Latest news with #BillyBelcher
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Married At First Sight's Awhina Rutene and Billy Belcher continue to fuel romance rumours as they appear to go Instagram official on date night
Married At First Sight stars Awhina Rutene and Billy Belcher have sent the rumour mill into overdrive after enjoying a cosy date night in Perth. The former TV bride, 30, shared a series of loved-up snaps on Instagram with her co-star Billy, 31, during an outing to The Garden in Perth on Wednesday - further igniting speculation that their friendship has turned romantic. In one mirror selfie taken in an elevator, Awhina looked sensational in a figure-hugging black mini dress with long sleeves, her sleek brunette hair cascading past her shoulders. Beside her, Billy cut a rugged figure in a sleeveless black top that showed off his tattooed arms, as he embraced Awhina from behind and beamed at the camera. Another photo showed the MAFS beauty sipping a glass of red wine at the trendy bar, while a cheeky Billy hid behind a drinks menu. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Awhina captioned the post with a telling phrase: 'I'll keep this one', suggesting she's holding on tight to her new beau. Fans of the reality show erupted with excitement in the comments, thrilled that the pair many felt should have been matched on the show might have finally found love with each other. 'OMFG this is everything I love u two!' one follower gushed. 'The wife swap worked,' another declared, cheekily referencing the controversial partner-swapping scandal that unfolded during the experiment. 'We are absolutely HERE for this!!!!' added a third, as dozens more expressed their approval. Many viewers have long suspected Awhina and Billy's chemistry, noting that the MAFS experts got it wrong by not pairing them in the first place. This flurry of fan enthusiasm comes after months of speculation about the duo's relationship. Both Awhina and Billy are based in Western Australia, and they struck up a close bond during the marriage experiment. Their respective on-screen marriages famously imploded when it was revealed that Awhina's TV husband, Adrian Araouzou, and Billy's wife, Sierah Swepstone, had been secretly meeting up behind their backs during filming. The betrayal left Awhina and Billy heartbroken, and the pair chose to leave the experiment separately amidst the drama. It comes after Awhina opened up about what it was really like being married to her TV husband Adrian following the shock finale. In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia, the single mum did not hold back as she revealed just how uncomfortable she felt around her match. 'His behaviour before the show was questionable. His behaviour during the show... very questionable! Poor, poor, poor!' Awhina explained. She said she was finding it difficult to permanently cut ties with Adrian because after the dating experiment finished he kept trying to contact her on social media. 'I blocked him, not the other way around... Then he added me on Snapchat and I blocked him! Then he added me on TikTok. I'm grateful I've closed all that,' she said. Awhina added she believed it was a failing of the production staff for pairing her with such an ill-suited match - and she felt pressure to remain on the show despite wanting to leave. 'I feel like they failed me. When I chose to stay, I genuinely felt peer-pressured into making that decision,' she said. She said she was working hard to completely cut Adrian from her life and hoped to never speak his name again. 'After this week, I will never mention Adrian's name again. We did this experience together and it was hard... I will happily never speak of him again,' she said. Awhina said her 'final straw' was when Adrian went online and made comments about both her and her twin sister Cleo. 'He's not a child. Stop looking at this man like a child. He would go online and attack my character and my sister. It's relentless,' she said. 'He's choosing every day to make these poor decisions, he has zero self-awareness. You are rewarding bad behaviour by helping him, if he wants to drown, let him.' Awhina described Adrian's behaviour as selfish and emotionally manipulative. 'He told me what I could and couldn't say. I felt alone,' she explained. 'There were moments of kindness – but they only came after he'd done something wrong. It felt performative... I kept giving him lifelines.' Awhina admits that viewers missed some of the high points in their relationship, but insists the low moments were deeply hurtful. 'It wasn't all bad. We had some real highs. But the lows were so low. Unfortunately, what aired didn't show any of the good. So people didn't understand why I stayed,' she said. After filming ended, Awhina says she tried to remain kind and supportive, keeping communication open because she felt sorry for Adrian. Now removed from the chaos of filming and away from Adrian, Awhina says she's begun to heal. 'I think I've got my glow back. It's amazing what cutting off someone toxic can do for your soul,' she said. She also revealed she had originally applied for the show alongside her twin sister Cleo, who pulled out due to work commitments. 'We went through the whole casting process together. That made it exciting. I truly believed my forever person was waiting at the end of the aisle,' she explained. Instead, she says she was paired with someone who didn't align with her values or desires for a future.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
