Firass Dirani has openly claimed Channel Seven is unfairly portraying him as the ‘villain’ of SAS Australia.
And former Studio 10 star Jessica Rowe has now spoken to the actor’s good character and suggested his celebrity co-stars and the public ‘back off’.
Appearing on KIIS FM’s Kyle And Jackie O show on Thursday, Jess said: ‘I love Firass… he is a great guy, they are making him out to be a villain he is not!’
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‘They are making him out to be a villain he’s not!’ Former Studio 10 host Jessica Rowe (left) has defended the ‘edit’ of SAS Australia star Firass Dirani (right) on the military-style show
Jessica worked closely with the Underbelly star in 2019 while filming Channel Seven’s reality TV show, The Real Dirty Dancing.
‘They’ve got to make it entertaining and when they edit things they want to have a particular storyline’: Jessica said she wanted to ‘stand up’ for Firass as he is not the ‘villain’ he is being made out to be on TV
‘I want to stand up for Firass and stand up for Number.11, he is a gorgeous guy, with a good heart. He is a muckeruperer (sic), and I used to say when we worked together “Will you listen to what they’re saying? Don’t disappear!’ He’s a jokester,’ she said.
Jessica said she didn’t enjoy watching the celebrities and the directing staff (DS) gang up on Firass on the show and wanted people to ‘back off’.
‘Let’s remember it’s a reality TV show and they’ve got to make it entertaining and when they edit things they want to have a particular storyline. We’re not seeing absolutely everything and obviously when you are sleep deprived and have to sit in freezing water and run around because of Firass, you would be annoyed,’ she added.
‘He is a gorgeous guy, with a good heart!’ Jessica (bottom left) worked closely with the Underbelly star (middle right) in 2019 while filming Channel Seven’s reality TV show, The Real Dirty Dancing (pictured)
‘He is a muckeruper (sic). He’s a jokester’: Jessica said Firass is known for being mischievous and fun-loving in his persona and professional life
Showing her support! Jessica has been commenting on Firass’ SAS Australia social media updates with positive praise
‘I would be just like Firass in terms of going “don’t talk to me like that!”, or trying to make a joke’: Jess said she would have probably behaved similarly to Firass if a contestant
Jess said she would have probably behaved similarly to Firass if a contestant on the show, as she would not want the DS or fellow recruits yelling at her.
‘I would be just like Firass in terms of going “don’t talk to me like that!”, or trying to make a joke.’
Jessica expects Firass to go all the way, adding: ‘he is very strong and when he sets his mind to something he’ll make it happen.’
Bad boy: Last week, the recruits were forced to run sprints as punishment for Firass’ insubordination, as he was ordered to stand back and watch
Claim: ‘I believe that he’s a sociopath in his behaviour,’ Shannan (pictured) said in an interview with news.com.au. Shannan is not a doctor and is not qualified to make a psychiatric diagnosis
‘He’s a good bloke’: Jackson Warne (pictured) told Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa that Firass actually helped carry his bags and water when struggling with certain tasks on the course
Firass has been locked in an escalating feud with SAS co-star and former Bigger Loser trainer Shannan Ponton since the series launched, with Shannan sensationally branding him a ‘sociopath’ to news.com.au this week.
On Monday’s episode, several recruits pleaded with Firass to stop ‘gobbing off’ at the DS and to start being a team player.
However, many cast-mates have come to Firass’ defense this week, claiming that while he was frustrating on SAS, they didn’t think he was a ‘bad guy’.
Merrick Watts and Jackson Warne told Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa on Wednesday that he actually helped carry bags and water for those struggling with tasks.
Eden Dally also told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday that ‘not everyone hated Firass’ and that he was ‘tough’.
‘There HAS to be a villain’: Firass took to Instagram to hit back at Seven this week, claiming the network was unfairly portraying him as the ‘villain’ of the series
‘They’ve more than fairly edited him’: Mark Billingham, an ex-British Special Forces soldier, said on Monday that Firass’ behaviour was ‘a lot worse’ than what was shown on TV
Firass has openly claimed Channel Seven is unfairly portraying him as the ‘villain’ of the series.
‘There has to be a villain, ladies and gentleman. There HAS to be a villain. And, lo and behold – right here, this is it,’ he said, pointing at himself.
Drill sergeant and ex-British Special Forces soldier Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham claimed to news.com.au on Monday that Firass should be ‘grateful’ for his generous portrayal.
‘They’ve more than fairly edited him to be honest, because he was a pain in the a**e,’ Billingham said bluntly. ‘He’s a bit of a pain.’
SAS Australia continues on Monday from 7:30pm on Channel Seven
Tune in: SAS Australia continues on Monday from 7:30pm on Channel Seven