Society assassins come after queen bee Bernie… Plus, rebound lovers set to be the next ‘It’ couple – and Harriet Williams’ ex speaks out a year after their shock split: THE GROUP CHAT WITH LUCY MANLY

Welcome to The Group Chat with Lucy Manly, where Australia’s most-trusted society insider shares the hottest gossip BEFORE it makes the news 

Kingdom beckons for Sydney’s most eligible bachelor?

His abrupt split from socialite Harriet Williams last year made him one of Sydney’s most eligible – and enigmatic – bachelors.

Now I hear whispers newly single adman Andy El-Bayeh is about to make big moves in the business world – by setting his sights on the Middle East.

A source told me the founder and CEO of creative agency Example was even mulling a move to Saudi Arabia where he intends to expand his empire – though he insists to me that rumour is only half true.

One of the vanishingly few eastern suburbs heart-throbs who is also a decent bloke, Andy’s plans for expansion in the Gulf won’t come as a huge surprise.

With clients and partners stretching far beyond Australia, it’s no wonder really that he’s looking abroad for new horizons.

Before launching Example alongside Rebecca Gibbs, the pair had played a key role in elevating Merivale to the hospitality behemoth it is today.

When I contacted Andy this week, he told me Sydney was ‘still very much home’ for the time being but confirmed he would be doing a lot of ‘back and forth’ in the Middle East – ‘especially Dubai’ – as Example continues to grow.

The marketing guru made headlines in August last year when he and Harriet abruptly ended their two-year marriage while on holiday in Europe with other couples.

Their split was described by society insiders as ‘sudden’ as they had been posting loved-up snaps together only weeks earlier as they travelled around Greece and Italy.

The popular Bondi couple, who had been together for six years, said ‘I do’ during a three-day forest wedding in the Southern Highlands in March 2022.

The ceremony reportedly set them back a million dollars.

The epic 72-hour-long event kicked off with a welcome drinks held in the historic halls of Osborn House. The newlyweds then tied the knot on the grounds of the Wollumbi Estate, exchanging vows underneath a picture-perfect forest canopy.

The Silver Party: Love (and tension) is in the air

The crown jewel of Sydney’s social calendar, the Silver Party has long been considered the most fashionable event to launch a new relationship.

And the latest society couple to debut at the annual charity gala? Food and beverage entrepreneurs Amber Pitsis and Avit Bhindi.

Multiple guests told me the two were ‘very much together’ at the soirée held at Justin Hemmes harbourfront mansion in Vaucluse.

‘Amber mentioned she was there with her new boyfriend but I wasn’t formally introduced,’ one spy revealed.

‘But they barely left each other’s side all night. I’d say they’re the next “It” couple.’

Amber, who is the brains behind Valli Snacks, and Avit, the founder of Jiva beverages, first crossed paths while both working with artisanal wholesaler Cartel & Co.

The mother of two was previously married to Cronulla real estate agent Alex Pitsis.

They weren’t the only ones turning heads. One guest opined that Today show anchor Karl Stefanovic was ‘looking the best he’s looked in years’.

‘He didn’t appear to be drinking and was being judicious with the canapés,’ they said.

But it wasn’t all love stories and slim-downs at the fundraiser, which raised $3.7million for the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation.

I am reliably informed several guests suspected tensions between Double Bay eyebrow queen Kristin Fisher and MCoBeauty founder Shelley Sullivan.

For those unfamiliar with their history, Kristin and Shelley were long-time friends. But after Shelley’s abrupt split from her husband Anthony last year, reports falsely suggested that Kristin, a mother of two, was the ‘other woman’ in the break-up.

Kristin blasted the innuendo as ‘unequivocally false’ and ‘absolutely not true’ and denied having anything to do with the Quantaco CEO. We do not suggest otherwise.

But despite setting the record straight on the false insinuations, it looks as though Kristin and Shelley’s friendship has cooled in the year since the Sullivans separated.

Even though they were surrounded by mutual friends, including interior designer Blainey North and tracksuit mogul Pip Edwards, there was apparently no interaction, not even a polite air kiss, between the former pals.

While I can’t say for certain why there was a chill in the air last Saturday, it has been suggested that Shelley – who sold her remaining 50 per cent stake in MCoBeauty earlier this year for $500 million – was recently in touch with friends of Kristin.

What they discussed remains a mystery – for now…

Designer’s husband hands himself in after warrant

Amy Taylor, a sought-after fashion designer whose clothes are often worn by stars of The Bachelor and MAFS, stepped out at Fashion Week on Tuesday seemingly without a care in the world… despite her husband being wanted by police.

Sutherland Shire Police District this week issued a public appeal for assistance in tracking down boxing champion Junior Talipeau who had outstanding arrest warrants in relation to domestic violence offences.

Then things took a turn on Wednesday morning when Talipeau handed himself in.

‘About 8.15am on Wednesday 14 May, a 41-year-old man was arrested after attending Sutherland Police Station,’ said a NSW Police spokesperson.

‘An outstanding warrant was executed, and he was charged with contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (Domestic).’

Talipeau was granted bail and must comply with an AVO that does not relate to his wife. His matter is next listed for mention at Sutherland Local Court on May 28.

Taylor and Talipeau tied the knot in a star-studded ceremony at Coral Sea Resort in Airlie Beach, Queensland, in 2022.

The designer did not respond for a request for comment. 

The green-eyed monster 

She’s the undisputed queen bee of the eastern suburbs, rarely seen without her squad of activewear-clad acolytes who hang onto her every word.

But not everyone in Sydney’s elite circles is pleased by the meteoric rise of fashion PR dynamo-turned-Pilates-queen-turned-manifestation-guru Bernadette Fahey.

There is a whispering campaign against her orchestrated by envious socialites who believe that, given the extraordinary wealth she just married into, she should ‘buy her own clothes’ instead of wearing free frocks gifted to her by PRs and high-end brands.

It’s all petty nonsense – even by eastern suburbs standards.

The Body by Berner founder, of course, buys her own clothes. But if luxury labels want her to wear their dresses (and she certainly looks good in them) then why shouldn’t she take the gifts? No one shamed Kim Kardashian or Lady Di for doing it.

The high-society assassins behind the gossip should perhaps learn there’s nothing uglier than jealousy…