Married At First Sight’s Amanda Micallef has responded to backlash, after setting up a GoFundMe page to help pay for her to move from Melbourne to the Gold Coast.
The 34-year-old told The Wash on Friday that she’s ‘dumbfounded’ by the criticism, adding that trolls ‘want to kick you when you’re down’.
Detailing her struggles amid the coronavirus pandemic, Amanda said she created the page after becoming so ‘broken’ and having ‘run out of ideas to survive’.
‘I’m dumbfounded!’ Married At First Sight’s Amanda Micallef (pictured), 34, has responded to backlash, after launching a GoFundMe page to move from Melbourne to the Gold Coast
‘I have had that many personal struggles. I was living in my best friend’s property recently and was a target to her partner, who was like the devil,’ she said.
‘I had to leave that property and now I’m staying with a good friend of mine. I am living out of boxes at the moment, which I have never done.’
Amanda launched her GoFundMe page on Thursday, stating that she’s decided it was time for her to ‘start a brand new life’ in Queensland.
‘I am living out of boxes at the moment’: The personal trainer told The Wash on Friday that she created the page after becoming so ‘broken’ and having ‘run out of ideas to survive’
‘I’m surviving off Centrelink’: On Thursday, Amanda shared a video on her Instagram Story, telling her followers: ‘I’m actually not working full-time. For those that think that I am, yes, I sell a few programs online, but my business has been severely struggling because of COVID’
She also shared a video to her Instagram Story, telling her followers: ‘I’m actually not working full-time.
‘For those that think that I am, yes, I sell a few programs online, but my business has been severely struggling because of COVID,’ the personal trainer added.
She continued: ‘We’re pretty screwed here in Melbourne, all the gyms are shut. I’m surviving off Centrelink for those of you who don’t know.
Time to move: On her GoFundMe page, Amanda said she’s decided it was time for her to ‘start a brand new life’ in the Sunshine State
New start: She explained: ‘Just to give you a quick rundown, the hotel quarantine alone is going to cost close to $3000, plus getting myself there in a separate flight to Smokey (her pet cat), the car, my personal belongings’
‘Just to give you a quick rundown, the hotel quarantine alone is going to cost close to $3000, plus getting myself there in a separate flight to Smokey, the car, my personal belongings,’ she explained.
Elsewhere, the former reality TV star said: ‘I also don’t need to justify myself, I just think I’ve done a lot for other businesses out there.’
‘I’ve done a lot of posts for free, I actually haven’t charged a lot of the businesses that I’ve worked with, and I’m just asking if you’re feeling generous and you want to give back, now would be the perfect time to do it.’
Amanda added: ‘What I don’t need is any hate messages or calling me a cheapskate or anything like that, because I can assure you that I’m struggling just like everyone else’
Amanda added: ‘What I don’t need is any hate messages or calling me a cheapskate or anything like that, because I can assure you that I’m struggling just like everyone else.’
Former fans of MAFS criticised Amanda for asking people for cash when so many were struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
‘Literally just unfollowed her. I can’t believe the audacity, to set up a GoFundMe is just ridiculous,’ wrote one outraged fan.
Outrage: Former fans of the show slammed the reality star for her ‘audacity’ to ask people for cash when so many were struggling during the coronavirus pandemic
Another asked: ‘So you’re on Centrelink, so is half of Australia. What makes you special?’
Others simply couldn’t believe it was a serious request, and thought she ‘must be joking’.
‘You are kidding me right! Bold! Half the country is in hardship! You should have been saving for a rainy day like the rest of us have to! Ask your family!’ shared one.
Reality TV start: Amanda first rose to fame on season seven of Married At First Sight and was married to Tash Herz. They were the first lesbian couple in the reality show franchise