The Bachelor’s Jimmy Nicholson has been on the receiving end of online hate from those claiming he breached Sydney’s lockdown restrictions.
The 31-year-old pilot was pictured sunbathing with a friend at Bondi Beach last month, despite rules permitting only exercise with a friend.
After facing abuse from angry Sydneysiders, Jimmy told The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Wednesday: ‘I’ve copped some pretty nasty messages from people on Instagram.’
Is that really exercise? Jimmy Nicholson (left, with a friend last month) has been on the receiving end of online hate from those claiming he’s breached Sydney’s lockdown restrictions
But the reality star denied any wrongdoing, claiming he was ‘exercising’ with his friend, despite being pictured lying maskless on a towel.
‘Living in the eastern suburbs, I’m always out exercising. You’ve got to live your life in this lockdown thing,’ he told radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson.
‘I’ve been under a bit of public scrutiny with Covid breaches and stuff like that.’
Haters: ‘I’ve copped some pretty nasty messages from people on Instagram,’ the 31-year-old pilot said on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Wednesday
‘[Paparazzi] will take a photo when you’re down jumping in the water, having a swim or exercising with a friend, and then I’ve copped some pretty nasty messages from people on Instagram,’ he added.
‘People are just angry at the situation so it’s all part of it. I’ve got thick skin.’
Due to the highly contagious Delta strain of Covid, Sydney residents are only allowed to leave their homes to buy food, for health reasons, to help vulnerable people, for work or education if not possible to do so at home, and for outdoor exercise.
Channel 10 was recently forced to deny rumours Jimmy had ‘hosted two parties at his Bondi pad during lockdown’, with a spokesperson telling the Daily Telegraph the stories were ‘completely false’.
Fake news: Channel 10 was recently forced to deny rumours Jimmy had ‘hosted two parties at his Bondi pad during lockdown’, with a spokesperson saying the stories were ‘completely false’
During the same interview with Kyle and Jackie O, Jimmy revealed the extreme lengths producers went to to make sure he didn’t have sex with any of the contestants.
He told the presenters he was banned from sleeping with the women in the mansion before the final rose ceremony.
Production company Warner Bros. Australia made sure there weren’t any secret hook-ups by hiring a pair of ‘minders’ to accompany Jimmy at all times.
Bonk ban: During the same interview with Kyle and Jackie O, Jimmy revealed the extreme lengths producers went to to make sure he didn’t have sex with any of the contestants
‘How intimate were you with them, before you could make the [final] choice? Just the kissing?’ asked Kyle.
Jimmy replied: ‘Just kissing. Whenever you’re with the ladies, even one-on-one time, there’s a camera there. So unless you want to make a…’
Kyle suggested it would have been possible for Jimmy to sneak a contestant into his quarters if he really wanted to have sex.
‘Lock and key’: Production company Warner Bros. Australia made sure there weren’t any secret hook-ups by hiring a pair of ‘minders’ to accompany Jimmy at all times. Pictured kissing Carlie
But the Bachelor said this was impossible, adding: ‘I was under lock and key. I had a minder with me the whole time.’
He then explained he had two minders – most likely senior producers – whom he jokingly described as ‘hired friends’.
He said they kept him company and made sure he didn’t get up to any trouble.
They would play tennis with him and talk about the show, which helped Jimmy work through the decision-making process.
No sex for you! The minders kept Jimmy company and made sure he didn’t get up to any trouble. Pictured: rumoured Bachelor winner Holly Kingston
This year’s season of The Bachelor Australia will be the last.
Sources tell Daily Mail Australia Channel 10 has decided to cut the dating show from its 2022 schedule due to disappointing ratings.
It will most likely be replaced by another international dating franchise.
Cancelled: Sources say Channel 10 has decided to cut The Bachelor from its 2022 schedule due to disappointing ratings. It will likely be replaced by another international dating franchise