There have long been rumours that Bachelor and Bachelorette winners are subject to ‘contracts’ that keep them together after the cameras have stopped rolling.
And while those rumours have repeatedly been denied, Angie Kent added some fuel to the fire when she dropped a hint about what sounded like a contractual arrangement while appearing on The Project on Friday night.
The 29-year-old appeared to hint that her contract suggests she stay away from runner-up Timm Hanly – and Angie insisted that she is paying it no mind.
‘I don’t care about what you are not supposed to do!’ The Bachelorette’s Angie Kent (pictured) reignited rumours about contractual obligations on The Bachelorette while making a telling statement on The Project on Friday night
Appearing on the show alongside her winner and new boyfriend Carlin Sterritt, Angie was asked by panelist Gorgi Coghlan if she had stayed in contact with Timm.
Angie revealed that she had, and said both she and Carlin, 30, are friends with him, with the trio talking regularly.
‘Timm is one of those people, I am one of those people, when I make a connection with somebody, I don’t care about contracts,’ she began.
She added: ‘I don’t care about what you are not supposed to do.’
Oops: Appearing on the show alongside new boyfriend Carlin Sterritt (left), Angie inadvertently let slip that there are ‘contracts’ in place with people who appear on the show
Steer clear? The 29-year-old appeared to hint that her contract suggests she stay away from runner-up Timm Hanly (pictured) – and Angie is paying it no mind
Stay away? ‘Timm is one of those people, I am one of those people, when I make a connection with somebody, I don’t care about contracts. I don’t care about what you are not supposed to do’ she said tellingly
Sitting beside her, Carlin didn’t even appear to flinch after Angie made her telling comments.
Angie said she wanted ‘to be there’ for the 27-year-old Timm, especially after their devastating break up during the show’s finale.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Ten for comment.
This is far from the first time that there has been talk that the winners are bound by a contract.
Bound together? The 2017 Bachelorette, Sophie Monk, and her winner Stu Laundy (pictured), were the subject of rumours that a contract was in place that saw them stay together a number of months before splitting in early 2018
The 2017 Bachelorette, Sophie Monk, and her winner Stu Laundy, were also the subject of rumours that a contract was in place that saw them stay together a number of months before splitting in early 2018.
Almost immediately after the October 26th finale aired, rumours began swirling that Sophie and Stu had called it quits and were feigning their relationship until their contract ended.
Despite Sophie and Stu repeatedly denying the claims, many fans were not convinced, pointing out the couple’s awkwardness around each other during TV appearances, particularly their post-finale interview on The Project.
Stuck? Almost immediately after the finale aired, rumours began swirling that Sophie and Stu had called it quits and were feigning their relationship until their contract ended
Forced affections: Despite Sophie and Stu repeatedly denying the claims, many fans were not convinced, pointing out the couple’s awkwardness around each other in TV interviews
In a statement to Daily Mail Australia at the time, Network Ten denied claims of a contract between the couples.
‘The idea of a contractual obligation for winning Bachelor or Bachelorette contestants to remain coupled after the series has finished is both absolutely ridiculous and false,’ a Network spokesperson said.
‘While we hope that relationships formed on the show are lasting, that is sadly not always the reality.’
Last year’s Bachelor, Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins appeared to let slip that there may be a contract in place, when he referred to the ‘three months’ of media obligations he and his winner would have to attend, only to dump her afterwards.
Ouch: Last year’s Bachelor, Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins (pictured) appeared to let slip that there may be a contract in place, when he referred to the ‘three months’ of media obligations he and his winnetr would have to attend, only to dump her afterwards
Appearing on The Project (picturd) the former footballer said: ‘It’s not fair to her. Going down that path three months, only to break her heart. She’d be sitting here now. People would be asking if you’re in love. And it’s like, I didn’t want to lie’
Appearing on The Project, the former footballer said: ‘It’s not fair to her. Going down that path three months, only to break her heart.’
He added: ‘She’d be sitting here now. People would be asking if you’re in love. And it’s like, I didn’t want to lie’.
Rumours that a contract was enforced also arose when former Bachelorette Sam Frost and Sasha Mielczarek announced their separation in 2016.
Rumour mill: Speculation that a contract was enforced between couples has swirled multiple times, particularly when Sam Frost (right) and Sasha Mielczarek (left) split in 2016
Reports insinuated that the couple, who officially released a statement on their split in December 2016, had actually separated months prior, but were required to stick it out due to an 18-month contract.
Sam and Sasha’s manager Georgina Harrop released a statement to Daily Mail Australia in December 2016, stating that the pair had ‘just come to the realisation that the best way forward is to separate.’
Former stars of the show, such as Bachelor Matty ‘J’ Johnson, and one-time Bachelorette Georgia Love – both of whom are still with their chosen winners years after the finale – have insisted such a contract is a myth.
Denials! Channel Ten has repeatedly denied any such contract exists. Bachelor Matty ‘J’ Johnson (pictured with winner Laura Byrne) has also denied he was contractually bound