EXCLUSIVE: Locky Gilbert sets the record straight on rumours he met Bella Varelis before appearing on The Bachelor – amid claims they made a ‘secret pact’ to get her to the finale
The Bachlelor’s Locklan ‘Locky’ Gilbert, 31, has broken his silence on explosive claims he and front-runner Bella Vareis, 25, knew each other before the show.
Earlier this month, a publication suggested that the pair had met in Bali prior to entering in the Bachelor mansion, and had even made a ‘secret pact’ guaranteeing her as the winner.
However, on Thursday, Locky set the record straight, exclusively telling Daily Mail Australia: ‘I had never met Bella prior to her arrival on The Bachelor red carpet.’
EXCLUSIVE: Locklan ‘Locky’ Gilbert, 31, (left) has finally set the record straight about meeting contestant Bella Varelis, 25, (right) before filming on The Bachelor
Locky also responded to recent claims made by a podcast that he and Bella were ‘set up’ by Bachelor couple Matthew ‘Matty J’ Johnson and Laura Byrne before appearing on the show.
‘Individually, Bella and I know Matty J and Laura, however claims that we were introduced by them, or that we had made any kind of secret pact are completely false,’ he explained.
It comes as a production insider claimed that producers found it difficult to work with Locky and Bella because they ‘already knew each other’.
Breaking his silence: ‘I had never met Bella prior to her arrival on The Bachelor red carpet,’ Locky told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday
‘Completely false’: Locky also denied recent claims made by a podcast that he and Bella were ‘ set up’ by Bachelor couple Matthew ‘Matty J’ Johnson and Laura Byrne (pictured together) before appearing on the show
‘Everyone [producers] hated their jobs this season because of Locky and Bella,’ the TV insider alleged to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.
‘[Bella] let it slip to the top five girls she knew Locky, and everyone was like ‘what?”
‘Bella brushed it off. She slipped up,’ the source continued.
On Wednesday, A production insider has claimed Locky and Bella’s unlikely friendship before appearing on The Bachelor made it difficult for producers to work with them on the show
Just three weeks earlier, WHO Magazine claimed Locky had made a pact to secretly guarantee Bella a spot in the in the final two.
The television insider said that their secret ‘deal’ made it difficult for producers to guide the show in any other direction.
‘Her goal was acting, Bella wants to be an actress, and follow Sam Frost’s career and be on Home and Away.’
![Claims: 'Everyone [producers] hated their jobs this season because of Locky and Bella,' the TV insider alleged to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday](https://i1.wp.com/i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/08/19/14/32134318-8643309-image-a-77_1597844664897.jpg?resize=634%2C356&ssl=1)
Claims: ‘Everyone [producers] hated their jobs this season because of Locky and Bella,’ the TV insider alleged to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday
It comes as Bella also shut down claims made by evicted co-star, Nadine Kodsi, she and Locky met during a previous trip to Bali, Indonesia.
‘I haven’t been to Bali in five years and it genuinely baffles me the lengths people will go to,’ Bella told The Herald Sun. ‘I’ve never even watched Survivor.’
‘I didn’t even have a conversation with Nadine,’ she continued. ‘I don’t listen to it [her claims] because 99 per cent of it would be complete bulls**t.’
The Bachelor Australia continues on TEN at 7.30pm on Thursday.
‘Complete bulls**t’: It comes as Bella also shut down claims made by evicted co-star, Nadine Kodsi, she and Locky met during a previous trip to Bali