Married at First Sight Australia 2022’s Domenica Calarco and Ella Ding have refused to question their “close friend” Al Perkins on whether he’s dating 17-year-old TikTok star Hope Kelesis.
As reported in episode 243 of the So Dramatic! podcast, a spy exclusively shared evidence that the 26-year-old Love Island Australia 2022 star was spotted on Coogee Beach, reportedly “making out” with the teenager.
When Ella asked their private Sit With Us podcast Facebook group what to ask their MAFS co-star ahead of his appearance on their podcast, fans flooded the comments with questions about his controversial relationship with the 17-year-old.
“So you guys asked and we are delivering!! Our favourite class clown Al Perkins is joining us for an episode!! We’ve got our questions up our sleeves, but is there anything you guys would like to know?” Ella, 28, asked.
“Not interested in him. Even before the 17-year-old debacle. Love to hear Abbie [Chatfield] on your pod one day though,” one fan wrote.
Another added: “There are so many comments I could make about him clearly pursuing a 17-year-old.”
“He needs to be asked about his current dating situation with the 17-year-old and maybe a discussion on why this hasn’t blown up throughout the media, unlike Dom’s comments about Robert Irwin,” a third asked.
In fact, numerous comments pointed out the significant disparity in media coverage between 28-year-old Domenica making comments about the 18-year-old wildlife photographer and this (far more problematic) scandal.
Domenica Calarco and Ella Ding attempt to stop fans from asking about Al Perkins’ controversial relationship
Ella and Domenica tried the steer the topic away from Al’s problematic dating scandal, but even their loyal fans weren’t giving in.
“Guys! this is going to be an interview like you’ve never heard before! We are going to really dig deep and go beyond what you read and see online,” Domenica wrote.
Babe, there’s only one thing your listeners want you to “dig deep” into and they’re telling you loud and clear!
Ella Ding asks podcast listeners to pretend Al Perkins’ current drama isn’t “a thing”
Meanwhile, Ella asked their fans: “So this is all you guys wanna know? hahah, you guys wanted Al!
“Considering he is a close friend of ours it was a no-brainer, if the 17-year-old story wasn’t a thing is there anything you would actually want to know about him? [sic]”
Ugh, so it seems Ella just wants us to just turn a blind eye to anything problematic any of her “close friends” do?!
One fan replied that while there had previously been other questions they may have wanted to know, their opinion of Al has completely changed after hearing the “allegations of a girlfriend in high school”.
“Of course, but that’s up to Al and the girl if they want to talk about it and they haven’t yet,” Ella replied.
She continued: “We [can’t] force him to make a statement if he doesn’t want [to], protecting our people who are exposed is something we have to work hard on…”
Soz, but what does that even mean?! “Protecting our people”??? Huh?
Ella urged their fans not to “believe the rumours and allegations as we know they aren’t always true”. Ummm babes, there’s literally photographic evidence!
Even if there weren’t multiple pieces of evidence readily available, we (and every other MAFS fan) have started to question why he hasn’t just addressed the rumours himself?!
So Dramatic! has contacted Dom, Ella and Al for comment.
The controversy around 26-year-old Al Perkins and 17-year-old Hope Kelesis’ age difference
The “dating” rumours have sparked significant controversy, as Hope was born in February 2005 (making her 17 years old at the time of writing). The legal age of (enthusiastic) consent in New South Wales is 16 years old.
However, Hope is still considered a minor in Australia in many other contexts (including being under the legal drinking and voting age).
To put the age gap into another perspective, the minimum applicant age for Love Island Australia 2022 was 19 years old, when Al appeared on the show. Married at First Sight Australia 2022 had a minimum age requirement of 25 years old.
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 246 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
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