The Bachelor’s Bella Varelis made headlines for the wrong reasons on Christmas when she was called out for using a Russian Instagram influencer’s photo.
Now, the 26-year-old has hit back at her critics, insisting that the romantic photo was merely an ‘inspirational’ image and not meant to mislead fans into thinking she had a secret boyfriend.
The image in question belonged to Moscow-based Ekaterina Mezenova, and depicted the glamazon smooching her husband by a towering Christmas tree.
Hitting back: The Bachelor’s Bella Varellis, 26, has hit back at her critics after she was blasted for using another Instagram influencer’s romantic couple photo on Wednesday
On Sunday, Bella hit back by uploading footage from Hollywood film The Notebook, before adding a sarcastic caption that read: ‘Oh I forgot, i can’t upload inspo without the media freaking out’.
‘So just to confirm the previous story is from The Notebook,’ she added, signing off with a smiley face emoji and a middle finger emoji.
The saga began on Wednesday, when Bella reposted Ekaterina’s romantic photo to her own Instagram Stories, without crediting her.
Burn: On Sunday, Bella hit back by uploading footage from Hollywood film The Notebook, before adding a sarcastic caption that read: ‘Oh I forgot, i can’t upload inspo without the media freaking out’
While many believed it was a relationship announcement from the Bachelor runner-up, Instagram account Celeb Spellcheck discovered on Thursday the image in fact belonged to Ekaterina and not Bella.
Celeb Spellcheck also shared a screen shot that showed Bella, who has a background in digital marketing, liking the social media star’s romantic image.
Followers of the Instagram account were quick to comment on the post, including one who wrote: ‘Wait omg she stole someone’s pic? Dead,’ while another said: ‘The second hand embarrassment I’m feeling rn.’
Romantic: The image in question belonged to Moscow-based Ekaterina Mezenova, and depicted the glamazon smooching her husband by a towering Christmas tree
Festive: While many believed it was a relationship announcement from the Bachelor runner-up, Instagram account Celeb Spellcheck discovered on Thursday the image in fact belonged to Ekaterina and not Bella. Ekaterina is pictured with her husband and their son
However, a fan defended Bella and wrote that she probably ‘liked the pic’ without knowing who it belonged to.
‘Doesn’t seem to me like she’s pretending it’s her haha she posted it after answering all those questions. Why would she randomly put a pic up pretending it’s her at the of that,’ the fan added.
Bella told Daily Mail Australia on Friday that she posts ‘romantic “inspo” photos on Instagram ‘all the time’.
Liked: Celeb Spellcheck also shared a screen shot that showed Bella, who has a background in digital marketing, liking the social media star’s romantic image
Embarrassed: Followers of the Instagram account commented on the post, including one who wrote: ‘Wait omg she stole someone’s pic? Dead,’ while another said: ‘The second hand embarrassment I’m feeling rn’
In her defence: However, a fan defended Bella and wrote that she probably ‘liked the pic’ without knowing it belonged to
‘This is just another cute photo I came across that I thought was a beautiful pic to use to finish off the question box I had been doing on my story,’ she said.
‘I don’t even know how this became a thing. I didn’t try to act like it was me at all, people just overdramatise, as per usual.
She explained: ‘I’ll usually write a cute quote over them but for this one I just thought it was cute and christmassy, that’s all! It doesn’t even look like me.’
Bella originally shared the image on Wednesday on her Instagram Story and wrote in the caption: ‘And that’s me done for tonight… good night, angels.’
Cute photo: Bella told Daily Mail Australia on Friday that she posts ‘romantic “inspo” photos on Instagram all the time. ‘This is just another cute photo I came across that I thought was a beautiful pic to use to finish off the question box I had been doing on my story,’ she said
Instagram post: Bella originally shared the image on Wednesday on her Instagram Story and wrote in the caption: ‘And that’s me done for tonight… good night, angels’
Christmas Eve response: Bella told Daily Mail Australia late Friday night that she posts ‘romantic “inspo” photos on Instagram ‘all the time’ and it doesn’t even look like her
Fans will remember Bella was brutally dumped by Locky Gilbert on The Bachelor finale, which aired in September.
He instead pursued a relationship with her rival Irena Srbinovska.
Locky told Irena in the finale: ‘When I think about our future together, I’m, like, so excited and, like, I can’t wait to just travel the world and, like, make all your dreams come true.’
‘Irena, I’m so in love with you. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.
Loved up: Fans will remember Bella was brutally dumped by Locky Gilbert for her rival Irena Srbinovska in the Bachelor finale