It turns out The Bachelor fave Laura Byrne was in the running to head up FBOY Island Australia, despite calling out eventual host Abbie Chatfield for appearing on what she deemed a “misogynistic” show.
ICYMI: When Abbie was announced as the host in late 2022, Laura, who appeared on Matty “J” Johnson‘s season of The Bachelor in 2017, called out the self-proclaimed feminist’s “absolute hypocrisy” in joining the Binge series.
However, we didn’t know the meaning of “absolute hypocrisy” until it was revealed the mum-of-two was ALSO up for the gig.
As reported in episode 297 of the So Dramatic! podcast, a production insider said Laura — who is also a self-proclaimed feminist — “lost out to Abbie” because the 27-year-old was “more suited to the age demographic”.
“Not to mention, she’s also single, so can relate to what the contestants on the show are going through,” they explained.
Laura apparently “didn’t screen-test well” either. The source said the FBOY Island team found her “really boring” and thought she “lacked the personality and pizazz that Abbie has”.
“She also isn’t as big of a drawcard as Abbie and wouldn’t have brought the audience with her that Abbie does,” they continued. “Laura has lost her shine, she’s not the celebrated ‘It Girl’ she once was.”
As such, she is “much better suited” to her recently announced stint on Dancing with the Stars 2023.
Abbie Chatfield reportedly got paid ‘three times as much’ as Laura Byrne’s asking fee for FBOY Island
The insider went on to dish that Abbie raked in “three times as much” dosh than Laura was asking for to host FBOY Island.
“Producers thought she was worth it because she was perfect for the role and does have an inbuilt audience,” the source revealed.
“Abbie held out on accepting the role until she got the right amount of money… [She] promised producers she would be more risque and put herself on the line, whereas Laura wouldn’t have been willing to do that.”
Noting the Life Uncut host “would have been a nightmare on set to deal with”, the production spy said losing out on the job was part of the reason why “Laura called Abbie out for hosting the show”.
“She was butt-hurt she lost the role to her.” Sheeesh!
What did Laura Byrne say about Abbie Chatfield’s FBOY Island gig at the time?
On December 15, 2022, Abbie revealed via Instagram that she had nabbed a hosting gig for the new reality series.
The show sees three women try to work out which of their 24 suitors are “nice guys” and which are “self-proclaimed Fboys.”
Laura then called Abbie out for hosting “a show that encourages men to lie to women and manipulate their emotions in order to win a cash prize”.
“Talks about dismantling the patriarchy… Announces that they are hosting FBoy Island,” she wrote in a series of Instagram Story posts. “That is enough internet for me today.”
She concluded by saying: “The absolute hypocrisy.”
Of course, Abbie didn’t take that lying down. She soon hit out at Laura for “making assumptions off a show [she hasn’t] even seen yet”.
A third Bachie alum, Angie Kent, has since revealed she auditioned for the role, too, but we ain’t seeing any complaints about her willingness to take on the gig…
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