Australian Survivor’s Brooke Jowett has hit out at co-star Locky Gilbert after it was announced he would be the next Bachelor – despite the pair recently embarking on a romance.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday night, just a few days after Ten’s announcement, Brooke hinted she had no idea Locky’s Bachelor gig had been in the pipeline.
“My side of our story. Yes, I’m hurt and a little blindsided (excuse the pun) but I wish the best for Locky, I always will 💕 (Secretly I hope he stacks it and splits his pants on day one) Haha,” she wrote.
“I guess we had different things planned in our heads for what was to come over the next few months but you can’t be mad at someone for doing what they feel is best for them, even if it does sting a little..”
In the lengthy post, Brooke also took aim at criticism that she had been riding Locky’s coattails during her Survivor run and reflected on their time together.
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“In no way am I or is my Survivor experience defined by Locky or any other man. I was never hiding in his shadow in the game and I won’t be hiding in his shadow now. But I will always cherish those times we shared, it was an amazing life experience,” she added.
“Thank you all for your supportive messages ❤ I know I have bigger and better things in store (maybe not bigger actually, Locky is pretty bloody big) but definitely better. I hope he finds what he’s looking for🌹.
“P.S It looks like I’m now going solo to Bali next month. Any takers? #survivorau #survivor2020”
In the comments section, many of her fellow Survivor stars were quick to offer words of support, including Golden God David Genat, who commented “paging Bachelorette” and “Way better things to come” on the post.
WATCH: Locky Gilbert competes against his fellow Survivor stars in a push up challenge. Story continues below…
Brooke and Locky became close while playing Australian Survivor: All Stars.
(Image: Network Ten)On Wednesday, Channel Ten confirmed Locky will be the next Bachelor, following his elimination from the show.
“I really want to find love. I’m pretty content with my life at the moment. I go on crazy adventures, but I’m doing it all by myself,” Locky said in a statement released by Ten.
“I’ve got best friends, but I want to find that one best friend that I can spend the rest of my life with. This is an amazing opportunity to hopefully find someone special at the end.”
But given Locky and Brooke’s romance was still playing out on Survivor, there was backlash from some fans who questioned how she felt about the situation.
Late on Tuesday night, just hours before Channel 10 made the official announcement, Brooke posted a loving tribute to Locky on Instagram, alongside a cute couple photo of the pair.
“Thankyou for being my ride or die and the greatest big manly blanket I could have asked for 😔❤️ @locklangilbert #survivorau,” she wrote.
Brooke was “blindsided” when Channel Ten announced Locky would be the next Bachelor.
(Image: Network Ten)Even Brooke’s Instagram followers were confused by the photo.
“So does this mean you’re going to be on The Bachelor? Because you could totally take those girls down 💪🏻💪🏻,” one fan wrote, while another asked, “Are you guys a couple?”
A third person comment: “So, now you enter the Bachelor and win his heart again and complete the love story we all want to see?”
Australia is totally shipping these two!
Fans took to Locky’s own Instagram page to question the star about his relationship with Brooke – the comments section on his Bachie announcement post is peppered with “What about Brooke?” and “Brooke tho?” remarks – Brooke herself had the perfect response.
She wrote “She’ll survive xx”, and also responded to another comment with a withering rose emoji.
Brooke says she was blindsided by Locky’s announcement.
(Image: Channel 10)When asked about his relationship with Brooke just hours after being announced as the new Bachie, Locky seemed to suggest that his romance with Brooke was a Survivor-only type of fling.
“Yeah um, Brooke’s an amazing girl, but the thing is, it was filmed like 5 months ago,” he told KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O show on Wednesday morning.
“So, it was quite a while ago and on the show you just want to have that person that you can fully trust, and like, if you don’t you can kind of lose your mind out there. So, me and Brooke just connected, we had lots to talk about. I think that really helped me in the game.”
Don’t worry Brooke, we know there’s definitely one lucky guy out there for you!
