The Bachelor’s Bella Varelis accuses Locky Gilbert of GASLIGHTING – after he dropped the L word before dumping her in the finale
Bella Varelis was left blindsided after Locky Gilbert dumped her for Irena Srbinovska during the emotional finale of The Bachelor.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph’s Confidential on Tuesday, Bella, 25, said she still can’t fathom how someone can profess to being in love with two women.
Of being rejected after his bold declaration, the 25-year-old said: ‘I wouldn’t use the word played, if anything I would say gaslit.’
Explosive claim: The Bachelor’s Bella Varelis, 25, accused Locky Gilbert of GASLIGHTING in an interview with The Daily Telegraph’s Confidential on Tuesday – after he dropped the L word before dumping her in the finale. Pictured on Studio 10 last week
Gaslighting is described as a form of psychological manipulation that undermines a person’s reality and feelings, and denies facts.
Bella also told the publication that while Locky, 31, may have been in the moment, it was unnecessary for him to say the L word, to reassure her of his feelings.
‘At the end of the day, if he was in love with me, he would want to be in a relationship with me,’ she stated.
Bella also lambasted Locky for leading her on in a new interview on the Life Uncut podcast.
Comments: Of being rejected after his bold declaration, the marketing consultant said: ‘I wouldn’t use the word played, if anything I would say gaslit.’ Pictured with Locky, 31
Heartbroken: Bella also revealed how shocking their break-up was on the Life Uncut podcast
Speaking to hosts Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne – who are former Bachelor finalists themselves – Bella said: ‘During lockdown, we were talking about engagement rings.
‘He was like, “What would you do if I proposed to you at the end?”
‘The one thing that really got me was when he said, “I can’t wait to make you happy for the rest of your life.” You don’t just say that to someone unless you really want that to happen.’
Admitting that Locky’s words had a significant effect on her, Bella continued: ‘I remember saying to my mum, “I think I’ve actually found the person who wants to be with me.”‘
Setting the record straight: From discussing engagement rings to telling her he ‘couldn’t wait to make her happy for the rest of her life’, Bella lambasted Locky for leading her on
Making promises he couldn’t keep: ‘During lockdown, we were talking about engagement rings,’ Bella said. ‘He was like, “What would you do if I proposed to you at the end?”‘
‘From all the things I have been through, from my exes to somehow being connected to The Bachelor, this was obviously what it was all pointing to,’ she said of her thought process leading up to the finale.
‘I had to come in here, I had to meet Locky, and he’s going to be the person that I wanted to be with.’
Two months on from the finale, Locky is still smitten with nurse Irena Srbinovska. She has packed up her life in Melbourne to live with the adventurer in Perth.
Smitten: Admitting that Locky’s words had a significant effect on her, Bella added: ‘I remember saying to my mum, “I think I’ve actually found the person who wants to be with me”‘
Happy couple: Two months on from the finale, Locky is still smitten with Irena Srbinovska (left). She has packed up her life in Melbourne to live with the adventurer in Perth