The Scoop: Farmer Jarrad Wrigley breaks silence on secret girlfriend rumours
Despite finding love on Farmer Wants A Wife this week, a Queensland cowboy has had to deal with a soap opera away from the cameras. WE’VE GOT THE SCOOP
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He found love on Farmer Wants a Wife this week, but Jarrad Wrigley was fending off rumours of a different kind in the days leading up to the romantic finale.
The 22-year-old sheep farmer and musician from Stanthorpe chose finalist Chloe in a heartfelt prime-time moment on Monday night’s episode, declaring their connection was “like cold beer and country music”.
But before the episode aired, Wrigley was forced to address speculation he had a secret girlfriend while filming the Channel 7 reality show, after one tabloid report alleged he hadn’t been single during production.
Speaking exclusively to The Courier-Mail just days before the final rose aired, Wrigley offered a cheeky response.
“Allegedly, I had a secret girlfriend the whole time the show was filming, and apparently I’m still with her,” he said.
“I’d love to meet this girl at some point, there is no secret girlfriend.”
“The easiest way to answer this question is the last time I asked someone to be my girlfriend was in 2022. At no point during any of the filming did I have a girlfriend.”
He admitted the first thing he did after hearing the rumour was head straight to the shops to investigate.
“I drove into town, went to Woolworths and stood there like a middle-aged white woman in the magazine aisle, furiously flicking through pages trying to find it,” he said.
“I wanted the goss, is there a photo of her? What does she look like? Is she my type? Who knows!”
It’s not the first time the rising country artist has faced scrutiny, with some viewers questioning his age, farming background and motives for joining the show.
“There’s always going to be keyboard warriors,” he said. “I’m not worried about that.”
Wrigley, who helps manage country music icon James Blundell’s 6000-acre property west of Stanthorpe, splits his time between farm duties, writing love songs and playing weekend gigs — with more than 5000 Instagram followers and a growing fan base to match.
Wrigley said his ultimate goal is to buy back the New South Wales cattle station founded by his great-grandfather and raise a “fifth generation” of graziers, with Chloe, potentially, by his side.
“Going on the show was one of the best things I’ve ever done,” he said.
Farmer Wants a Wife continues 7.30pm Mondays and Tuesdays on Seven and 7plus.
THIS IS OWEN’S PARTY TOWN
He’s Hollywood royalty, but Wedding Crashers star Owen Wilson has been living like a local — albeit a very recognisable one — frequenting Brisbane’s trendiest spots while in town filming his new action thriller, Runner.
The Loki actor has become a regular fixture around James Street in Fortitude Valley, with fans spotting him in ice cream queues, fitness centres and even sinking cocktails at chic new venues.
Only weeks ago, he was snapped by a fan mid-cone outside Gelato Messina, and now The Scoop can reveal Wilson has made himself quite at home at Penelope, the sleek new bistro occupying the old Bar Tano site on the city’s most look-at-me strip.
Wearing his trademark cream cowboy hat, Wilson was spotted there on Saturday night, cosied up in a brown-velvet booth with a friend.
Diners were treated to a spectacle, watching a revolving door of women approach the Hollywood A-lister throughout the evening.
Later, Wilson was seen taking shots and sharing drinks with an unidentified blonde.
The 55-year-old star also hasn’t been slacking on his wellness routine, recently spotted at luxe Newstead gym TotalFusion.
A fellow gym-goer tagged his Runner co-star Alan Ritchson in a selfie, suggesting the Hollywood duo have been sweating it out together in the River City.
Aside from some lucky fans spotting the actor in person, many in Brisbane’s CBD last Saturday caught a glimpse of the Wilson travelling through the city in a beige Toyota LandCruiser as he filmed dramatic car chase scenes for his latest project.
The production brought parts of the city to a standstill, with entire blocks temporarily shut down to accommodate filming.
At one point, the Story Bridge was closed to traffic, while the actor was seen driving at speed along Eagle Street multiple times.
A convoy of crew vehicles followed closely behind, drawing crowds of curious onlookers.
