Abbie Chatfield defends TV role as Bachelor star hits out

An Instagram feud has erupted after a Bachelor star lashed out at Abbie Chatfield’s latest TV hosting role, branding her gig “absolute hypocrisy”.

Abbie Chatfield excitedly announced her first TV hosting job today, but she’s quickly found herself embroiled in an Instagram war with a fellow Bachelor star over her involvement.

The 27-year-old Sydney radio host took to Instagram to reveal she would be presenting Binge’s upcoming dating series, FBOY Island, which is based off a successful US format and will debut locally in 2023.

But 2017 Bachelor winner Laura Byrne immediately took Chatfield to task for accepting the gig, claiming the concept of the show didn’t line up with Chatfield’s stance on “dismantling the patriarchy”.

“Talks about dismantling the patriarchy. Announces that they are hosting F-Boy island. A show that encourages men to lie to women and manipulate their emotions in order to win a cash prize,” Byrne wrote on her Instagram story. “The absolute hypocrisy.”

Earlier today, Chatfield announced her career news on Instagram, writing: “I’m the host of a new show on Binge!”

Abbie Chatfield is the host of Binge's upcoming reality series FBoy Island.

She added of the show’s premise: “What is FBOY Island? Here’s a little run down! We send 24 men to an island to win the hearts of 3 women. Only issue is, 12 of the men are Nice Guys looking for love, and 12 of the men are FBOYs who are there for cash.”

The three leading ladies must ultimately figure out which men have genuine intentions, and which ones are there for the cash prize.

After Byrne went public with her criticism, Chatfield challenged the popular podcaster on her own Instagram story.

“I can tell you it [FBOY Island] is not that, I would not sign up for this show if that was the premise of the show, Laura,” Chatfield said.

Chatfield hit back at Byrne on her own Instagram page.

Chatfield then referenced Byrne’s podcast co-host and close friend, Brittany Hockley, who is currently co-hosting The Kyle and Jackie O Show with Kyle Sandilands.

For context, Hockley and Sandilands recently interviewed US rapper Yung Gravy, who revealed he had asked Chatfield on a date, to which the shock jock responded: “You and everyone else. Line up, my friend. Line up.”

“We have a date planned,” Gravy added, to which Hockley said, “I have no doubt.” Chatfield later said she was “incredibly disappointed to hear Kyle and Brittany sl*t-shame me on breakfast radio.”

Afterwards, Hockley apologised for the hurt she’d caused in a lengthy Instagram post on Wednesday, which was today publicly rejected by Chatfield who said it lacked genuine remorse and understanding.

Chatfield then continued in her message to Byrne, “Maybe address what your co-host did rather than try to retaliate in this passive aggressive, weird way. At least tag me babe.

“I can guarantee this show is not about that, and I can guarantee the f-boys will be in trouble from me and they will get what they deserve. And hopefully we will reform some f-boys, as they have in the US series, multiple times.

“Don’t let someone whose trying to retaliate fool you.”

Coming in hot: Introducing the host of the brand new BINGE reality series FBOY Island, @abbiechatfield.

From Fboys to nice guys, will you be able to separate the players from the played #FBOYIslandAU is coming to BINGE in 2023. pic.twitter.com/Azse7r79q1

— BINGE (@binge) December 14, 2022

Binge added in a statement the 10-episode show, which is based off a successful US format, is currently casting talent, and will be filmed and debuted on the streaming platform next year.

“We are thrilled to announce that Abbie Chatfield will be hosting FBOY Island, and are looking forward to bringing BINGE viewers this exciting new dating show in 2023, adding to our slate of the world’s best reality shows,” Binge executive director Alison Hurbert-Burns said.

“Abbie is a bright talent who is making waves in the media and entertainment industry with her electric personality and unfiltered opinions and will be a great addition to the show.”

Chatfield first shot to fame as the runner-up on the 2019 series of The Bachelor, in which she was branded the “villain” of Matt Agnew’s season.

Since then, she’s landed her own radio show Hot Nights with Abbie Chatfield on the Hit Network, was announced as a judge on Masked Singer Australia this year, and also embarked on a sellout national live show tour.

Abbie joined Chrissie Swan, Mel B and Dave Hughes as a judge on Masked Singer this year.

She also won the 2021 season of I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!

And it appears her multiple opportunities have certainly paid well, with Chatfield dropping nearly $1.8 million on a Sydney apartment in May.

It marked her second property purchase, after acquiring a $1.45 million Byron Bay home last year.