Longtime fans of ratings juggernaut The Block are threatening to tune out next season after claims this year’s finale was ‘rigged’.
Frustrated viewers argued on social media that the auction was “manipulated” after billionaire Adrian Portelli bought all five houses.
“Him and his advocate, they rigged it,” one claimed.
Adrian, 35, confessed on Nova’s Jase & Lauren radio show the auction order was predetermined to favour eventual winners, underdog sisters Maddy and Charlotte.
“We hand-selected the order to make sure the girls went last. So we can get them to win… my partner loves the show and they were her favourite as well,” he said.
However, he later hit back at the rigging allegations.
“I’ve never once said The Block was rigged. Those words never came out of my mouth,” he said on Instagram. “They [had] the best house, they were the best contestants.”
Despite his denials, Maddy and Charlotte said they did know prior that Adrian would buy all five properties.
“He showed interest in all the houses from the start,” Charlotte told the Daily Mail after the auction. “We’d had quite a few conversations with Adrian.”
