It seemed like the perfect modern-day fairytale romance: two scientists who fell in love in unlikely circumstances on reality television.
However, The Bachelor’s Matt Agnew and Chelsie McLeod’s romance was short-lived, with the pair announcing that they had split after less than six months of dating.
WATCH: Angie Kent weighs in on Bachelor's Matt and Chelsie's shock split
Now, New Idea can reveal the real reason why the couple parted ways, with a source close to the pair making the bombshell claim that Matt never actually intended on choosing any of the women cast on his show and would have done a ‘Honey Badger’ if it wasn’t for a strict clause in his contract preventing him from doing so.
“He wanted to choose no-one, but obviously it was in his contract that he had to choose someone, so producers pushed him to pick Chelsie because she was the safe bet,” the source dishes.
“If it happened two years in a row, the whole franchise would be done.”
According to the source, Matt was forced by producers to choose Chelsie and stay with her until The Bachelorette finale.
“If they announced their split during Angie’s season, it would have put a bad taste in viewers’ mouths and could have impacted the ratings,” the source explains.
“So, he was made to keep the act up and do the required media rounds with Chelsie until Angie’s season had finished airing.”
However, it seems all of this was news to Chelsie who was said to be blindsided by Matt’s decision to end their relationship – just days after Angie and Carlin went public.
Matt dumped her out of the blue and didn’t give her any real reason. He just said that they were ‘going in different directions’,” the source dishes.
“He’d been distant for a number of weeks, but Chelsie did not expect him to abruptly end things. She is completely heartbroken but she’s putting on a brave face.”
For more, pick up a copy of this week's New Idea on sale now!
