BiP: Keira Maguire is forced to defend her nine-year age gap with boyfriend Matthew Zukowski

Bachelor in Paradise’s Keira Maguire is forced to defend her nine-year age gap with boyfriend Matthew Zukowski after being cruelly labelled a ‘cradle snatcher’ by rival Leah Costa

She went ‘Facebook official’ on Tuesday with her 25-year-old boyfriend, Love Island star Matthew Zukowski.

And just hours later, Keira Maguire, 34, was forced to defend their nine-year age gap after a fellow reality star, Leah Costa, cruelly described her as a ‘cradle snatcher’.

The fiery confrontation took place in the comments section of an Instagram post shared by the So Dramatic podcast. 

Hitting back: On Tuesday, Bachelor in Paradise’s Keira Maguire was forced to defend her nine-year age gap with younger Love Island star boyfriend Matthew Zukowski after being cruelly labelled a ‘cradle snatcher’ by a former co-star (Keira and Matthew are pictured) 

‘Congrats to Keira Maguire and Matthew Zukowski who took the next step in their relationship today and are now Facebook official! Love is not dead guys!’ the post announced.

Leah, 27, who was the villain on Matty Johnson’s season of the Bachelor, couldn’t let the opportunity pass by to take a swipe at her old Paradise nemesis.

‘LOL Cradle snatcher. Isn’t he like 12?,’ she commented. 

What went down: The fiery confirmation occurred between Keira and Leah Costa, 27, on a gushy post shared to Instagram by the So Dramatic podcast, congratulating the couple. Leah, who rose to fame as the 'villain' on Matthew 'J' Johnson's season of the Bachelor couldn't let the opportunity pass by to take a little dig at her old Paradise nemesis. 'LOL Cradle snatcher. Isn't he like 12?,' she commented on the post

What went down: The fiery confirmation occurred between Keira and Leah Costa, 27, on a gushy post shared to Instagram by the So Dramatic podcast, congratulating the couple. Leah, who rose to fame as the ‘villain’ on Matthew ‘J’ Johnson’s season of the Bachelor couldn’t let the opportunity pass by to take a little dig at her old Paradise nemesis. ‘LOL Cradle snatcher. Isn’t he like 12?,’ she commented on the post

Keira clapped back: ‘No he’s 25.’

The two reality stars had fallen out two years ago, when Leah swooped in to steal Keira’s date with intruder Grant on the first season of Bachelor in Paradise.

It comes after Keira and Matthew confirmed their long-rumoured romance on Tuesday night, just hours after her exit from season three of Paradise.

Enemies: The two reality stars fell out after Leah swooped in to steal Keira's date and the first kiss with US Bachelor In Paradise intruder Grant in 2018

Enemies: The two reality stars fell out after Leah swooped in to steal Keira’s date and the first kiss with US Bachelor In Paradise intruder Grant in 2018

‘Went on the wrong show… but doesn’t matter, I found you,’ Keira wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of herself cuddling her toyboy.  

Their relationship first made headlines last month when they were spotted kissing in Melbourne.

During Tuesday’s episode of Paradise, Keira decided to throw in the towel – forcing Alex McKay to do the same.

Big debut: Meanwhile, Keira and Love Island star Matthew finally confirmed their romance by sharing pictures to their respective social media accounts following her dramatic exit from Paradise during Tuesday night's episode

Big debut: Meanwhile, Keira and Love Island star Matthew finally confirmed their romance by sharing pictures to their respective social media accounts following her dramatic exit from Paradise during Tuesday night’s episode

The veteran reality star was upset when she learned that no more contestants would be arriving in Paradise, meaning the pair, who had no romantic interest in each other but had agreed to exchange roses for the time being, couldn’t form a new couple. 

So she sat Alex down and broke the news that she was leaving, which meant he had to go home too.

‘Obviously we’ve talked a few times and there’s nothing there, so what’s the point of sticking around?’ she said. 

‘That’s it. Fair enough. If you want to go home, I’m more than happy to go home as well,’ Alex replied, diplomatically.  

Bachelor in Paradise continues Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel 10

'What's the point of sticking around?' Keira sat Alex down and broke the news that she was leaving, which meant he had to go home as well

‘What’s the point of sticking around?’ Keira sat Alex down and broke the news that she was leaving, which meant he had to go home as well