The Block‘s Ricky Recard’s ‘blindsided’ ex hits out after he goes public with show’s makeup artist

Ricky Recard’s devastated ex claims she was abruptly dumped by the Block star shortly before he began dating the show’s makeup artist.

The devastated ex-girlfriend of one of this season’s Block contestants has claimed she was abruptly dumped for a woman he met on set.

Ricky Recard, who is paired up with his best friend Haydn Wise on Nine’s juggernaut renovation series, has become one of the breakout stars this year, winning over a legion of fans.

But the 34-year-old plumber’s personal life has now become embroiled in scandal, with his ex, Lauren Smith, telling the Daily Mail she was left “blindsided” when he ended their relationship shortly after filming wrapped up, despite the fact they were about to embark on a Mexico holiday for her birthday.

“I spent three months looking after his dogs and his house while also helping his employee with the business. I was absolutely blindsided,” she told the publication.

Ricky and Haydn are one of this season’s Block teams. Picture: Nine

Lauren Smith opened up about their split. Picture: Instagram

Shortly afterwards, according to Smith, Recard began dating makeup artist and mother-of-two Erin Smith, who worked on this season of The Block.

“We were due to go [on the holiday] at the beginning of July for my 30th birthday but we broke up about two weeks after he got back from filming,” Smith said.

“I found out while I was in Mexico that he had apparently begun a relationship with Erin during the time I was away.”

Smith previously featured Ricky (right) and Haydn in a Reel. Picture: Instagram

Last month, the new couple flew to Port Douglas where they went Instagram official on Pecard’s page with a cosy sunset picture and the caption: “Beach time with this stunner.”

The new couple has since gone public. Picture: Instagram

Lee also shared a picture of the two of them, along with the message: “Sometimes the path we never planned leads us to brighter things and the happiness we always needed. Trust the journey.”

Recard had confirmed he was dating someone new in a recent interview with New Idea, but did not identify her – and even claimed his girlfriend “didn’t know” he was on the show, despite it transpiring that she was, in fact, working with him as a makeup artist.

“I can definitely say she was impressed, and why wouldn’t she be?” he told the publication.

“The reason why she was impressed was not because I’m on The Block. She thinks it’s pretty funny. She didn’t know I was on The Block when we started seeing each other.”

Originally published as The Block‘s Ricky Recard’s ‘blindsided’ ex hits out after he goes public with show’s makeup artist