Married at First Sight Australia 2022‘s Domenica Calarco was slammed earlier this week for making a series of “gross” comments about teen conservationist Robert Irwin.
The TV bride faced backlash after two comments she previously made on Steve Irwin‘s son’s TikTok account recently resurfaced.
Now, Domenica has doubled down on her stance by sharing a video to her Instagram Story, telling Australia what she really thinks about the backlash.
In the video (in which Robert was tagged), the podcast host is sitting at a table with two beers. She then looks into the camera and invites him to come and have a beer with her….
According to PedestrianTV, who reached out to Domenica for comment on the whole saga, this was her one and only “statement” on the matter.
What Were Domenica Calarco’s Original Comments About?
Under a clip posted on June 16, Domenica told Robert he was “handsome” before asking him to accompany her to the 2022 Logie Awards.
While some shared her sentiment on the conservationist’s looks, others took issue with it, mainly because Domenica is 29 years old, and Robert only recently turned 18.
“That’s gross, predatory behaviour,” another user replied to the MAFS bride’s comment. “Be a better human and do better.”
Domenica replied: “Chill out he’s of legal age. Wow.”
This response further aggravated fans, with one taking to the Life Uncut podcast group to voice their concerns.
However, in the comment section of the since-deleted post, Domenica doubled down on her thoughts.
“In Australia, legal age is 16. He is 18. He can drink alcohol. I can ask him to come to the Logies with me, and say that he is handsome,” she penned. “Take a chill pill everyone. [sic]”
On a recent Instagram post of Robert’s, 36-year-old singer Amy Shark also made her appreciation for Robert known.
“Well howdy doody handsome lad,” she wrote.
Also adding her sentiments, a family friend of the Irwins (and former Big Brother VIP Australia star) Ellie Gonsalves also praised the post.
“Get it little bro!! Giving Scott Eastwood in Wildest Dreams with Taylor Swift!!!!!!! [sic],” she said.
Fans Call Out Domenica Calarco for “Creepy” Comments About Robert Irwin
Several fans pointed out that Robert has been subjected to “a lot of creepy comments” from older women in recent times.
“[It’s] especially concerning coming from someone 10 years older than him,” one Life Uncut listener wrote. “This shouldn’t be normalised.”
“Agree, so creepy,” another penned.
Domenica then questioned why she can’t call Robert “handsome”, and why inviting him to an event is any different from “young boys [inviting] supermodels or pop stars to prom”.
“Society is becoming so [politically correct] it hurts,” she concluded.
This didn’t appease onlookers whatsoever, with the above-mentioned user highlighting that the concern lay with Domenica’s repeated comments about Robert’s legality.
“Why the comment about him being legal?? If it wasn’t anything sexual then why does his age or legality matter?” they wondered [sic].
After the concerns extended to So Dramatic!‘s Facebook group, Communi-TEA, Domenica told naysayers to “get over [them]selves”.
One fan suggested that the newly minted Sit With Us podcast host was “just trying to stay relevant”.
However, others surmised that her comment “just wasn’t well thought out”.
“What’s more concerning is that she is doubling down when people have called her out for it,” someone added.
However, Domenica denies solidifying her defence.
“Not doubling down… I’d still love to take Robert out for a beer.”
There Has Been Intense Scrutiny Over People Sexualising Young Celebrities
This isn’t the first time people have been accused of sexualising young celebrities.
In recent times, Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown has been subject to gross commentary about her looks and age after rising to fame at just 12-years-old.
What’s particularly horrifying is that thousands of people were anticipating her entry to adulthood, with countdown clocks existing online to mark her 18th birthday in February 2022.
Over 6,000 users were in one Reddit group dedicated to the day, with one fan (see also: predator) describing it as a “sub solely dedicated to sexual pictures of Millie, who is currently a minor”. The thread has since been removed.
Singer Billie Eilish was similarly preyed upon, with fans not missing the link between 30-something-year-old rapper Drake being publicly known for messaging both starlets while underage.
However, the two young women have since defended their friendships with the performer, denying any “weird” behaviour.
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 199 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
Know something that we don’t? Spill the tea here!
Get the tea first! Follow So Dramatic! on Instagram and tune in on Mondays to get your reality tea fix with the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto.
