Every year as The Bachelor Australia graces our screens, that season’s leading lad goes into deep, deep hiding. Only to re-emerge the day after the finale, alongside the woman who won his heart.
But clearly not this year.
Locky Gilbert—the adventure-loving, ex-Survivor contestant, hater of spices—has been on our screens every week for the last month. And while he looks to be head-over-heels in love, many are speculating that his behind-the-scenes behaviour says otherwise.
From Areeba backing Irena for the win to the romantic edits proving Bella will take out top spot, Gilbert has been busy both during and after the show.
However, he has admitted that he did not pull “a total Honey Badger”, revealing that he is head-over-heels for the winner, saying: “I wake every morning and the love is stronger and stronger, I can see so far into the future [with her].”
And while he has confirmed a relationship publicly, there are copious amounts of evidence that prove Gilbert’s singledom post-finale.
Below, we’ve rounded up every piece of evidence that somewhat proves Gilbert may not find love on The Bachelor Australia.
He’s been spotted liking photos of other women on Instagram
Spotted—and called out—by none other than ex-Bachelorette Angie Kent, Locky Gilbert was recently caught liking photos of other women on Instagram.
After reality TV podcast So Dramatic! shared screenshots of Instagram images that Gilbert has liked, including that of Love Island‘s Jessie Wynter, Francoise Draschler and upcoming Bachelorette Elly Miles. Questioning whether or not it was inappropriate for someone who is currently in a relationship with 10 women, to actively like images of others.
The Instagram post calling out Gilbert, then prompted Kent to vent her frustrations over his behaviour, and seeing that she was once in his shoes, she surely knows the hurt his actions could cause others.
“I find it super disrespectful when dudes who have girlfriends go on cute little liking sprees of babes in bathers or lingerie,” she said in a comment on the post. “I mean sure, have a good old look and appreciate the magic that is the female, you’re only human…”
“But unless home girl is your girlfriend or ya best friend, how about you don’t go and double tap that? It’s not that hard,” she continued.
“Imagine if the shoe was on the other foot. Their big male egos would throw toys so far out of their prams … we’d never hear the god damn end of it.”
One of Gilbert’s ex-girlfriends, former Love Island star Jordan Cayless saw the post and responded in support, saying: “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
He’s been caught sending DMs to other women on Instagram
According to a source who spoke to New Idea magazine, Gilbert has “been sliding into the DMs of several women on Instagram.” The insider continued to claim that his online activity hasn’t been random or accidental, adding that he does this as an attempt to get in with them.
“He likes all of their photos to get their attention,” the insider said. “He sends them a cheeky message and, of course, they’re more than happy to reply, considering he’s Australia’s most eligible Bachelor.”
That being so, influencer Claire Lucinda can attest to the above, after she recently called Gilbert out in a TikTok video that has now gone viral.
The video shows Claire Lucinda giving her 13.3k followers a glimpse at the flirty messages Gilbert has been sending her, as she mouths the lyrics to the song “Questions Part 3” by Emmanuel Hudson.
However, as the message aren’t shown long enough to be read, we can’t truly tell the nature behind them.
He was apparently texting “every other girl” in Western Australia during Love In Lockdown
Here’s where things get interesting.
As Love In Lockdown commenced, we merely witnessed Gilbert from the comfort of his home (and in a questionable onesie) via Zoom. However, claims have surfaced that he spent his lockdown back home in Perth, and keeping in touch with other women.
On September 15, Married At First Sight’s Alex Markovic revealed on Filip Odžak‘s Reality Roundup series, that she was in contact with Gilbert during the show’s quarantine. After being asked about her thoughts on the Bella and Irena drama, she replied with: “I can’t comment much on this [Bella and Irena drama], because I was with Locky [during] that break”.
“… But I can tell you now, Locky wasn’t just texting the Bachelor girls. Them and every other girl in WA.”
And while some may call this speculation, So Dramatic! even released an episode stating the same accusation. Citing anonymous sources, podcast host Megan Pustetto said that Gilbert has messaged and met up with “several women on the outside.”
And the claim could be plausible, as many have pointed out that the duration of Love In Lockdown might have been two episodes for us, but it was three months worth of time out of the mansion. Either way, it doesn’t look good.
However, this isn’t the first time that Markovic has been tied to the Bachelor. Back in April, she publicly denied that the two were dating, after they were spotted together at a party.
Speaking to the Kyle & Jackie O Show, she shared that the pair began talking because “we have the reality TV thing in common, about producers and what they do.”
But insisted that they were just friends. “Perth is very small, everyone knows every Tom, Dick, and Harry,” she said.
He was spotted out with another woman at a Perth bar
Another strike against Gilbert came on September 13, when footage emerged showing him partying at The Peach Pit bar in Perth, alongside a woman who is clearly not one of the women competing for his love on The Bachelor.
According to the civilian who recorded the footage, Gilbert apparently behaved awkwardly when questioned about the outcome of the show.
Posted on the Instagram account BachieFunny, it was assumed that Gilbert looked to be neither keeping a low profile until the finale airs, nor is he spending time with the actual winner, which “kinda screams he’s not with the winner anymore.”
However, Gilbert’s awkward rendezvous didn’t end there. The person filming the video also claimed to have spotted him “chattin’ up the youngins” at the bar, and even went up to ask Gilbert a couple of Bachelor-related questions.
“I said to him, ‘Obviously you didn’t end up with anyone from Bachie,’ and he looked at the blonde girl and awkwardly laughed.”
“I don’t think he’s with any of [the Bachie contestants], and if so, well f**k seemed like he had a good night hahahaha.”
Of course, each of these points are observations and accusations, which can only mean one thing: take them with a grain of salt.
