The Bachelorette love contract strikes again: How Angie Kent and Carlin Sterritt’s split emerged six months after the finale – sparking rumours they were obliged to stay together
The Bachelorette‘s Angie Kent and Carlin Sterritt confirmed their split on Wednesday after weeks of speculation they had quietly parted ways.
And their break-up has sparked questions about the long-rumoured Bachelor ‘love contract’, a legal agreement that supposedly forces contestants on the dating show to stay together for a certain period of time – either three, six or 12 months.
While Channel 10 has formally denied the existence of any such contract, it’s interesting that rumours of Angie and Carlin’s split began surfacing about six months after the Bachelorette finale aired in November.
The Bachelorette love contract strikes again: How Angie Kent and Carlin Sterritt’s split emerged six months after the finale – sparking rumours they were obliged to stay together
Reports of a possible break-up emerged in late May, after fans noticed the pair were living apart.
By early June, they had unfollowed each other on Instagram.
At the time, Carlin denied they had split and Angie blamed the unfollowing on a ‘glitch in the system’.
Questions: Their break-up has sparked questions about the long-rumoured Bachelor ‘love contract’, a legal agreement that supposedly forces contestants on the dating show to stay together for a certain period of time – either three, six or 12 months
They finally acknowledged their break-up on Wednesday, with Angie telling fans they had delayed the announcement because ‘there have been much bigger issues going on in the world’.
‘Matters of the heart are extremely difficult and I’m sad to say that Carlin and I have broken up,’ the former Gogglebox star added.
‘I just want to put the rumours to bed and to clarify so that questions stop.
‘Please remember we are both human beings like everyone else, so be kind if you do choose to leave comments or messages. Words can be very hurtful – and compound already very difficult times.’
Hmm! While Channel 10 has formally denied the existence of any such contract, it’s interesting that rumours of Angie and Carlin’s split began surfacing in late May and early June – about six months after the Bachelorette finale aired in November
She later told The Daily Telegraph of the split: ‘Chemistry doesn’t always equal compatibility. We gave it our all and it didn’t work out.
‘Our values didn’t align. Both Carlin and I will never give personal details. Out of respect for Carlin I will not reveal the personal workings of our relationship.’
Former Bachelor Nick Cummins, who famously picked neither finalist in the sixth season, seemingly confirmed the existence of the ‘love contract’ in December 2018.
Speaking on ABC Radio National, the 32-year-old rugby star said the main reason he didn’t pick anyone was because his contract required him to stay in a relationship with the winner for at least three months.
‘People are so brainwashed, you’re not going to get your fairytale ending every time,’ Nick said.
‘And what’s more important: me just saying “yes” and going through the motions and dragging some girl through all this media about how we’re in love and then three months down the track after the contract’s over we’re allowed to break up?’
He continued: ‘That’s happened [in the past]. I wasn’t going to do that because I have respect for the girl.’
A Channel 10 spokesperson later denied the existence of a love contract, saying: ‘As if! There is no way we would have a contract that says The Bachelor Australia couple has to stay together after the show finishes. Not a chance, it’s up to them.’
The timing of 2019 Bachelor couple Matt Agnew and Chelsie McLeod’s split in November also raised eyebrows as it came almost six months to the day after they had filmed their finale.