The Bachelorette’s Carlin Sterritt is slammed over a tone-deaf Instagram post joking he is on the phone to Centrelink – as thousands lose their jobs during the COVID-19 recession
The Bachelorette‘s Carlin Sterritt was slammed by fans on Monday over a tone deaf Instagram post.
The 30-year-old personal trainer and budding influencer shared a picture of himself walking and talking on the phone, captioning it that he was calling Centrelink.
Carlin was attacked in the comments, with one follower saying he was using the coronavirus pandemic as the basis of a joke for a caption.
Insensitive: The Bachelorette star Carlin Sterritt was slammed by fans for a tone deaf Instagram post on Monday, where he joked he was on the phone to Centrelink amid COVID-19
Tone deaf: ‘Just on the phone to Centrelink,’ Carlin captioned the image
‘Just on the phone to Centrelink,’ Carlin captioned the image.
One follower wrote underneath in a post that appears to have been deleted: ‘Lol love using a global pandemic and the stress of losing work and applying for government support as the basis of a joke to cover the fact I just wanted to post a photo where I think I look good x.’
Carlin, who has just split with Bachelorette Angie Kent, hit back saying he wasn’t trying to cause ‘offense.’
Scathing: One follower wrote underneath in a post that appears to have been deleted: ‘Lol love using a global pandemic and the stress of losing work and applying for government support as the basis of a joke to cover the fact I just wanted to post a photo where I think I look good x’
‘We’ve all felt the pinch. I’m in the same boat as a lot of people! Look, I’m not trying to be offensive and didn’t even think it would be. I guess people like to be offended some times. I can be your choice,’ Carlin said.
An Abbie Chatfield fan account added: ‘When perfectly financially stable people try to relate to a struggling audience.’
Carlin insisted that he himself is getting financial support from Centrelink amid COVID-19.
Hitting out: An Abbie Chatfield fan account added: ‘When perfectly financially stable people try to relate to a struggling audience,’ while others chimed in
‘I wouldn’t be getting Centrelink JobSeeker if I was “perfectly financially stable” now would I…’
The fan account then labelled his post ‘a bit tone deaf.’
He hit back again, remarking: ‘Jumping to conclusions because of the five per cent I put on Instagram is just silly.’
Another follower remarked: ‘I wish I had a professional photographer on the ready for every time I needed to call Centrelink.’
The JobKeeper payment is a wage subsidy program that helps businesses cover the cost of their employee’s wages amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Getting help: Carlin insisted that he himself is getting financial support from Centrelink amid COVID-19
He can relate: ‘I wouldn’t be getting Centrelink JobSeeker if I was “perfectly financially stable” now would I…,’ Carlin said
JobSeeker is financial help for people struggling to make ends meet during COVID-19.
It was reported at the end of last month that from the end of September to January, JobKeeper will be reduced to from $1,500 to $12,00 for full-time workers and $750 for people working 20 hours or less.
About 2.5million Australians will be pushed off JobKeeper by early next year, after the government announced sweeping changes to the payment subsidy.
Although the generous scheme, brought in to soften the economic blow from coronavirus, will be extended for a further six months past September, the eligibility criteria will be narrowed and the payments will be slashed.
Scott Morrison announced the wage scheme, which currently helps 3.5million Australians, will be reduced in phases as the economy recovers from coronavirus lockdowns.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted a representative of Carlin for comment, in relation to this story.
Trying times: Carlin has just split from Angie Kent, who he met on The Bachelorette