MAFS bride reveals harrowing childhood trauma and how she was forced to leave school and work at Bunnings at 16 to support herself
Married At First Sight star Sierah Swepstone has recalled her harrowing upbringing in an emotional Q&A on Instagram. The 31-year-old made heartbreaking admissions about the childhood trauma she refused to share with TV husband Billy Belcher on the show and detailed what her post-MAFS 'PTSD' looks like. The Melbourne-based financial advisor revealed she had only recently completed her university degree when she applied for MAFS. Sharing a photo of her teenage self, Sierah said that she didn't go to university right out of high school. 'Nope, I got kicked out of home at 16 and had to work at Bunnings to support myself,' she explained. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'I went to university as a mature-aged student and finished my degree age 30.' In a particularly raw moment, Sierah opened up about being a domestic violence survivor, revealing she was in an abusive relationship from the age of 16 to 18. She explained how trauma survivors like herself are often hyper-vigilant and triggered in toxic environments. 'I spent 14 years reprogramming and working on myself. But I will always be vulnerable to certain behaviours that trigger me – especially in an environment where your pain is amplified, exploited, and you are extremely isolated,' she explained. In recent days, Sierah has made numerous claims about the show's editing, her emotional trauma, and set the record straight on that now-infamous 'footsie' scene with co-star Adrian Araouzou. She slammed the show's focus on trivial drama while overlooking the serious issues she was dealing with. 'If I knew that I would be treated like my life didn't matter, I obviously never would have done [MAFS] because it left me with PTSD,' she said. Sierah claims that cast members did not see the MAFS experts outside of the on-screen interactions filmed during the weekly commitment ceremonies 'That for me looks like: ruminations that consume my mind daily; severe anxiety; weight loss /lack of appetite; increased alcohol intake; social withdrawal; difficulty falling asleep and waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares.' Following filming for the show, Sierah was seen being escorted by three police officers and a paramedic into the back of an ambulance in Melbourne at around 12.56pm on February 13. She appeared visibly distressed and clutched her chest as she climbed into the ambulance which transferred her to the Alfred Hospital. The distressing incident occurred as her explosive 'footsie scandal' with groom Adrian played out on the hit reality show. She has insisted that nothing ever happened between her and Adrian, and the pair are just friends. Sierah also confirmed that much of her storyline was cut from the show, including the reasons behind her departure. 'My narration was cut out. My feelings were never included. The way I was treated wasn't shown,' she said. She suggested the lack of context was deliberate, writing: 'The fact it was so sensationalised, because no one questioned why I removed myself… those were the real issues.' Sierah claims that cast members did not see the MAFS experts outside of the on-screen interactions filmed during the weekly commitment ceremonies. However, she detailed three private interactions of her own. At the second commitment ceremony — during which both Sierah and Billy both voted to leave the experiment - she said she had a 'trauma response' and had to be removed from the set. 'The experts saw me on break and said I was a brave woman, or something to that effect. I didn't feel brave I felt violated,' she said. At the wild MAFS reunion that saw a fight erupt between Sierah and multiple cast members, the bride told producers: 'I can't wait to get to the party and tell everyone to get f**ked.' 'After being attacked by four people at the reunion, I had a severe anxiety attack and hyperventilated,' Sierah explained on her Stories. 'Which is why I actually left. When I crossed paths with John, he said I handled myself very well.' At the reunion commitment ceremony, Sierah added that Mel Schilling gave her a compassionate hug and said, "I'm sorry you had such a s**t experience sweetheart." 'That made me cry and I legged it and left,' she explained. Prior to her stint on MAFS, Sierah appeared on the 2021 series of The Bachelor and failed to find love with her co-star Jimmy Nicholson. Her elimination from The Bachelor went down in reality TV history as one of the best exits when she hilariously confessed Jimmy wasn't into 'tall, horny bogans' after he sent her home.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
