The year 2016 has been a harsh mistress for celebrities. Now comes the news of the demise of The Bachelorette Sam Frost and Sasha Mielczarek's made-on-TV romance.
Frost, who is now a radio presenter for Southern Cross Austereo's marquee program, 2DayFM's breakfast show in Sydney, announced, via her manager, that Sasha is no longer her pick for the final rose.
"After 18 months together, Sam Frost and Sasha Mielczarek have come to a mutual decision to end their relationship," the statement released to Fairfax Media on Tuesday said.
"It is important to stress that there is no bitterness or scandal. They have just come to the realisation that the best way forward, is to separate.
"They wholeheartedly respect and cherish the friendship they have for one another which will continue moving forward. They wish to thank everyone for their love and support over the past 18 months."
The couple met last year on the first season of The Bachelorette after Frost was dumped by the star of The Bachelor, and one-time holder of the "Australia's most hated man" title, Blake Garvey, shortly after the final rose ceremony when he then decided to choose runner-up Louise Pillidge instead.
Frost went on to find love with rural construction worker Mielczarek and the pair maintained a long distance relationship until this week when paparazzi photos surfaced of Mielczarek with another "mystery" woman on the Gold Coast. Meanwhile Frost attended a Christmas Eve party alone in Sydney before posting a cryptic caption to Instagram.
"Christmas isn't always sunshine and rainbows for everyone.. I'm sending nothing but good vibes, love, light & happiness. I promise 2017 is going to be YOUR year xxxx," she wrote next to a photo of a beach sunset.
The reality-turned-radio star has previously spoken about the pressures on her relationship with Mielczarek - mainly the intense interest from tabloids and women's magazines.
In October she disabled all three of her social media accounts after defending claims made by New Idea that the couple had split.
"New Idea get a f***ing life!" she wrote on Instagram.
"For the one-millionth time, Sash & I have not split. In fact we are stronger than ever. Spoilers: Social media isn't the real world. The media isn't the real world. What's real is the time you spend with your partner, the challenges you work through and the unconditional love and support we have for one another. We actually prefer to keep social media out of our relationship, because that is what works for us."
The relationship and her experiences on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette were some of Frost's biggest contributions to the radio show she co-hosts alongside Rove McManus. Mielczarek made several appearances on air while she used the platform to discuss what happens behind-the-scenes on Ten's popular shows.
- This article first appeared on smh.com.au
