MAFS Thomas Hartley says sorry for ‘pain he caused’ and admits ‘regret’ after Jess Potter accuses him of bullying
MARRIED At First Sight star Thomas Hartley has broken his silence after his co-star Jess Potter accused him of bullying.
Jess took to her social media to comment on the feud earlier this week as she claimed her co-star Thomas has been “bullying her constantly.”
The stunning brunette - who tied the knot with stripper PJay Finch on the E4 show, wrote: “Imagine a grown man is bullying me… constantly! DAILY.”
The dental hygienist, 31, continued to add: “How can someone who works in mental health think that being nasty about me constantly online, insta lives, insta story’s, podcasts and articles isn’t having an affect on mine…”
Jess has now accused Thomas of speaking badly about their co-stars too on a podcast.
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Thomas, who works as a mental health care assistant, has now addressed her claims on his own social media and “sincerely apologised.”
He said: “I sincerely apologise for any offence I caused on the podcast. It wasn’t right and I did ask for it to be removed and it wasn’t.
“I take full responsibility and honestly completely regret the situation and what I said.”
He went on: “I am honestly so so sorry got any paid caused to anyone. I did ask for them parts to be removed.
“There’s no excuse, I was out of order massively. I will live eternally with regret.”
Thomas also said he was "taking time out" and added: "See you in a few."
Jess has since addressed the podcast Thomas was involved with, which has now been removed, on her own Instagram.
She said she was “shaking,” as she shared: “I didn’t know if I was going to say anything in regards to the podcast but yeah, it’s literally disgusting.
“It makes me upset that someone can speak about people’s parents in that way. I don’t understand what can go through people’s minds.”
She continued: “The people that were spoken about we’re all here for them and really care about them. It’s not ok.
“I don’t understand how people say hurtful things to boost their career because that’s what it is because it’s f****** disgusting. It’s vile.
“I was the one who had to tell April and get her to tell Whitney and it’s difficult. I don’t know what to say but I hope everyone can see that this isn’t OK.
“It’s people’s feelings and mental health. My chin is shaking. I don’t know what to say and I want to give the girls a big cuddle.”
“Obviously we know the podcast has been removed now, but it shouldn’t have been uploaded in the first place.
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“Damage is done and it’s too little too late. Everyone has recordings and everyone has heard what they’ve heard and there’s no going back from it is there.”
In the podcast in question, Thomas can be heard discussing co-star April Banbury.
April’s mother left her at a young age and she’s since spoken of the eating disorder she developed while saying it was her “way of coping.”
In a clip of the podcast shared by Jess, Thomas can be heard saying: “She said her mum abandoned her didn’t she,” while laughing with another person.
Thomas' co-star Gemma Rose has since unfollowed him on social media too.
Thomas also appeared in an explosive Instagram live with comedian Kane Brown.
In the live he Kane asked: "Since the show, who has paired up and done something with someone else?"
Grinning widely, Thomas did his best to avoid saying his co-stars' names as he shared a rumour he believed to be "90 per cent true".
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He said: "The Harry Potter fan, and this is a rumour, she's slept with people from the cast.
"I think while the show was going on there was something going on whilst we were filming in the apartments. I actually think it was between two women as well. That one is pretty much 90 per cent definite, and it wasn't Zoe or Jenna, it was two other women."
Zoe and Jenna were the series' only lesbian couple.
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Thomas went on to say the fling he was alluding to was an interracial partnership and neither woman liked him.
The 'Harry Potter fan' is contestant Jess Potter, whose partnership with stripper PJay Finch became a doomed relationship.