MAFS bride breaks silence over 'footsie' scandal and explosive on-air edit and slams producers for using her pain against her amid secret trauma
Married At First Sight bride Sierah Swepstone has finally spoken out following weeks of speculation surrounding her behaviour on the Channel Nine dating experiment. In a series of emotional Instagram Q&A posts, the 31-year-old bride made shocking claims about the show's editing, her emotional trauma and setting the record straight on that now-infamous 'footsie' scene. She also hit back at viewers who accused her of inappropriate behaviour under the dinner party table with co-star Adrian Araouzou, while taking aim at her on-screen husband Billy for shutting her down. Sierah denied anything romantic was going on with Adrian, writing: 'Billy [Belcher] was actually sitting to the left of me. That doesn't even look sexy nor does it actually look like we are touching.' She went on to claim that Billy had accused her of saying something off-camera, then denied it moments later. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'When I got annoyed, he told me to 'calm down' and was actually called out for being controlling by the experts,' she revealed, before slamming the producers for weaponising a vulnerable moment. 'I was trying not to cry… so yes, MAFS used something that happened to me, against me.' Sierah also addressed the assumption she was 'rubbing someone up' under the table, calling it insulting. 'It's insulting that anyone would think I'd be dumb enough to rub someone up in that environment,' she said, adding with sass: 'I've got more game than that guys.' The reality star also addressed the backlash over the so-called 'plate of meat' dinner involving Tony Mojanovski and Adrian, calling the drama 'sensationalised' and 'malicious'. She explained she had removed herself from her apartment due to emotional stress and was later invited by Tony, who saw she was visibly upset, to join him and Adrian for dinner. 'It was essentially a kebab shop with a dining bit… Tony paid – there was nothing sexy about it,' she insisted. 'We were out for a few hours before Adrian dropped Tony and I back.' Sierah claims Tony's name was deliberately edited out to create a misleading narrative of a date between her and Adrian. 'It was calculated, manipulative and malicious – done with the expectation that Tony's name wouldn't make the edit and we would become cheaters,' she alleged. In another slide, Sierah slammed the show's focus on trivial drama while overlooking the serious issues she was dealing with. 'In the grand scheme of things, I didn't really do anything Things that are made such a big deal of in TV land aren't things that people would care about in real life,' she said. She said the public should be directing their attention to issues that matter, such as domestic violence, bullying and mental health – not dinner parties and Instagram likes. In a particularly raw moment, Sierah opened up about being a domestic violence survivor, revealing she was in an abusive relationship from the age of 16 to 18. She explained how trauma survivors like herself are often hyper-vigilant and triggered in toxic environments. 'I spent 14 years reprogramming and working on myself. But I will always be vulnerable to certain behaviours that trigger me – especially in an environment where your pain is amplified, exploited, and you are extremely isolated,' she explained. She accused Billy of pressuring her to share details of her trauma. Sierah also confirmed that much of her storyline was cut from the show, including the reasons behind her departure. 'My narration was cut out. My feelings were never included. The way I was treated wasn't shown,' she said. She suggested the lack of context was deliberate, writing: 'The fact it was so sensationalised, because no one questioned why I removed myself… those were the real issues.' Prior to her stint on MAFS, Sierah appeared on the 2021 series of The Bachelor and failed to find love with her co-star Jimmy Nicholson. Her elimination from The Bachelor went down in reality TV history as one of the best exits when she hilariously confessed Jimmy wasn't into 'tall, horny bogans' after he sent her home.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Unapologetic Married At First Sight bride Sierah Swepstone spills the beans on THAT cheating scandal as she claims the dreaded 'villain edit'
Married At First Sight bride Sierah Swepstone has claimed to be the latest victim of the dreaded 'villain edit' as she airs out what really went down on season 12 with groom Adrian Araouzou behind closed doors. The former reality TV star, 32, hosted an Ask Me Anything on social media in which she spilled the beans on the long-running Channel Nine dating experiment on Friday. She had some choice words after being asked why the show depicted her as a 'villain': 'Good edits don't always mean good. Bad edits don't always mean bad.' 'MAFS is actually a game of manipulation. People team up and collude to take others down. MAFS editing is deranged,' Sierah said. The Melbourne-born star added she was unsure why the show 'villainised' her as she believes she didn't behave negatively towards her co-stars. 