He previously denied he’s dating teenage TikTok star Hope Kelesis but Love Island’s Al Perkins, 26, has now finally gone public with his new girlfriend.
ICYMI: So Dramatic! revealed that the reality star and the 17-year-old were dating after they were spotted getting cosy on a Sydney beach in early January.
The sighting sparked a conversation about whether it is appropriate for a man in his late 20s to be hooking up with someone who is still in high school and very much still a child.
Earlier this month, Al appeared on the Sit With Us podcast hosted by his Married at First Sight co-stars Ella Ding and Domenica Calarco, where they rubbished the “rumours” as “false” and “harmful.” Prior to that, they had DEFENDED Al’s relationship with the school kid.
But it appears the serial reality star has had a change of heart and has finally made his new relationship Instagram official.
“My first valentine [sic] and here’s to many more,” he captioned a selfie of himself and the teenager enjoying a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner on February 14.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Al Perkins,” Hope wrote when she posted the same image. She also shared a bunch of roses and a chocolate hamper she received from Al penning, “There is no way.”
The hard launch of the couple’s relationship comes just eleven days after Hope turned 18.
Following Al’s announcement, fans took to the comments to express their disdain over the age-gap coupling with some labelling it “gross.”
Replying to Domenica’s supportive comment of a love heart and crying face emoji, one fan wrote: “Girl ur defending a predator [sic].”
Another asked, “Are you crying because it’s a man who has been with a child? 17 is a child. She turned 18, 11 days ago.”
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.
Al Perkins recently appeared on the Sit With Us podcast where he slammed the dating “rumours” as “false”
Earlier this month, Al appeared on Domenica and Ella’s podcast where they slammed So Dramatic!’s reports of his new romance as “false.”
Ella started off by saying, “Obviously Dom and I know all the shit in the media, we hear it, we see it, and everybody believes anything they want to hear and see.
“I didn’t know about this article… but then we got sent it and it was about you having a partner who is 17. There was a podcast released about it and all we’re going to ask you, Al – so that it can come from… What’s that saying?… The horse’s mouth?” Ella asked.
The Italian bride then jumped in, finishing her friend’s sentence off by saying, “It comes from the horse’s mouth, it can come from Al Perkins himself.
“Al, true or false, are you dating someone who is 17?”
The carpenter from Bondi then replied firmly stating, “False, false. You can’t believe everything you see on the internet or whatever, but I’m just really happy at the moment, that’s all I can really say on the matter.”
Domenica then chimed in yelling, “And that’s all that matters. That you’re happy, you’re healthy and you’re living your best life, and the bullsh*t that comes out in the media, we know all about it.”
The duo then reaffirmed to their listeners: “Guys, do not believe all the shit that you hear and see in the media, it’s actually ridiculous.”
Domenica calls So Dramatic!’s reports that Al Perkins is dating TikTok star girlfriend Hope Kelesis “detrimental” and “harmful”
The former beauty influencer then described So Dramatic!’s reports that Al was dating the teenage TikTok sensation as “detrimental” and “harmful.”
“When it comes to something like this Al, that is really detrimental to not only yourself, but potentially the person you’re seeing and wanting to build something with, it is really harmful,” she said.
“It’s really sad that we have to talk about this and quash rumours and address it.
“It shouldn’t even have to be a conversation. But I am so glad that you are staunch, you’re like ‘it’s false, get over it people, this is my life, I’m happy,’ and that’s all that matters.”
Al agreed with his former co-star, stating that the media “isn’t always believable” and people shouldn’t “believe everything they read.”
Domenica then added: “We’re all about leaving toxic media out of our lives.”
Domenica Calarco compares media reports of Al Perkins and TikTok star girlfriend Hope Kelesis’ romance to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In a twist no one saw coming, Domenica then went on to compare the “rumours” of Al dating girlfriend Hope to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s struggles with the media.
“It is just interesting with these false lies about you dating a 17-year-old and there’re just created drama for no reason,” she started.
“I just wanted to bring [Prince Harry and Meghan] up because it goes from people like us who were just on a reality TV show to people in the Monarch that have far more of a platform than us. It’s just crazy how it never ends and [the media] just try to nitpick at everybody.”
Domenica then claimed that the media “can ruin relationships” and said she had “two situation-ships ruined” last year.
“There can be a lot of shit going around with false rumours and other people telling your story but coming from your heart and soul is just so pure and amazing,” she said.
Ella and Domenica then thanked Al for being “an amazing role model.”
So Dramatic! has contacted Al for comment.
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