreme backlash, as the celebration took place mere hours before Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s new restrictions on weddings came into place, which states no more five people can attend the celebration, in order to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Bindi and Chandler married in a private ceremony at Australia Zoo.
(Image: Instagram @bindisueirwin)Twitter was flooded with posts labelling the 21-year-old wildlife warrior as selfish and irresponsible for holding her wedding amid a global pandemic, where social distancing regulations are already being enforced.
“Bindi Irwin is so f—in selfish for having that wedding. Yes the rules don’t come into play until midnight, but that doesn’t mean the virus can’t spread before that. People are dying. Your wedding can wait. Face with rolling eyes,” one person tweeted.
Others referenced the photos and video aerial footage of bride Bindi hiding from the paparazzi, surrounded by people holding umbrellas, as it goes against social distancing guidelines.
However, others have leapt to Bindi and Chandler’s defence, seeing as the couple admitted that they made the “difficult decision” to not have guests at the nuptials.
“Y’all coming for Bindi Irwin who had NO guests at her wedding and got married on site at the zoo where she lives(!) are so nasty. CAN’T WE JUST HAVE ONE NICE THING,” one fan wrote.
“If any of you speak ill of Bindi Irwin for having her wedding despite the pandemic it’s ON SITE. They didn’t have any guests and it was at the zoo where they basically live CAN YOU LET PEOPLE HAVE ONE HAPPY MOMENT,” said another.
Weddings in Australia are now restricted to no more than five people in attendance.
This means that the couple, celebrant and two witnesses are the only ones permitted to be at the celebration and the four-square-metre rule and social distancing practices must be adhered to.
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37 people contracted coronavirus after attending a wedding at Tumbling Waters Retreat in Stanwell Tops south of Sydney.
The bride and groom learned that six of their guests contracted the virus and just two weeks later, the number of guests that had tested positive reached 37.
