On Wednesday, Ellidy Pullin announced her engagement to partner Brock Wadsworth, six years after she tragically lost her former partner, three-time Winter Olympian Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin.
While the news was met with excitement by many fans, it has also cast a renewed light on a long-strained relationship between Ellidy and Chumpy’s father, Chris Pullin, from whom she has been estranged in recent years.
Chris Pullin has now told the Daily Mail that he would prefer Ellidy to change her last name, following news of her engagement.
“I don’t think she’ll change her name, because it’s her whole persona; it’s been her cash cow,” he told Daily Mail.
“She is a Pullin, but she’s not,” he continued.
“They weren’t married. I hate it, but what do I do. All I can say is, ‘What would Chumpy think about that?’ It annoys me because it’s out of our control. The Pullin family is very much still in existence. There are about 30 of us. She has no relationship with any of us other than my daughter [Chumpy’s sister].”
He continued, “I don’t have any relationship with either of them [Ellidy and his granddaughter, Minnie]. I don’t see anything because it’s all blocked. I don’t even know where they live.”
He also mentioned Ellidy’s fiancé, Brock, saying he felt sorry for him and that “it’s going to end badly.”
“I suppose this might create more space between us and her talking about Chumpy, because that will be a bit hard when you’re married to someone else,” he added.
So where, exactly, did this rift begin? We’re unpacking the history of the bitter falling-out between Ellidy and Chumpy’s parents.
What Started The Feud Between Ellidy & Chumpy Pullin’s Parents?
In 2022, Ellidy Pullin launched the Chumpy Pullin Foundation, which initially focused on supporting youth sport.
However in May 2024, Chumpy’s parents, Chris and Sally Pullin, wrote to the foundation’s board expressing concern about what they described as a change in the organisation’s direction. In the email, which was published by the Daily Mail, they questioned a shift away from youth sport and towards mental health initiatives.
“Of course heading down the mental health path would not be upholding Chumpy’s ideals,” the email stated. “You cannot use his name to make the foundation popular and then manipulate that momentum to your own ends. If that happens, we would not allow you to use his name, or his image.
“I hope you can understand that Chumpy was a wonderful mentor and inspiration for people around him; it wasn’t mental health. I hope you can fulfil the original promise made to us at the inception of the foundation, a legacy in Chumpy’s name to live by his example.”
Chris has said the email did not receive a response and that following the correspondence, Ellidy blocked his phone number.
Chris is the paternal grandfather to Minnie Alex Pullin, who was born in October 2021 after Ellidy conceived her via posthumous IVF. Because she and Chumpy were not married at the time of his death, Pullin’s parents were required to give consent for the procedure, which they did.
What Happened After Sally Pullin’s Death?
Sally Pullin died in April 2025 after being diagnosed with central nervous system lymphoma. Following her death, Ellidy shared a tribute on Instagram reflecting on their relationship.
“To remember this beautiful woman is to picture that warm, beaming smile and hear her cheeky giggle,” Ellidy wrote.
“I’ll forever cherish her special family lasagne recipe, and when she’d grab her ukulele of an afternoon and sing Chumpy’s song Four Babies over and over. We’d never get tired of that joyful voice. I love you, Sal…I know he’s holding you forever tight.”
Chris Pullin later told the Daily Mail he was upset by the post, saying: “Half of those photos weren’t even hers to post. She was acting like Sal’s daughter-in-law, but they weren’t married.”
Why Did The Chumpy Pullin Foundation Close?
The Chumpy Pullin Foundation ceased operations in December 2024. In its closing statement, the organisation said remaining funds would be directed towards youth mental health initiatives and outlined a range of programs it had supported, including scholarships, camps, workshops and junior sporting events.
Chris Pullin has said he was concerned the foundation’s focus on mental health could lead to confusion about the circumstances of his son’s death. Pullin drowned after suffering a shallow water blackout while spearfishing.
The Pullins were involved in early fundraising efforts for the foundation, contributing family photographs and personal items for auction. Chris has said he and Sally supported initial plans to create accommodation near Jindabyne to assist young athletes training in the Snowy Mountains, but that those plans did not proceed.
He has also said he is uncertain about the whereabouts of some of his son’s personal belongings following the sale of the Gold Coast home Ellidy shared with Pullin.
“Where all his stuff went I have no idea,” he said. “I’m quite sad about that.”
