Voice winner Lachie Gill says he hasn’t heard from mentor Rita Ora

Winner of The Voice, Lachie Gill, has claimed he hasn’t heard from his mentor Rita Ora at all since the finale.

The winner of The Voice Australia has claimed he hasn’t heard a peep from his on-screen mentor Rita Ora.

Lachie Gill, who was crowned winner of the singing competition in May, told the Herald Sun this weekend that the 32-year-old singer hasn’t been in touch since the finale.

The Melbourne-based singer, 24, said Ora “flew back to LA the day after the show finished” and has been presumably busy with other projects for the past few months. He called the situation “a bit sad for everyone”.

Lachie Gill won The Voice Australia in May. Picture: Channel 7

“I am going to be completely honest with you, I have not spoken to her since the show which maybe is a bit sad for everyone, but also I totally understand that she is one busy woman,” the former footy player told the publication.

“I have not really bothered to try and reach out and contact her because I sort of know that she would have a pretty busy schedule,” he said.

She may have been preoccupied with wedding plans, given that in August reports emerged that the singer secretly tied the knot to her director fiance Taika Waititi.

Rita Ora reportedly married Taika Waititi in August. Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Gill defended the British pop star by clarifying that the coaches are on the show to “help and mentor the singers” during the competition.

The PE teacher was chosen for Ora’s team on this year’s season of Channel 7 show, pocketing the $100,000 prize money and a recording contract with Universal Music Australia.

When his win was announced, Ora gushed: “You did all of this. Australia, thank you, thank you, I love you. I feel like this is just the beginning for you. Congratulations. I’m so happy for you I can’t breathe!”

But his win was embroiled in controversy when social media erupted with frustration that a “white boy” came out on top over “three people of colour”, with runner-up Faith Sosene from Team Jess Mauboy, 25, even suggesting there was a wider issue at play on her Instagram.

“We already knew Australia was gonna love and pick you! You’re simply perfect for them,” she initially wrote.

Sosene quickly edited the caption, deleting “for them” and leaving it as, “You’re simply perfect.”

Team Rita’s Lachie Gill, Team Jess’ Faith Sosene, Team Guy’s Jordan Tavita and Team Keith’s Thando Sikwila sang their hearts out in the finale.

She added: “[Thando and Jordan] We must work harder for our future generations to win. Off to work we go.”

Gill has since told Daily Mail he “won’t buy into” such controversy.

“There are always doubters and I won’t buy into it,” he told the publication. “I’m just really grateful to my fans who voted for me and [who] have shown their support.

He added: “I want to thank my fans for helping me to fulfil my dreams and ambitions. We all came onto this show wanting to win and I have the utmost respect and love for my fellow contestants.”

Fellow runner-up Thando Sikwila, 29, also took to Instagram on Tuesday to say while she appreciated the support, Gill was a deserving winner.

“We understand there’s a narrative going around, but you really need to leave the winner of the show alone,” she told her followers. “The winner won because Australia voted the way that it did, and that is it.”

“Please know, I wasn’t robbed,” she added.

Originally published as Voice winner Lachie Gill says he hasn’t heard from mentor Rita Ora