BRIDE & PREJUDICE Jess sets the record straight on rumours about her past
Jess sets the record straight on allegations of promiscuity
It’s the show that has shocked the nation, with thousands of viewers left appalled by some of Australia’s most awful parents on Bride & Prejudice. By far the most controversial of the lot is Melbourne mum Fatima, who hasn’t held back about her feelings towards her son Seyat’s fiancée, Jess. The disgruntled mother offered the 21-year-old $10,000 to leave Seyat. But Jess wasn’t having a bar of it. “She is bullying me,” Jess tells WHO. The drama has also spilled off-screen for the young couple after Seyat, 19, went public to make comments about Jess’ sexual history on Sydney’s Kyle and Jackie O radio show. “She did have a history in the past,” Seyat said. “Have you asked her how many people she’s been with?” host Kyle Sandilands asked. “I did actually ask that question,” Seyat hesitantly replied. “I’d say ... I think it’s about 20.” Naturally, Jess was left furious and upset by the public remarks and she’s here to share her side of the story in her own words.
Seyat has made some comments on radio about your sexual past. Oh god. I knew that was going to come up. How do you feel about what he had to say?
I’m open, I don’t really mind it being out there, that’s not really a big deal to me. I just feel like it’s something I should have had the chance to come out about. It’s my personal life and the amount of people you have slept with shouldn’t make you a slut. At the end of the day, this was all before Seyat. Maybe if it was during a relationship, sure, it would be a problem. For some people it may be a lot, but for some people it’s not. It’s my life and I am the one who needs to deal with it. Were you angry? Yeah, I was really angry. I told him that he doesn’t
always have to answer every question, especially when they’re about a personal issue. He could have just said, “That is Jess’ personal life and if she wants to address that then she can.” Especially in front of his mother. It’s none of anyone’s business.
How much more are you willing to put up with?
I don’t know. I do really love him. He’s a hard one because he does so many things wrong but for some reason I can laugh about it the next second. Sometimes I am probably a bit blinded by love. He just needs to get control of this stuff. He has no boundaries and he can’t keep coming out about stuff that’s not to do with him. I would never come out about anything to do with him unless he said it was OK. He used the excuse that he was put on the spot but I am put on the spot, too, but I still manage to control myself.
You’ve had one of the most difficult journeys on the show. Did you have any moment when you wanted to quit?
There were times when I felt like we were throwing ourselves up against a brick wall. We were trying so hard and nothing was working. I was struggling really hard emotionally and, to be honest, if it wasn’t for certain people in the house, I may have called it quits. But they really supported me and wanted me to get to the end. Everyone in the house was really amazing.
Fatima has made some big accusations during the show, including that you were lying about not taking the $10,000. What did she mean?
I’m not sure what she means about lying. At the table when she called me a liar I asked her to tell me what I’m lying about and she couldn’t really give me any examples. When I confronted her about it she just kind of said, “Nah, nah, you’re a liar.” She was just pulling out any insults without having anything to back it up. When I asked her, she would shut it down. ■
Why didn’t you take the money?
$10,000 is $10,000. At the end of the day, I can go out and make $10,000 myself, but can I go out and find a life partner that easily? No.
Is there an amount of money you would have taken?
No, definitely not. I just don’t want to be bought off. It’s just not me. I’m a person, I’m not a couch. I just don’t think you can bribe me. Money is money, love is irreplaceable. You can’t make the love that me and Seyat have again.
Have you spoken to Fatima recently?
I haven’t really had much interaction with her since filming has finished.
How does she feel about the show?
Seyat has been saying she is a little bit upset but it’s hard to tell without me talking to her myself and I’m not really wanting to at the moment.
What do your family think now that they’ve seen more of the show?
My parents are very angry. Episode 1, my mum wanted to jump through the TV.
Has your mum tried to contact Fatima?
She wants to and she wants to find out why she said what she said and why she speaks to me the way that she speaks. But she also doesn’t want to cause any drama for me so she’s just keeping her distance to avoid that confrontation, but she’d love to say a few words to her.