Things are going from bad to worse for separated Sydney mum of two and beauty queen Piper.
The American-born My Kitchen Rules contestant has faced a wave of backlash from other on-screen competitors for her actions surrounding her secret relationship with rival contender Victor.
WATCH! MKR’s Piper betrayed by her lover!
The backlash has also been harsh online, so much so that Piper has deleted her personal Instagram account and retreated into hiding.
“I know that Piper is not well. She really isn’t well with all this,” the 35-year-old’s teammate, Veronica, tells New Idea. “I think people should know about that. She’s not well. She’s going through a lot.”
On screen, it seems there has been building tension even between Piper and long-time beauty pageant friend Veronica.
However, according to the 41-year-old Sydney mum, the two women are still friends.
“We’re always checking in to make sure that we’re both OK,” Veronica says. “I just want to make clear that we are friends and we’ll always be friends. I saw her yesterday. We had a beautiful coffee together. Obviously she was upset about the way she’s been portrayed because there’s so much more to Piper – and myself as well.
“We’re go-getters, we’re successful businesswomen, we’re mothers. I’ve got three kids, she’s got two kids. That’s the part that we’re a little bit upset about with the show, that they didn’t show us as people, real people. Americans are very outspoken. Josh and Austin they’re half- American as well. They’re very outspoken.
I think it’s just something that they were brought up to do. It’s not malicious. Piper doesn’t say things in a malicious way. She’s not a bad person.”
Piper’s MKR squeeze, Victor, who has also been copping his fair share of abuse online and on the show, says he is also concerned about her mental health and wellbeing.
“She needs people to tell her this is going to be over soon
and this isn’t real,” he tells New Idea. “I don’t know why she’s being dragged through the mud … it’s not fair. She’s worked in TV for her whole career and now she’s potentially not going to get any work because of this.”
For the moment, Piper is spending time with her children at home, waiting for the storm to blow over.
Fortunately for Veronica, her own three children are coping well with their mum’s appearance on the reality show. “My kids totally get it because they go to a performing arts school,” Veronica explains. “Piper’s kids are too young to understand so they’re not really watching the show, but my kids really understand what’s going on.
“They’re like, ‘Mum, you’re not really like that in real life’. They get it. If they didn’t get it I probably wouldn’t let them watch the show.”
Last week Veronica buckled under the pressure during Josh and Austin’s Ultimate Instant Restaurant!”
When constantly questioned by the other teams on what she knew about Victor and Piper’s relationship and the effect that was having on the competition, she broke down and confirmed the pair were sharing a bed.
But she’s got no regrets. “At the end of the day I spoke my mind because I was trying to protect her,” Veronica says.
“She’s got her family watching this. The way that we did [talk about it all] was more off-camera than on-camera, to tell you the truth. I chose not to make a big scene on camera because we’re dealing with people’s lives.”
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