The Bachelorette: Did producers stage scandalous photo of two finalists?

A photo taken of the two Bachelorette finalists ahead of the finale sparked claims of a publicity stunt - and this response is even more confusing.

Bachelorette winner Taite Radley has opened up about a suspicious photo taken with runner-up Todd King, amid claims it was a staged publicity stunt.

Just hours out from last night’s finale, a picture surfaced of Taite and Todd together at Nadi International Airport in Fiji, where contestants are currently gathering for filming of Bachelor in Paradise - the spin-off dating series created for Bachelor and Bachelorette rejects.

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An Instagram user spotted the finalists at the airport, and uploaded the evidence to social media.

Joint holiday to Fiji? Very suspicious … Picture: Instagram

As it’s a fairly iron-clad rule that contestants must be single to appear on Bachelor In Paradise, it wasn’t looking good for Ali and her quest for love.

But according to the Daily Mail, it was all an elaborate scheme cooked up by Warner Bros. in a bid to drum up publicity and attract more viewers amid lacklustre ratings.

“Warner Bros flew both finalists (Taite Radley and Todd King) to Fiji to make it look like they were both filming Bachelor In Paradise,” a source told the publication.

“It was an attempt to make everyone think that Ali is still single, but actually she is still with the winner and they are very much in love.”

Speaking to Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa this morning, Taite was evasive when confronted about the bizarre photo.

“Channel 10 gave us the opportunity to go over (to Fiji), a free trip,” he said. “We were just getting a little sun... We didn’t even know the photo was taken.”

News.com.au has reached out to Ten for comment.

It certainly appears that Ali is in love. Both Ali and her chosen man, Taite, took to Instagram to declare their love after the episode aired.

Alongside a photo of the couple - and a kangaroo - Ali wrote: “I’ve never been more spiritually, emotionally, physically connected and in love. You light up my world beautiful!”

Meanwhile, Taite also gushed about being in love in a post on his Instagram account, writing that Ali is “the reason I have been so happy.”