Michael Turnbull lashes Alex Nation over ‘staged paparazzi’ photos claim

Bachelorette star Michael Turnbull has hit back at fellow Bachelor contestant Alex Nation after she shared screenshots of a conversation in which he allegedly asked her to be involved in set-up paparazzi shots.

Woman's Day broke the story on Monday by publishing the screenshots of their private Instagram messages in which Turnbull, who came runner-up on Sam Frost's season of The Bachelorette in 2015 and also starred on this year's Bachelor in Paradise, appeared to ask Nation: "Did you want to do some pics? Just a coffee or something? That could be good? (sic)."

Nation, who won Richie Strahan's heart on The Bachelorette in 2016 (but dumped him for a woman last year), replied: "Thanks for the offer but I will decline this one. Enjoy Melbourne and maybe I'll see you around at some events and we can have a drink or something then."

Nation has not explained how the tabloid got a hold of screenshots that came from her account and Turnbull wants some answers.

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"I want to know who sent and sold the screenshots of my private messages to Woman's Day? She still has not answered that," Turnbull told Fairfax Media on Tuesday.

He denied he was attempting to extend his 15 minutes of fame by setting up images and slammed Nation for "sending private messages to the media for a few dollars".

Earlier on Tuesday, the self-proclaimed former Socceroo appeared on Nova with Fitzy and Wippa to further defend himself.

"First of all, I don't think I'm worth that much money to make it worth my while … $50 or something like that," Turnbull said on air.

He also added that he didn't have the time: "I have a career. I'm a real estate guy. I'm too busy to fly around and do pap photos. It's not my game.

"I guess I'm in the spotlight but to go around and organise that is not my kind of thing."

Turnbull said the pictures were for "branding". He told Fairfax Media: "The photoshoot was a professional shoot with a fashion photographer and it was not a paparazzi set-up. At no time did I mention a pap shoot in my message to her. These are false claims. We are both ambassadors for [the same] dentist."

It's not the first time Turnbull has faced controversy.

The reality TV star was criticised for saying on The Bachelor: "The highlight of my career was playing for Australia and the Socceroos and also the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000."

It was later revealed he was an unused sub at the Olympics and played for Australia under-20s.

He's also been accused of wearing a fake Rolex watch.

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