Following her elimination on Thursday’s episode of The Bachelor, Vanessa ‘Sunshine’ Bennet seemingly broke from tradition by releasing a scathing statement on social media.
In an ‘extremely blunt’ video shared to Instagram, the 27-year-old legal secretary claimed she ‘gave zero f**ks’ about being kicked off the show, adding that she refused to put Nick Cummins ‘on a pedestal’ simply because he was the suitor.
Speculation is now growing that Vanessa may have possibly violated Channel Ten’s strict social media policy for reality TV contestants by releasing her own statement – however the network has denied this is the case.
Did she go rogue? Channel Ten has denied Vanessa Sunshine ‘violated the network’s strict social media policy by posting a scathing Instagram video after being kicked off The Bachelor’
Vanessa’s Instagram video, which saw her reading a prepared statement from a mobile phone, was noticeably different from what eliminated contestants usually upload on the night of their departure.
Typically, when a woman is sent home, she posts an approved photo from the show and a short, light-hearted caption wishing Nick luck on his journey.
For example, when Aleksandra Sekuloska left she mansion, she shared a photo of herself hugging Nick at the Rose Ceremony and wrote: ‘Gotta love ya and leave ya Badgy Boy… Good luck on finding the love of your life.’
Ouch! In an ‘extremely blunt’ video shared to Instagram, Vanessa (left) claimed she ‘gave zero f**ks’ about being sent home, adding that she refused to put Nick Cummins ‘on a pedestal’ just because he was the suitor. Pictured with Romy Poulier during Thursday’s Rose Ceremony
While Ten insists Vanessa’s Instagram post was ‘approved’, the fact she spoke so candidly and unapologetically about her experience certainly raised eyebrows.
It is no secret the network keeps its talent on a tight leash, with Fairfax reporting earlier this year that Nick, 30, was ‘banned’ from being pictured with women in public in case they were romantically linked in the press.
A television insider said: ‘It’s hard to tell if someone’s upload is “pre-approved” or not, but Vanessa’s [post] certainly deviates from what Bachelor contestants usually share on Instagram.
‘If she has broken the rules, I can expect Channel Ten would be pretty annoyed – but what can they do if it’s already out there?’
However, a spokesperson clarified to Daily Mail Australia on Friday that Vanessa’s statement ‘was approved’ by network bosses.
Breaking from tradition: While Ten insists Vanessa’s Instagram post was ‘approved’, the fact she spoke so candidly and unapologetically about her experience certainly raised eyebrows
Controlling: In recent years, reality TV contestants have actively used their personal social media accounts to promote their shows and interact with viewers. As a result, publicists have taken greater control over what participants share on platforms such as Instagram and are even known to write posts themselves or instruct talent what to post
In recent years, reality TV contestants have actively used their personal social media accounts to promote their shows and interact with viewers.
As a result, publicists have taken greater control over what participants share on platforms such as Instagram and are even known to write posts themselves or instruct talent what to post.
The Bachelor Australia continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Network Ten
Paranoid? It is no secret Network Ten keeps its talent on a tight leash, with Fairfax reporting earlier this year that Nick Cummins (pictured) was ‘banned’ from being pictured with women in public in case they were romantically linked in the press