New Bachelor Jed McIntosh hits back after controversial social media posts he made over a decade ago as a young teenager resurface online: ‘This is not who I am’
The Bachelor’s newest leading man Jed McIntosh has been swept up in scandal before his season has even finished filming.
After Channel 10 announced that the 25-year-old was one of the three new suitors to front the upcoming tenth season of the dating series, some controversial Facebook posts from Jed’s teenage years resurfaced.
The posts were made in 2011, when Jed would’ve been around 14-years-old.
Controversy: The Bachelor’s newest leading man Jed McIntosh has been swept up in scandal after old Facebook posts from his teenage years were shared online
According to the Daily Telegraph, they were leaked by an anonymous Twitter user via a newly created account.
The posts, which are riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, contain comments in poor taste.
In one post, Jed admits to having a laugh while watching students in year 12 ‘getting p***ed’ and ‘having a perve’ on a female teacher.
Juvenile: The posts, which are riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, make reference to ‘smashing p***y’ and rape. They were written when Jed was around 14-years-old
Responding to the controversy, Jed told the Daily Telegraph that the old posts no longer reflected who he is today as a 25-year-old man.
‘These posts are from over 10 years ago and I don’t have any recollection of making them,’ he said.
‘As a kid we say things not understanding the gravity of the language used but I can adamantly say as an adult I do not agree with the use of language and sentiment of the posts,’ Jed continued.
‘I have the upmost respect for women, am a strong advocate for assault victims and would never want to cause any harm or hurt to anyone.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel 10 for comment.
Response: Responding to the controversy, Jed said that the old posts no longer reflected who he is today as a 25-year-old man
Drummer Jed will front season 10 of The Bachelor alongside professional basketballer Felix Von Hofe and life coach Thomas Malucelli.
The Bachelor Australia has been slammed for its lack of diversity in the past, despite having the first black Bachelor ever with Blake Garvey on season two in 2014.
The franchise attempted to fix its diversity problem last year by having Fijian pilot Jimmy Nicholson front season nine, while Indigenous youth worker Brooke Blurton was The Bachelorette a few months later.
Brooke’s season also made history by being the first ‘queer’ instalment of the franchise, with both men and women vying for her heart.
Cast: Drummer Jed will front season 10 of The Bachelor alongside professional basketballer Felix Von Hofe and life coach Thomas Malucelli