Viewers expressed their outrage at the inappropriate confrontation between Cass and fellow contestant Brittany Hockley who demanded answers regarding the sexual nature of her relationship with Nick.
But Britt wasn’t the only target of the viewer backlash, with Cummins himself in the firing line, for not only dodging the blame in the Cass-relationship triangle (for want of a shape with 25 sides), but also for his handling of the situation.
Throughout the series, fans called for Nick to let Cass down easily, but (obviously it was filmed months earlier so the calls fell on deaf ears) but he kept the 23-year-old in right up until hometowns and the final four.
While there are theories that the producers urged the former rugby player to keep her in the show, presumably for ratings, if this is the case, and he did so, shame on him.
But in an opportunity to address the relationship and the way it played out after last night’s controversial episode, and explain his reasoning, Nick instead took to Instagram to share a sponsored post for Tradie underwear which many said was insensitive and heartless after Cass was so clearly heartbroken.
One clearly unimpressed fan commented on the post, “I think Cassandra dodged a bullet. Nick, you have to be the fakest Bachelor we've ever had. You're a great actor. And we [can] see that it won't work out for that exact reason - it's all an act. Stick to your pathetic Tradie ads.”
While another added, “So Cass acknowledges the episode on social media and her heartbreak and all you do is a paid post for Tradie Underwear. Clearly you have zero care factor and [are] out to make some cash off the back of the show.”
“At least get a decent social media strategist to do [a] post acknowledging what happened with Cass,” wrote another. “You're not coming across very genuine. Boosting your profile but cheapening it at the same time...”
“Worst Bachelor season ever,” added another. “[You're] in too deep. Could have kept your profile intact if you had admitted and backed out of the series in the first couple of weeks when it was obvious you were in over your head, out of your depth.”
Nick has since disabled comments on the post.
The Daily Mail has also recently revealed that Nick will be out of the country next week when the finale airs and therefore will be unavailable for the usual post-season promotion.
Instead, he’ll reportedly be in Papua New Guinea trekking the Kokoda Trail - which only adds further fuel to the rumours that the Bachelor has already split with the winning lady...
