Zoe-Clare McDonald’s tearful rant that Areeba Emmanuel discriminated against her because of her red hair during the season premiere of The Bachelor shocked the nation.
And on Thursday, ex Bachelor alum Brittany Hockley said on her podcast Life Uncut that the fiery confrontation – which has come to be known as ‘ranga-gate’ – probably should have never made it air.
The brunette beauty, 32, who starred on Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins season of the show, pointed out that Areeba’s sandwich meant cameras weren’t supposed to be rolling.
The TRUTH behind Zoe-Clare’s cocktail party meltdown: Ex-Bachelor star Brittany Hockley (pictured) said on her podcast Life Uncut this week that the fiery confrontation should never have been aired because they girls were on a break
‘You have a break for dinner… I’m wondering if she was actually on a break and they weren’t properly filming,’ she told her co-host Laura Byrne.
While the cameras aren’t supposed to be rolling during this time, Brittany admitted the controversial footage was just to good an opportunity to pass up.
‘When that went down, the cameraman just decided to grab it because it was (great) content,’ she surmised.
Behind the scenes: Brittany pointed out that as Areeba (pictured) was seen eating a sandwich it meant cameras weren’t supposed to be rolling. ‘You have a break for dinner… I’m wondering if she was actually on a break and they weren’t properly filming,’ she told her co-host Laura Byrne
Laura, 33, who starred on Matthew ‘J’ Johnson’s season of The Bachelor, agreed that if Areeba was eating, it meant the cast was supposed to be having some downtime.
‘You are never allowed to eat on set (while filming)’ she said.
‘Mid party they do a food break… but there was absolutely no eating while on set,’ she added.
Fiery: While the cameras aren’t supposed to be rolling during this time, Brittany admitted the controversial footage was just to good an opportunity to pass up. ‘When that went down, the cameraman just decided to grab it because it was (great) content,’ she added (Zoe Clare and Areeba pictured)
Meanwhile, Bachelor viewers were outraged after the scenes aired earlier this month, and accused Zoe-Clare of ‘using the discrimination card’ against one of the few women of colour on the show.
During the premiere episode, a tearful Zoe-Clare said she was being unfairly targeted because of her red hair by 25-year-old Areeba, who is of Pakistani descent.
Fans of the show blasted the ‘privileged’ sales manager for ‘complaining to a person of colour about being oppressed for having red hair’.
Agreed: Laura, 33, who starred on Matthew ‘J’ Johnson’s season of The Bachelor agreed that if Areeba was eating, it meant the cast was supposed to be having some downtime. ‘You are never allowed to eat on set (while filming)’ she agreed (Laura and Matthew pictured)
Zoe-Clare’s meltdown began when Areeba interrupted her conversation with Bachelor Locklan ‘Locky’ Gilbert at the first cocktail party.
After blasting Areeba for her ‘inappropriate’ actions, she told producers she was being mistreated because of the colour of her hair.
Viewers were not impressed, with one tweeting: ‘Zoe-Clare complaining to one of the only POC in the house about being oppressed for having red hair is just… so… incredibly tone-deaf.’
‘Tone-deaf!’ Bachelor fans accused Zoe-Clare McDonald (left) of ‘using the discrimination card’ against one of the few women of colour on the show, Areeba Emmanuel (right)
‘You’re oppressed as a token redhead?’ Fans of the show blasted ‘privileged’ Zoe-Clare for ‘complaining to a person of colour about being oppressed for having red hair’
Another added: ‘Imagine thinking the token POC in the house is attacking you because you’re the minority redhead.’
Someone else wrote: ‘Is she actually trying to play the discrimination card to the only POC on the show? Okay then.’
Another added: ‘When the whitest girl in the pack is trying to use the discrimination card when she was interrupted by a person of colour.’
A similar tweet read: ‘Zoe, a white girl, is claiming discrimination for being a redhead against Areeba, a POC. Is this what privilege looks like? I’m so confused?’
Oppressed minority? During the premiere earlier this month, a tearful Zoe-Clare said she was being unfairly targeted because of her red hair by 25-year-old Areeba, who is of Pakistani descent
Zoe-Clare had flew into a fit of rage after Areeba interrupted her discussion with Locky.
Rattled by Areeba’s actions, Zoe-Clare couldn’t resist giving her a piece of her mind during the cocktail party, saying: ‘I just want to say what you did was really inappropriate, and it was not okay!’
Despite Zoe-Clare labelling her a ‘moll’, a giggling Areeba thanked her for her ‘feedback’ and continued enjoying her sandwich.
‘What you did was inappropriate’: Rattled by Areeba’s actions, Zoe-Clare couldn’t resist giving her a piece of her mind during the cocktail party
She said: ‘I’m the only redhead in the whole entire house… The only colours are blonde or brunette, and then there’s me. I think that’s exactly why Areeba is targeting me. It’s the red hair. It’s just… it’s not appropriate.
‘What’s wrong with a ranga? Yeah. Do you want me to dye my hair every 10 seconds because you don’t like my colour? I’m so sorry, but this is natural, guys. It’s not going anywhere.’
Her tearful monologue confused many viewers because nobody had mentioned the colour of her hair.
Later in the episode, Zoe-Clare became ‘ill’ and was forced to skip the inaugural rose ceremony.
The Bachelor continues at 7:30pm on Wednesday on Channel 10.
Oh no: Later in the episode, Zoe-Clare became ‘ill’ and was forced to skip the inaugural rose ceremony