The Scoop: Aussie Shore star Charlotte Crosby’s sudden exit from show
Television insiders have taken to social media with wild claims about the sudden disappearance of a TV cast member. WE’VE GOT THE SCOOP
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Television insiders have taken to social media with wild claims about the sudden disappearance of a cast member on a reality TV show being shot in Cairns.
Nardos Feleke, 26, abruptly left episode eight of the Jersey Shore spin-off Aussie Shore, with house boss Charlotte Crosby — a breakout star from Geordie Shore — announcing Feleke’s departure in blunt fashion.
“I do have some pretty bad news. Nardos will no longer be with us. She won’t be coming back,” she said.
The announcement raised eyebrows not only for its lack of detail but also for the cast’s muted reaction.
The silence surrounding Feleke’s departure sparked a flurry of speculation on social media. Reddit users quickly shared theories, with one user noting, “The way Charlotte spoke, it seemed to me as if she broke a rule and was removed. If it was a family issue or her choice, why wouldn’t they just say that?”
Another claimed only cast member Jaeda knew the full story but was bound by a nondisclosure agreement.
Paramount+ has yet to release an official statement addressing the incident, but has been approached for comment.
Feleke’s rumoured expulsion is just the latest in a string of controversies surrounding Aussie Shore.
Known for its unfiltered approach to reality TV, the show has already shocked audiences with scenes of wild partying, explicit nudity, and outrageous antics.
In the first episode, housemates Catia and Kyle made headlines for their bizarre “piss transplant” in the pool.
Salon mogul, TV star’s epic $20k engagement
When it comes to extravagant engagements, Brisbane businessman Brendon Mann and 10 News First Queensland political reporter Brendan Smith have set a new standard — one with a hefty price tag.
The couple’s jaw-dropping proposal on Friday, reportedly costing upwards of $20,000 was a whirlwind of luxury, culminating in a party aboard a Sydney Harbour superyacht.
Fans were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the extravagant day through the couple’s 51 Instagram stories, detailing an “Amazing Race”-style adventure.
The day began in Brisbane, with Smith solving riddles that led to a flight to Sydney, complete with a mid-air clue from Virgin Australia cabin crew., lunch at Chin Chin and champagne at Squirrel’s Landing followed, before the final clue brought Smith to a tender boat at Circular Quay.
From there, it was all luxury. Smith boarded the Ghost 2 superyacht, which costs up to $4,100 per hour to hire, where Mann awaited him on the top deck, decorated with gold and white balloons.
Surrounded by a stunning red-and-white floral arrangement, Mann brought the day’s adventure to a romantic climax, getting down on one knee to pop the question.
But the celebrations didn’t stop there. The couple’s nearest and dearest — over 100 in total — joined the festivities as the yacht docked back at Circular Quay. Guests were treated to an unforgettable evening on-board, complete with a DJ, saxophonist, oyster bar, and a jaw-dropping fireworks finale.
Mann, the owner of Epic Hair Designs, an $18 million salon empire, spared no expense for the big day.
Insiders revealed the luxury yacht alone cost upwards of $16,500 for the evening, with additional costs for entertainment and decorations making this a truly opulent affair.
With romance this extravagant, Mann and Smith’s engagement has become the ultimate in engagement goals — and one very expensive benchmark to beat.
Channel 9’s top contenders leaked
The race for a key Queensland media role is heating up, with Scoop exclusively obtaining a leaked shortlist, revealing the top five contenders to replace Amanda Paterson as Channel 9’s Queensland News Director.
Paterson’s abrupt exit earlier this month left a gaping hole at the network, igniting intense speculation about who might rise to the challenge.
According to insiders, the list of potential successors includes a mix of seasoned veterans, rising stars, and even a former shock jock.
At the top of the list is Michael Best, a familiar name to Channel 9 viewers and well regarded after reporting for the network from Europe.
He was rewarded with an opportunity as news director in Perth but failed to crack Channel 7 dominance.
Insiders have noted that he would require huge salary to lure him away from external corporate role now in regional Queensland.
