The backlash begins: Bachelor fans label Locky Gilbert an ‘attention seeker’ after he dumped Survivor girlfriend Brooke Jowett right before filming the show
Former Australian Survivor star Locklan ‘Locky’ Gilbert is just weeks away from his starring role as TV’s most eligible man: The Bachelor.
But the 31-year-old is proving to be a controversial suitor, after finding himself embroiled in a string of relationship dramas recently.
Following the release of a new Bachelor trailer, female fans have threatened to boycott the series after Locky was accused of ‘ghosting’ his ex-girlfriend Brooke Jowett, whom he met on the latest season of Survivor.
‘So romantic he blindsided Brooke’: Bachelor fans turn on Locky Gilbert, 31, (pictured) over his past relationship history with women after the latest promo which aired last week
Many fans took issue with Locky saying he was ‘ready to settle down’, with one commenting below the trailer on Instagram: ‘He’s so romantic that he blindsided Brooke. What a hero!’
Another wrote: ‘Really not that excited for his season. He’s just an attention seeker like Angie [Kent,last year’s Bachelorette]. He was with Brooke and then ghosted her and the next thing you know he’s the Bachelor.
‘This is one season I have absolutely no interest in.’
A third viewer was succinct in her criticism, writing: ‘Yeah, no thanks. I think I’ll pass on this one.’
Hmmm! ‘He’s just an attention seeker like Angie. He was with Brooke and then ghosted her and the next thing you know he’s the Bachelor,’ one fan wrote
‘Hurt’ and ‘blindsided’: Locky was announced as The Bachelor in March. Soon after, his co-star Brooke said she was ‘blindsided’ by the announcement
Locklan was announced as The Bachelor in March. Soon after, his co-star and love interest Brooke said she was ‘blindsided’ by the announcement.
The Melbourne-based personal trainer, 26, wrote: ‘Yes, I’m hurt and a little blindsided (excuse the pun) but I wish the best for Locky. I always will.’
She jokingly said that she hopes her ex ‘stacks it and splits his pants on day one’.
No go: Locky was reportedly seeing Charlie Octavia (pictured) until just before he was confirmed as the Bachelor, she claims
‘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,’ she said.
‘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.’
She went on: ‘I know I have bigger and better things in store (maybe not bigger actually, Locky is pretty bloody big) but definitely better.’
Last to know: Holly Newman claimed she found out he was The Bachelor via social media, as he ‘ghosted’ her and left her messages unanswered
Brooke also revealed they had planned to visit Bali together in April, after their journey on Survivor was filmed last year.
Locky then had two other women claim to have been intimate with him before the announcement of him as Bachelor.
Locky had previously dated Love Island star Jordan Cayless until mid-2019
Past fling: Locky had previously dated Love Island star Jordan Cayless until mid-2019
In the promo for the series, Locky says he is ready to settle down and find love: ‘I’m here to find love. I would love to get down on one knee at the end – I’m the kind of guy that would do it,’ he says in the trailer.
He continued: ‘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.’
The Bachelor will air later this year on Channel Ten
Starring role: The Bachelor will air later this year on Channel Ten