Why Bailey Smith turned down Love Island

Bulldog Bailey Smith has revealed why he turned down a stint on Love Island, while police investigate an alleged incident involving the rising star.

Bulldog Bailey Smith charges down the wing during the AFL grand final against Melbourne. Photo: Michael Klein

AFL rising star Bailey Smith is not just hot property on the footy field and in nightclubs.

TV is also after the ‘Blonde Mullet’ with the huge social media following.

The single Smith was a target for the team casting Love Island and his name is bubbling around other TV wishlists.

Why?

Well, the 20-year-old Western Bulldogs player is the pin-up of the current social media generation.

Fans flood TikTok with videos of him and he is now the most followed footballer in the AFL on Instagram with 344,000 followers.

And he has already had his first dose of scandal with police reportedly investigating an alleged shoving incident outside a Gold Coast nightspot on October 4.

Smith confirmed he was approached to go on Love Island.

Smith confirmed he was sounded out about joining the Channel 9 reality love fest, best known for bikinis, booze and budgie smugglers.

“I got messaged by Love Island to go on Love Island,” Smith told the It’s A Lot podcast.

“But I don’t think they understand my schedule and how I can’t just stop going to footy.

“And that was my one nightmare, if I ever went on a show it would be them cutting things and portraying me as a bad person or, like, worrying about something that I’m not.

“It’s like, please, I don’t like giving someone that much power, it is scary.”

While he turned down Love Island the show clearly wanted a contestant with footy links.

Mitchell Hibberd who played nine AFL games for North Melbourne and Essendon in a five year career from 2016 to 2020 is appearing on the show.

Smith’s rapidly escalating fame is resulting in some bizarre experiences including an offer via DM (direct message) and text of $50,000 to sleep with a man he had never met.

The grubby proposal came just weeks after Bailey had to debunk a fake nude photograph of himself that went viral on grand final day.

“I stopped reading them (my DMs) two weeks ago,” he said told the Common Chaos podcast.

“I’m even getting these now, I don’t know how they got my number.

“Sends a screenshot of his bank account, $50,000 to sleep with this person.”