Jimmy Bartel’s girlfriend Lauren Mand hits back at split rumours – and sends a powerful message to the trolls who’ve targeted her ever since she started dating the AFL great
Lauren Mand has hit back at rumours she’s split from former AFL player Jimmy Bartel.
In a telling move, the 31-year-old Melbourne socialite recently changed her profile picture on Instagram to a photo of herself and Jimmy.
The photo was taken on December 25 as the couple spent Christmas together with Jimmy’s sons, Aston, five, and Henley, two.
Proof of life: Lauren Mand has hit back at ongoing rumours she’s split from former AFL player Jimmy Bartel
The former Geelong player dressed in white shorts and a khaki shirt, which he paired with grey Birkenstock sandals.
Meanwhile, office worker Lauren looked sensational in a white dress and heels.
Jimmy shared a photo to his own account of himself with his children, but didn’t post a picture of Lauren and the boys together.
Making a statement: In a telling move, the 31-year-old Melbourne socialite recently changed her profile picture on Instagram to a photo of herself and Jimmy
Daddy’s boys: The photo appears to have been taken on Christmas Day, with Jimmy, 37, sharing a similar photo of himself and his two young sons on his respective Instagram
The notoriously private couple rarely post photos together these days, and Lauren’s Instagram account is private with only a handful of followers.
They had been the subject of break-up rumours in December after fans noticed it’d been months since Jimmy had shared a photo with his girlfriend on social media.
The couple’s last photo together on Jimmy’s account was taken in March last year, during their holiday in Japan.
Jimmy’s romance with Lauren first made headlines in 2019, following his very public split from his ex-wife, fashion designer Nadia Bartel.
Last sighting: The couple’s last photo together on Jimmy’s account was taken in March last year, during their holiday in Japan
The footy star’s main Instagram feed now focuses solely on the two children he shares with Nadia, sons Aston and Henley.
Meanwhile, Lauren deleted her own Instagram account in October and created a private one with just a sprinkling of followers.
She may have made the transition to a private account after being bullied by trolls who believe they are supporting Nadia. (Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Nadia is involved in, or even aware of, the trolling against her ex-husband’s new girlfriend.)
In August, she was targeted by an anonymous ‘hate account’ online, which uploaded several cruel posts about her and her relationship with Jimmy.
Despite the vitriol, she has maintained a dignified silence, declining interviews and refusing to comment on social media.
Still going strong: Jimmy’s controversial romance with Lauren became public knowledge in 2019, following his highly publicised split from ex-wife Nadia Bartel (not pictured)