Next up is Emily Prain, a former reporter and chief of staff for the network in Brisbane.
Prain is said to have strong backing from junior producers in Brisbane and is a role model for many of the station’s females.
Insiders have said her key strengths include strong connections within the media and could set a new direction for social media content.
Then there’s Darren Curtis, a 35-year news veteran who has worked for both Channel 7 and 9, and as a foreign correspondent in the United States.
He has also worked for two Queensland Governors and hosts the Anzac Day parade and associated ceremonies.
Curtis’ well rounded credentials including stints in the private sector add to his understanding of modern newsroom demands.
Another name on the list is Kyrrie Blenkinsop, who previously ran the news division for the network in Darwin before it was shutdown.
She is a no nonsense journalist and respected staff manager according to sources.
Additionally, relocating to Brisbane would reunite her with a number of Darwin staff who transferred to Queensland.
Finally, there’s Chris O’Keefe, a former Brisbane and Gold Coast reporter who learnt his trade in Queensland from experienced colleagues.
He is considered a rising star in the network as a shock jock on 2GB.
A return to Brisbane could also be a family win for O’Keefe, whose wife, Fox Sports star Yvonne Sampson, hails from Brisbane.
Insiders speculate that the couple’s desire to raise their family in her home state might align perfectly with his potential appointment.
Influencers beat celebrities for sales
Having your clothing brand worn by an A-list celebrity might seem like a dream come true, but stars don’t help sell clothes, one hugely popular Brisbane fashion brand claims.
Sabo Skirt owners Thessy Batsinilas and Yiota Kouzoukas have had their designs donned by Hollywood’s elite including Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato and Bella and Gigi Hadid, but they say it didn’t translate to sales.
“When a celebrity wears a top, it doesn’t have the brand on it, so people don’t know where to buy it straight away,” Batsinilas says.
Kouzoukas adds: “We’ve definitely found more success with influencers who would go viral in the product as opposed to celebrities.”
As a result, the entrepreneurs have recently upped their influencer marketing and plan on using more social media stars in 2025 to grow their brand across Australia as they expand their bricks and mortar footprint from just two Queensland stores to a plethora across the east coast, including Bondi Junction.
“We’ve had a massive increase in our US market, like a huge surge and just with the market in Australia a bit of a drop, so we decided to bring the influencers back in to pick that back up and it’s been really successful so far,” Kouzoukas says, revealing stores across the US are also on the agenda after the Australian operations are settled.
Pearl Jam honour star characters
Brisbane literary sensation Trent Dalton has shared his astonishment and gratitude after Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder gave a surprise shout-out to the characters in his best-selling novel Boy Swallows Universe.
During the legendary rock band’s Gold Coast concert on Wednesday night, Vedder paused mid-set to dedicate their 14th song, Severed Hand, to an unexpected duo.
“I’d love to quickly dedicate this to two badass teenage fellas that I’ve just become a big fan of,” Vedder announced.
“This one goes out to Eli and Gus, the Bell brothers.”
The crowd erupted in excitement, with fans quickly connecting the reference to Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe, a novel that has captivated readers worldwide and inspired a Netflix series.
Fans have since speculated about the synergy between the song and the fictional Bell brothers, pointing to the novel’s harrowing scene in which protagonist Eli Bell loses a finger – a striking parallel to the song’s themes.
Dalton, who has long idolised Pearl Jam, was unable to attend the concert due his daughter’s high school valedictory dinner being on the same night, but took to social media on Friday to express his disbelief and joy.
Recalling his lifelong connection to the band, Dalton shared how their music had shaped his life and writing. “When I was 14, I sold mangoes on the side of Rouen Road, Bardon, to buy a ticket to my first Pearl Jam show,” he wrote. “That sweet and thoughtful man – Eddie Vedder – and the music he makes with his beautiful mates is somewhere in every line of Boy Swallows Universe. That’s why I had to thank him in the book’s end pages.”
“This is a moment I will never recover from,” Dalton declared, thanking a fellow fan for capturing the video of Vedder’s shoutout.
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