BOGUT’S SLAM DUNK SALE
Former Aussie basketball star Andrew Bogut is aiming for a financial slam dunk with the sale of his distinctive copper-clad Gold Coast mansion.
Bogut, who spent 14 years in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks and later the Golden State Warriors with whom he won the 2015 championship, has put the seven-bedroom, four-bedroom Currumbin home dubbed ‘The Copper House’ up for auction on May 28.
He and wife Jessica bought the luxury pad overlooking Currumbin Estuary, designed by renowned architect Paul Uhlmann and boasting sweeping views all the way to Surfers Paradise, in 2019 for $4.45m.
The couple listed the property for rent at a whopping $5000 a week after splashing $6.45m on another home at Mudgeeraba in the Gold Coast hinterland in 2021.
Bogut, who stands 213cm (7ft) tall, recently joined the Sydney Kings NBL basketball franchise as an assistant coach.
The Currumbin property is being auctioned by real estate agent to the rich and famous, Michael Kollosche.
WAVE OF BACKLASH FOR GC INFLUENCER
Gold Coast influencer and mum-of-two Kat Clark has hit back at a wave of online backlash after revealing she and her family are relocating to the United States.
In an emotional video posted to YouTube on Thursday, the popular content creator, known for her relatable family vlogs and candid parenting advice, admitted she was left in tears after receiving thousands of negative comments in response to the announcement.
“I ended up literally crying myself to sleep that night,” Clark said.
“It was very overwhelming to receive that much negativity … at the end of the video I was like, ‘Guys, please be nice because I’m scared’ and then literally nobody was nice.”
When she broke the news last week that her family would be moving to the United States, netizens immediately questioned the timing, with some criticising her decision to leave Australia’s healthcare system and relative safety during a turbulent political period in the US.
Several commenters slammed the move as “reckless,” with one branding America a “hellhole.”
Clark, who has amassed more than eight million followers across TikTok and Instagram, confirmed the family’s move is temporary, with plans to spend two years in Los Angeles to explore new work opportunities.
“We are going over for two years, live in the safest community that we can find,” she said. “We’re obviously going to be very cautious about what we post online, but I did want to make people aware that I’m not going forever … nothing is going to change about us except our location.”
The 38-year-old said she anticipated criticism but was still shocked by the volume of negative feedback.
“I already knew that I was somewhat going to get negative comments … but I was already scared about making this decision in the first place,” she said.
She added that they had secured visas following a successful interview at the US Embassy in Sydney and were now househunting in California.
TAMMY FACING PR CRISIS
Tammy Hembrow is facing a fierce public backlash after denying claims she supported her jailed half-brother, with fans now rallying behind outspoken influencer Mikaela Testa.
The drama began when Testa, a prominent sexual assault advocate and former friend of Australia’s most-followed influencer Anna Paul, posted a TikTok outing Hembrow for backing her brother, Henri Thynne.
The 21-year-old is currently behind bars at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre on remand, facing 17 serious domestic violence charges including assault with intent to commit rape, strangulation, and stalking.
Testa, who has been locked in a bitter public feud with the Paul siblings Anna and Atis, accused Hembrow of turning a blind eye to abuse.
“I’m not doing this for clout,” she told followers.
“I was asked to help by victims.”
But in a video posted earlier this week, Hembrow hit back, insisting she had “no involvement whatsoever” in her brother’s case.
“I haven’t bailed him out. I don’t condone violence. I haven’t spoken to him,” she said.
Hembrow’s explanation has only fuelled the fire, with TikTok users now flooding her comments in support of Testa.
“Mikaela is right — it’s all there,” one wrote.
“Honestly, Mikaela needs to keep her foot on the Hembrows and Pauls’ necks.”
“She’s using her platform to help silenced women,” another added. “You should be taking notes instead of brushing abuse under the rug.”
Others demanded proof, writing: “Let’s see the receipts, then.”
Originally published as The Scoop: Farmer Jarrad Wrigley breaks silence on secret girlfriend rumours
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