Sophie Monk pleads that The Bachelorette wasn’t ‘rigged’

She’s been besieged by allegations her romance with Stu Laundy is already over.

And now Sophie Monk has to contend with claims that her quest for love on The Bachelorette was as manufactured as her former girl band, Bardot.

On Saturday, the 37-year-old appeared to be feeling the weight of the rumours, looking downcast as she stepped out in Melbourne just hours before she pleaded with fans to believe that the reality show wasn’t rigged.

Appearing without Stu on her Saturday night out, Sophie put on a leggy display in a short black dress patterned with polka dots.

The thigh-skimming number allowed the former songstress to show off her trim pins as she made her way down the street.

Seemingly stiff, Sophie failed to raise a smile, even when conversing with another woman.

Failing to raise a smile: Sophie’s downcast display was a departure from the lovable star’s usual bubbly and upbeat appearance.

It was a departure from the lovable star’s usual bubbly and upbeat nature.

Despite her downcast appearance, Sophie looked typically sunning, adding a black Gucci belt and a pair of strappy heels to complete her glamorous outfit.

Sporting heavy eyeliner and thick mascara, the blonde bombshell tied her trademark locks into a bun. 

Trim pins: Sophie put on a leggy display in a short black dress patterned with polka dots as she went without Stu for her Saturday night outing

Her outing came just hours before she took to her Instagram stories to address rumours that she and Stu sneaked in secret dates during filming of The Bachelorette, and made a pact that he would be the winner.

Against a dramatic black backdrop, Sophie hit back at the claims, writing: ‘I sneakily saw him AFTER we had finished shoot the show before the finally (sic) aired’.

She continued to clarify: ‘And his attitude was like he won most of the time. I swear it was totally legit. Love Soph.’

Setting the record straight: Sophie attempted to diffuse rumours that The Bachelorette was rigged 

‘I swear it was totally legit’: Sophie pleaded with fans to believe her 

It comes after Sophie’s appearance at Stu’s 45th birthday, where she made a startling confession in front of trusted family and friends. 

 ‘Stu and I are very similar – we’re not very good at rules,’ Sophie conceded.

‘So the whole time through the Bachelorette, [when] we were meant to be in lock-down, we saw each other more than any [normal] couple I think.’ 

‘He predicted things would get out of hand’: It comes after reports in September revealed Sophie and Stu already knew each other outside of the show, and had even planned a date

While Sophie’s comments seemed to imply that she’d arrange visits for Stu during filming, her Instagram post clarifies that the secret trysts took place after filming had finished, but before the program had gone to air. 

Explaining how they avoided detection, Sophie  told party-goers: ‘I’d leave a key down in the garage, and he’d just pick it up and go straight to the room.’

Birthday party confession: ‘The whole time through the Bachelorette, we were meant to be in lock-down, we saw each other more than any [normal] couple,’ she revealed

It was that cheeky disregard for the rules that seems to have won the former actress over, as she then spoke fondly of his cockiness.

‘He had that arrogance in there [the mansion]. He knew he was going to win [the whole time].’

Daily Mail Australia reached out to Sophie for comment after Stu’s birthday bash. 

When was this going on? The reality star’s comments seemed to imply she’d arrange visits with Stu at her temporary accommodation near the mansion- however she clarified on Sunday that she meant they met up after filming

Back in September, when fever pitch for the upcoming season was at its highest, word that Sophie already knew one of the contestants ruffled feathers.

The publican had arranged a date with Sophie, who was certainly interested, but later got cold feet.

‘He knew’: Sophie continued: ‘He had that arrogance in there [the mansion]. He knew he was going to win [the whole time].’

He later got that date, only this time as an intruder on The Bachelorette. 

”[Stu] wanted to keep a lid on the fact that he knew Sophie, because he predicted things would get out of hand and they did,’ a source told OK! Magazine at the time.

‘Some guys thought they’d been wasting their time and contemplated walking out.’ 

‘Contemplated walking out’: According to reports, when contestants found out: ‘Some guys thought they’d been wasting their time and contemplated walking out’