Bachelor In Paradise has been accused of ‘queerbaiting’ by furious fans after teasing a lesbian kiss between Megan Marx and a woman – who turned out to be a man.
Viewers saw the bisexual contestant lock lips with a mystery long-haired brunette who appeared to be Elora Murger in a steamy promo for the Channel 10 show.
But after seeing that Megan’s conquest was in fact Canadian intruder Thomas Perras in last night’s episode, incensed fans said bosses had made a ‘vile attempt at a ratings grab’.
Backlash: Bachelor In Paradise has been accused of ‘queerbaiting’ by furious fans after teasing a lesbian kiss between Megan Marx and a woman – who turned out to be a man
‘Um @oshergunsberg if the ‘bisexual’ kiss on #BachelorInParadiseAU is just Megan and the guy with long hair I will be so mad #queerbaiting,’ one viewer fumed on Twitter.
‘Hey @channelten : FYI the #queerbaiting in your promo of #BachelorInParadiseAU was less of a good idea and more hurtful than Eden’s prank letter. SO not ok,’ another added.
A third user penned: ‘Reminder that the initial promo literally pretended that a dude with long hair was a girl so that they could play on Megan’s bisexuality without actually validating it just for viewers I’m MAD.’
Another shared a video of the kiss and wrote: ‘Here’s the part of the promo where Channel 10 deliberately cut together Megan talking about Elora with her kiss w/ a long-haired brunette, to make it seem like they were going to deliver a same sex couple. Turns out it was Thomas. Queerbaiting at its finest.’
Hmm: Viewers saw the bisexual contestant lock lips with a mystery long-haired brunette who appeared to be Elora Murger in a steamy promo for the Channel 10 show
Misleading: In the promo only model Thomas’ dark long locks were seen, leading fans to think it could be a woman
Not as it seems: But after seeing that Megan’s conquest was in fact Canadian intruder Thomas Perras in last night’s episode, incensed fans said bosses had made a ‘vile attempt at a ratings grab’
Commenting on the clip, one user vented: ‘I love some trashy reality TV. But far out… wow.
‘Maybe I was naive to believe that the dangling carrot of a same sex couple on a commercial network, prime time dating show was more than a network’s vile attempt at a ratings grab. #bachelorinparadise #queerbaiting.’
The promo had hinted that Megan enjoys a steamy romp with fellow contestant Elora in the ocean – cutting the trailer so that the kiss was shown right after a female voiceover was heard gushing ‘she’s absolutely gorgeous and my type of girl’.
Not impressed: Viewers said they were left ‘hurt’ after realising Megan’s suitor was not a woman
While Megan’s face was clearly visible in the kiss, only the back of her suitor’s long dark hair was seen – suggesting they could be a woman.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted a Channel 10 spokesperson for comment.
It comes after Megan claimed she was offered the role of Australia’s first bisexual Bachelorette.
Megan told NW magazine she was lined up for the 2017 season until Sophie Monk ‘asked if she could do the show’.
Furious: Other fans claimed producers were ‘dangling the carrot of a same sex couple’
The 29-year-old even claimed producers flew her from Europe to Australia to hold discussions for a proposed new format that involved male and female suitors.
Megan told NW: ‘I was meant to be the Bachelorette on Sophie’s season as they wanted someone bisexual.
‘But then Sophie asked if she could do the show and she was awesome and maybe I wasn’t ready.’
Interesting: The promo had hinted that Megan enjoys a steamy romp with fellow contestant Elora (right) in the ocean – cutting the trailer so that the kiss was shown right after a female voiceover was heard gushing ‘she’s absolutely gorgeous and my type of girl’
She explained of the new format: ‘It was in the early stages (of planning), but it would have been mainly guys and a few girls in the mansion.’
Megan rose to fame on the 2016 season of The Bachelor, starring Richie Strahan.
She famously walked out during a Rose Ceremony, despite being an early favourite to win the show.
A few months after filming, the former health promotions officer began a relationship with fellow contestant Tiffany Scanlon.
Their post-Bachelor same-sex romance made headlines across the world, and even attracted some media attention overseas.
What could have been! Megan has claimed she was offered the role of Australia’s first bisexual Bachelorette last year