Are these the telltale signs that The Block has been rigged? Wait a minute Omar, Oz and their auctioneer give their ‘millionaire pal’ high fives just before the auction – as Sydney’s pals reveal the truth about their story to the bidder
The auctions for The Block are closed and dusted, but some fans aren’t convinced it was a fair race.
Omar Slaimankhel and Ozman ‘Oz’ Abu Malik’s record victory on the Channel Nine show sparked a bitter argument on social media on Sunday.
Fans were divided over whether the Sydney-based pals, both 30, cheated on their “millionaire boyfriend” with ropes to inflate the price.
Block’s Omar Slaimankhel and Ozman ‘Oz’ Abu Malik are ‘disappointed’ to have to defend themselves a day after being crowned winners
During the episode, Adrian Portelli — an online promotions guru with a net worth of $8 million — came up for auction in a flashy yellow Lamborghini and seemed to know Omar and Oz well.
Adrian was seen giving high-fives to Omar and Oz and their auctioneer just before bidding.
Speaking to Chron Australia on Monday, Omar said he was “disappointed” that viewers would accuse him and Oz of bringing in a “dummy bidder” and insisted they had won the competition fairly and honestly.
“It’s just a shame that Oz and I are doing so well and we’re here justifying our win a day after the auction, that’s all I’m worried about – that a lot of people out there are going to hate it, but that’s what’s happening .”
Adrian (centre) was seen high-five to Omar and Oz (right) and their auctioneer (left) just before bidding
During the episode, Portelli — an online advertising guru with a net worth of $8 million — arrived at the auction in a flashy yellow Lamborghini and appeared to know Omar and Oz well
Omar said the couple met with other potential buyers and were surprised Danny Wallis was interested in their home.
“We had another bidder who loved our home, lovely family. We actually met the family a couple of times. So at the end of the day we definitely had the bidders to buy the house.”
“Very surprising Danny Wallace jumped on it too. We had no idea he would bid. Well, if Danny Wallace loved your house and a few other guys with that kind of wealth, it’s going to be a bidding war.
Speaking to Chron Australia on Monday, Omar (left) said he was “disappointed” that viewers would accuse him and Oz of bringing in a “dummy bidder” and insisted they were keeping the competition fair and honest would have won
Omar then revealed the couple had met with other potential buyers and were surprised Danny Wallis (right) was interested in their home
He also dismissed claims that they knew they knew Portelli beforehand and that he intentionally opened the bid at $4.5 million, which was much higher than the $4.08 million reserve price.
“Oz and I met with our agents a little bit and they mentioned that we need to reach out to our entire network and see who could potentially come in and take a look at the house,” he explained.
“We reached out to a mutual friend (Adrian) who said he might be interested. He watched the show. He saw our house and absolutely loved it when he saw it a few weeks ago.’
Omar explained that Portelli did in fact check the other team’s houses but was not interested in bidding.
“He also saw a few other houses and unfortunately he wasn’t interested. I’m pretty sure he went to houses three or four on auction days.”
Omar and Oz’s stunning home is pictured
The Sydney best friends made the largest sum over the reserve of all five log homes, selling their property for $5,666,666 and taking home a record profit of $1.6 million