'Villainising me was a stretch because I never bullied, isolated, intimated or did anything malicious to anyone,' she wrote. 'I don't have anything to apologise for. It was sensationalised bull***t.' Sierah developed a controversial reputation during her stint on this year's MAFS for her outspoken demeanour and unabashed name-calling. She previously branded her former co-stars as 'nasty c***s', and accused her ex-husband Billy Belcher and bride Awhina Rutene of conspiring to ruin her reputation. Sierah also broke her silence on her infamous 'cheating' scandal, in which she and groom Adrian Araouzou appeared to be discreetly playing 'footsies' under the table as their respective partners, Billy and Awhina, sat beside them. During the shock incident, Sierah was also seen puckering up her lips and making kissing gestures towards Adrian, who smiled and appeared to enjoy the attention from the bride. 'What actually happened is Billy accused me of saying something, then moments later, denied it. When I got annoyed, he told me to calm down,' Sierah wrote. 'Adrian told Billy he was shutting me down and the [footsies] moment is me repositioning my body away from Billy because he upset me. 'The pout was me trying not to cry. So yes, MAFS actually used something that happened to me, against me.' Shortly after the footsies scandal, Billy and Sierah officially ended their turbulent relationship during a Commitment Ceremony. She broke her silence on her infamous 'cheating' scandal, in which she and groom Adrian Araouzou appeared to be discreetly playing 'footsies' under the table as their respective partners, Billy and Awhina, sat beside them The couple proved there was no way their relationship would last the distance following the scandalous cheating allegation. The emotional sit-down saw Sierah tearfully admitting she had 'wronged people'. Meanwhile, Billy Belcher wrote 'leave' and chose to exit the experiment. The tension was palpable as the experts delved into the fallout from the previous night's explosive dinner party. 'I mean, obviously, I made a mistake and wronged people,' Sierah confessed, struggling to find the right words. Prior to her stint on MAFS, Sierah appeared on the 2021 series of The Bachelor, and failed to find love with her co-star Jimmy Nicholson. Her elimination from The Bachelor went down in reality TV history as one of the best exits when she hilariously confessed Jimmy wasn't into 'tall, horny bogans' after he sent her home.
Perth Now
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Attention singles! Ascot races have YOUR match this Saturday
In the modern era, it's become increasingly hard to meet new people and find 'the one', but Ascot Racecourse is bucking the trend and raceday is quickly becoming a hub for hot singles to find love. Touted as the 'ultimate social scene for singles', Perth Racing has played a successful host to group dates, or even just chance meetings between dapper gents on girls' glam days. The bottom line is this: the track is proving a stylish setting for modern mingling. With Perth Racing holding WA's biggest racing event this Saturday, the Kia Quokka, racegoers are expected to flock in their thousands to Ascot and enjoy the luxurious hospitality areas like Champagne Oasis. Accompanied by live music all day and a party after the last race, there's plenty of time to find that special someone. Married At First Sight's Lauren Dunn, Billy Belcher and Awhina Rutene will be among the stars (not supernovas) in the Champagne Oasis, meaning it's the only place influencers will want to be seen this weekend. Viola Steed, Perth Racing member/racehorse owner and founder of personalised dating service Solutions Matchmaking, said the racetrack was giving people meaningful and lasting connections. 'What better excuse to dress up and feel wonderful, it's perfect as everyone else has made the effort, too. It's a superb combination for real-life social interactions in a low-pressure environment,' she said. 'We are seeing more and more singles enjoying a day at the races – getting dressed up and heading out for the day is so very different to swiping left and right on dating apps – the apps may be convenient, but they will always lack the depth of personal encounters.' Steed said the track was a 'safe, fun and respectful' place to be, leading to daters feeling far more comfortable in their surroundings without any awkward silences. Fast Facts about the Kia Quokka: Fashions on the Field draws style stars trackside, with a runway of autumn elegance on display in both men's and women's heats. Judges include fashion stylist Teagan Sewell, Channel 7's Matt Tinney, founder of Suited Events Simon Crossland, and stylist and founder of Broochella, Juliet Cuerden. Perth socialites, sport stars, influencers and racing royalty will enjoy various hospitality venues around the track. 1,000 bottles of champagne are expected to be served on the day. 1,800 oysters will be shucked on the day. 1,000 cocktails will be mixed on the day. 1,800 meals will be served across the Ascot restaurants and corporate dining areas highlighting WA produce.
