It was the fairytale reality TV romance everyone hoped would last.
But sources say Georgia Love and Lee Elliott’s marriage is on life support, with the famous couple ‘taking a break’ while they reassess their future together.
Eight years after falling in love on Ten’s The Bachelorette, Georgia, 35, sparked break-up rumours when she ditched her wedding ring and jetted to New York City on Boxing Day.
Joined by a pal, she has spent the last two weeks watching almost a dozen Broadway shows while her carpenter husband Lee, 43, has been hunkering down in their marital home in Melbourne, making occasional trips out for golf and beers with his mates.
Having spent Christmas apart, opting to be with their respective families, Georgia’s trip to the Big Apple – combined with both her and Lee being seen without their wedding bands – has led to a flurry of speculation online they’ve called it quits.
And we can confirm it’s more than just speculation, with a source familiar with the situation telling us they are over – for the time being, at least.
Sources say Georgia Love and Lee Elliott’s marriage is on life support, with the famous couple ‘taking a break’ while they reassess their future together (pictured in happier times)
Lee, pictured outside his marital home in Melbourne on Wednesday while Georgia was in New York with a friend, is also no longer wearing his wedding ring
Georgia, 35, has been living it up in the Big Apple for the last fortnight with a gay friend (right)
‘They are on a break but plan to reassess their relationship when Georgia returns home from America,’ the insider tells us.
‘The time apart could be good for them and I think they both have had an opportunity to see what life would be like if they did [officially] separate.
‘Both are surprised there has been this much interest, to be honest. They have agreed not to talk to the media directly – at least not until they work out where they are at.’
The source adds that Lee ‘has always supported Georgia following her dreams’ and ‘I think whatever happens, they will remain friends in the long term.
‘Everyone, including them, is hoping they make things work and I guess that’s why they have been so reluctant to address anything officially.’
On Wednesday, we pictured Lee sifting through storage boxes in the garage of their home. He was seen pulling out parcels of clothing, perhaps completing the final orders for his men’s athleisure business that he closed at the end of last year.
While rummaging around, it was clear he was not wearing his wedding ring.
The next morning, a Daily Mail Australia reporter went out to the estranged couple’s home where she found Lee taking photos of Georgia’s red Volkswagen Eos.
Georgia is no longer wearing her wedding and engagement rings in photos – something social media sleuths quickly picked up on because she was known to show them off (see above)
Lee, 43, has been bunkering down in their marital home in Melbourne, making occasional trips out for golf and beers with his mates (see above)
The carpenter was briefly in Sydney over the New Year period, watching the fireworks from a waterfront home with friends (Lee is pictured second from right)
When asked if he wished to say anything about their break-up, Lee’s response effectively confirmed what our insider had said about their pact to stay silent.
He did not deny they had split, instead politely saying he could not comment, then hopped into his ute and drove off to work.
The following morning – Friday – our snapper caught a downcast-looking Lee grabbing coffee in Hampton. Again without his wedding ring, he appeared to be on the verge of tears.
It comes as fans on Instagram continue to press Georgia about her husband’s whereabouts during her U.S. holiday. She has not confirmed a split or a trial separation, instead offering the more general answer that he is ‘at home’.
‘Where is Lee?’ one user asked in her comments section, adding a sad-faced emoji.
‘He’s at home, I’m here visiting my friend,’ Georgia replied, adding that she was ‘incredibly tired of this question’.
One follower asked, ‘Oh, you’ve split up with Lee?’ which prompted another to reply, ‘Poor Lee.’
‘Why?’ Georgia bluntly answered.
On Wednesday, we pictured Lee sifting through storage boxes in the garage of his home
He was seen pulling out parcels of clothing, perhaps completing the final orders for his men’s athleisure business that he closed at the end of last year
While rummaging around, it was clear he was not wearing his wedding ring
The only time Georgia directly addressed the split rumours was last month when she responded to a follower who asked if Lee was joining her on her Boxing Day flight to the Big Apple and, if not, why.
‘Best to stop speculating, least of all on my own page,’ she said. ‘If I had anything to tell you all, I would do so myself.’
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Georgia and Lee on multiple occasions regarding the status of their relationship.
They haven’t been pictured together since September and Georgia has attended several events without wearing her diamond engagement ring and wedding ring, including at a Christmas party where Lee was notably absent.
Questions were first raised when Georgia posted a video on social media of herself decorating her Christmas tree at home and there was nothing on her left ring finger.
Soon after, another photo showed her at an outdoor café with a friend and she was also ring-less – which suggested the earlier clip was not a one-off.
Lee looked visibly distressed while heading out for a coffee in Hampton on Friday morning
He teamed a pair of white slides with a black T-shirt and shorts. Again, he was not wearing his wedding ring
It comes as fans on Instagram continue to press Georgia about her husband’s whereabouts during her U.S. holiday. She has not confirmed a split or a trial separation, instead offering the more general answer that Lee is ‘at home’
Noticing this was unusual for Georgia, eagle-eyed fans flocked to the comments section to ask if she and Lee had called time on their relationship.
This, in turn, prompted others to note the pair hadn’t been pictured together in a few months, leading to speculation they could become Australia’s ‘first Bachelor divorce’.
The pair met and fell in love on the 2016 season of The Bachelorette, which saw Georgia, a former TV news reporter, choose tradie Lee as her winning suitor.
They married in 2021 at the Frogmore Creek Winery outside Hobart, followed by an outdoor reception at the Shene Distillery.
The lovebirds had been due to marry in Italy the year prior, but were forced to cancel due to Covid travel restrictions.
The following year, they moved into their $1.3million townhouse in Melbourne’s upmarket suburb of Hampton East.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk