A former contestant on Australia’s Big Brother says he’s lost thousands of followers on Instagram after posting pics to celebrate his engagement to another man.
Dave Graham, 41, appeared on the Aussie version of the show in 2006. He came out to his housemates live on air, and they nicknamed him the “gay cowboy”. The media dubbed him “Farmer Dave”. He also appeared in a reboot of the show last October.
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Despite this, it seems many of his Instagram followers did not realize he was gay. Either that or they’ve unfollowed him in disappointment that he’s now off the market.
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Dave proposed to his partner, Shazli, a few weeks ago on Lord Howe Island in New South Wales and posted photos to confirm the engagement. Shazli comes from Pakistan. The men met at a pub in Sydney in 2021.
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“After a lifetime of looking, I am absolutely and completely in love with the kindest, calmest, most decent hard working bloke who balances me perfectly,” Dave said in an Instagram caption.
“I was the guy who was told a thousand times when you least expect it it will happen… and it did!”
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In a post this week, Dave, who works as a dog trainer and youth worker, revealed he’d lost followers after posting about his engagement.
“It’s a funny thing… I lost a few thousand people from this app when I announced my engagement.. so here is another photo of me in pure bliss with the fella 😂😂. I wonder is it ’cause I’m no longer single’ or is it ’cause peeps be realizing I’m a gay… 😂”
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Dave also shared with followers last month that he’d “learned to love” in 2022.
View this post on Instagram
The former reality star told Women’s Day that when he met Shazli, the attraction was instant.
“I thought I had hit the jackpot,” he said.
“He was so polite and well mannered, not to mention good looking!”
He hopes his and Shazli’s marriage ceremony will include elements of Pakistani culture. However, his fiancé’s family won’t be attending.
“Shazli came to Australia as a refugee, due to the persecution of gay people and family-forced marriages in his homeland. So sadly, he won’t have any family at the wedding.”
Check out some more pics of Dave below.
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And in 2006 when he first appeared on Big Brother:
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skeldare
Considering that not a lot of people probably know that Australian Big Brother is a thing, not really that surprising.
Raphael
What difference does that make? Why should anybody outside of Australia know about it?! Big Brother constants are not celebrities, doesn’t matter the country.
ltm29
Raphael, they may not be a celebrity where you are, but in Australia they very much are. Chrissie Swan (another BBAU contestant) is our most famous out of the BBAU contestants, followed by Dave.
Kangol2
Happy for both of them!
Diplomat
Yes!
Brian
They aren’t all people. Some surveys of Twitter “followers” from years ago found that about 30% of Trump’s “followers” were fake. Even if the percentage is smaller for a less prominent name and on a different platform, you can figure that the fakers could be 5% or 10% or 15%. The point is, these aren’t actual human persons making thoughtful decisions. These are basically viruses.
RIGay
If your life and income revolves around how many likes you get or how many followers you have or lost on social media, then you really are not grounded in reality.
Cute couple – how about get off social media and enjoy life.
linedrive
His reaction seemed far more amused than upset. I’d say he’s probably enjoying life very much, and good for him.
ltm29
Speaking from experience as an Australian, the presence of homophobia is still well and truly alive here in Australia. I am embarrassed that we consider ourselves a “progressive” country when we are so divided by homophobia, despite 60% of the country voting “yes” for two blokes or two chicks to get married.
I wish Dave and Shazli the very best future <3
SDR94103
love!
TomOH
Who names their kid “Shazli”? I imagine he had a lot of fun growing up with that.
linedrive
He’s Pakistani. Not an uncommon name there.
scotty
my best to both of them! congratulations gents.