Locky Gilbert claims he NEVER told heartbroken runner-up Bella Varelis he was in love with her

He’s been copping backlash from Bachelor fans for telling runner-up Bella Varelis he was ‘falling in love’ with her, only to dump her in the season finale.

But now leading man Locklan ‘Locky’ Gilbert has pointed out a crucial detail that everyone seemingly missed.

Speaking to The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Friday alongside winner Irena Srbinovska, the 31-year-old claimed he never technically told Bella he was in love with her.

His clarification came after he dropped the L-word to both of the women during the two-part grand finale. 

‘I didn’t say that exact same thing. It’s a hot topic at the moment,’ Locky said.

Radio host Jackie ‘O’ chimed in, and seemed to cotton on to what Locky was trying to say: ‘When you said, “I’ve fallen in love…”‘

‘Fallen and falling,‘ he replied.

While he didn’t spell it out, Locky implied that he’d told Bella he was ‘falling in love’ with her, but had told Irena he’d already ‘fallen in love’ with her.

He later said about his gut-wrenching decision: ‘I was in love with both of them, but they were both two completely different futures.’ 

It comes after Locky brutally dumped Bella for Irena in the shocking Bachelor finale on Thursday night.

Despite telling her earlier in the episode he was ‘falling in love’ with her, he changed his mind and said he could no longer see a future with her.

After having her heart broken, Bella stormed off and said: ‘Can I leave? I’m going.’

Locky is still dating Irena, 31, two months after filming the finale, and they plan to live together in Perth once they’ve finished promotional duties for The Bachelor.