Serial reality star Al Perkins has confirmed he’s found himself a girlfriend following rumours that he’s dating 17-year-old TikTok sensation Hope Kelesis.
The 26-year-old Married at First Sight-turned-Love Island star was clocked by a So Dramatic! spy on a date with Hope in early January, sparking conversation about the controversy of a literal MAN in his late 20s hooking up with someone who is still in high school and very much still a child.
News flash: the verdict ain’t great.
Footage of the pair interacting has continued to surface on social media and now, Al has broken his silence on the romance.
He made the admission while chatting to co-host Taku Chimwaza on their new Back to Reality podcast while interviewing Al’s ex-villa bae, Jessica Losurdo.
Reminiscing on their split, the TV casanova said long-distance played a part in their breakup.
“I remember driving to your house and it took me an hour to get there,” he said. “I was like, ‘This is too long, I don’t really want to drive there’.” MOOD.
Jessica, 26, then joked that she was taking “long service leave” from the dating game. However, Al couldn’t say the same for himself.
“I wouldn’t say I’m single,” he dished. “I’m really happy where I’m at.
“That’s all I’m going to say on that matter.”
Fans hit back at Al Perkins’ new romance
While Al has stayed relatively mum on the matter, fans have hit back in full force with their disdain over the age-gap coupling.
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 and when Al appeared on Married at First Sight Australia in 2022 they had a minimum age requirement of 25 years old.
“F*cking gross,” one user wrote online.
“Isn’t he 26? Age gaps that young makes a huge difference,” another noted.
A third said: “Absolutely f*cking gross. She’s in high school!! That’s not it at all.”
Two people yet to call out the cooked couple-up are Al’s MAFS besties, Domenica Calarco and Ella Ding — because apparently, pretending the romance “isn’t a thing” means it doesn’t exist…
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 249 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
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