With blazing rows and temper tantrums, Taite, 28, has had to “grin and bear” hours of social media strategies with strict orders to obey, and while he is embarrassed by the negative attention it’s gaining, he is terrified that if he walks away he will receive a backlash similar to the one Bachelor Nick Cummins received.
“At one point Taite wanted to grow his beard back and when Ali noticed she was furious with him,” the source continues.
“She basically told him that he couldn’t do anything like that without permission and that his stubble suited their brand so he had to keep it.”
He is shocked by her strict rules that also include checking in by phone hourly, not talking to other girls and having clothing choices pre-approved before outings. Ali, 32, is said to be milking her last five minutes of fame only too aware that this is her last shot.
“She knows the show bombed in ratings and that because of that it’s unlikely she would get another gig on TV again, but she has this crazy idea that the more she makes the papers [and] the more people talk about them, then maybe producers will take note and ask her to be on something else.”
But the so-called fake romance has taken its toll on Taite, who never wanted to be the last man standing.
“He didn’t expect it to end this way,” explains the insider.
“He was more than happy to get the freebies and enjoy [it] for the ride. But it has become toxic and he knows he looks like a fool.”
News of Ali and Taite’s troubled relationship comes after Nick Cummins implied the Bachelor or Bachelorette is contracted to stay with their chosen partner for three months after the show wraps up.
“I wasn’t going to do that because I have respect for the girl,” Nick, 31, told ABC Radio National. “People are brainwashed,” he added.