Fans of The Block are accusing host Scott Cam of ‘bullying’ contestant El’ise Bothe on last night’s episode of the Channel Nine show.
El’ise was left in tears after her budget meeting, where Scott and a Suncorp representative told her that her budget was ‘lacking.’
Watch Scott Cam pick on El’ise over budget blowouts
Throughout the meeting, the mother-of-three was told that she and husband Matt had already spent $65,000 on their build, reaching an estimated $33,000 in invoices.
The couple had already spent $98,000 of their $250,000 budget.
Fellow contestant Mel was then invited to sit in on the meeting, where she was told her budgeting skills were so great, that she was awarded $5,000.
“I immediately felt very uncomfortable,” El’ise said.
“I was absolutely gobsmacked.”
Afterwards, the contestant said she felt “humiliated” and “made a fool of” as Mel was invited to be rewarded for their successful money-management.
Fans of The Block sympathised with El’ise – who could be seen sobbing after her humiliating moment.
One outraged fan tweeted:
“She’s crying because of the way that ‘friendly chat’ ended. I’d be crying too. It’s humiliating. You don’t kick a person while they are down.”
The user was joined by many others, who tweeted the following comments:
“That was just mean.”
“Horrible, unprofessional, humiliating behaviour from Scotty.”
“Bully your contestants instead of helping them – no one respects that type of behaviour!”
El’ise confessed that she felt “put down” after she was forced to watch her rival’s meeting.
“I just don’t like to be made a fool of,” El’ise said through tears.
“I think we’re actually doing a good job, in terms of trades and everything when you’re put in a situation like that where you’re put down, it’s not nice.”
“And rubbed in, that’s not fair. I don’t deserve that,” the Perth-based mother said.
Fans of The Block completely agreed with the distraught contestant.
“Either that was a really nasty move to do that in front of El’ise or that was very poorly set up for the cameras,” tweeted a fan in disbelief.
Others said the episode was “humiliating to watch” and accused Nine of “setting up” the confrontation for ratings.
“We’re all struggling, we’re here for a reason, we’re here for the kids and to make their life better and I just don’t like things being shoved in my face unnecessarily,” El’ise stated.
The Block continues 7.30pm Wednesday on Channel 9
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