The Block contestant Ricky Recard opened up on Monday about his new relationship with the renovation show’s makeup artist Erin Lee.
The plumber, 34, made headlines after he was branded a ‘love rat’ by his jilted ex-girlfriend Lauren Smith, who claimed she was ‘blindsided’ by their split.
Now, months after debuting his new romance with Erin, 40, amid cheating allegations, Ricky has said he ‘wasn’t in love’ with his ex, reported Woman’s Day.
‘I was in a relationship but I wasn’t 100 per cent happy in that relationship and I definitely wasn’t in love, that’s for sure,’ he told the publication.
‘I needed that time away to realise there are things out there that are more important and I was just lucky to find love at the end of it.’
When questioned about Lauren’s claims she was ‘blindsided’ by their split and his subsequent relationship with Erin, Ricky said he was ‘disappointed’.
The Block contestant Ricky Recard, 34, (left) opened up on Monday about his new relationship with the renovation show’s makeup artist Erin Lee, 40, (right)
‘I was definitely disappointed, but obviously she was a bit disgruntled and I was trying to move on and she was struggling,’ he said.
Ricky went on to say ‘there are two sides to every story’, and he and Erin, who had been married when they met, knew they ‘hadn’t done anything wrong’.
Erin backed up her new beau, saying neither of them were affected by the cheating allegations which emerged from Lauren’s claims because they ‘knew the truth’.
Seemingly ready to move on with their relationship, Ricky confessed he plans to move to Phillip Island, where Erin is based, and buy a house with her.
He also admitted he is eager to help her raise her two boys, who she shares with a previous partner, and is considering having his own children with Erin someday.
While filming the auction scenes earlier this month, Ricky showed off his affections for his new girlfriend as they packed on the PDA.
The couple were seen sharing an intimate kiss as Erin showed her support for Ricky as he and his teammate Haydn Wise tried to secure auction bids for their property.
It proved to be a lucrative day for Ricky and Haydn who walked away with $750,000 in prize money to split between them at the end of the day.
The plumber made headlines after he was branded a ‘love rat’ by his jilted ex-girlfriend Lauren Smith, 30, (pictured) who claimed she was ‘blindsided’ by their split
It comes after Ricky’s ex-girlfriend Lauren, 30, made a string of claims about their relationship and break-up, Daily Mail Australia revealed in September.
She claimed Ricky broke up with her after she had waited three months at home for him while he filmed the new series of Nine’s renovation show.
Just days after the split, he revealed he was dating married mother-of-two Erin, who had broken up with her heartbroken husband to be with the show’s star.
She claimed Ricky then jetted straight off on holiday with his new girlfriend, leaving Lauren to go on their romantic getaway to Mexico for her 30th birthday by herself.
‘I was absolutely blindsided,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I spent three months looking after his dogs and his house while also helping his employee with the business.’
Lauren said the couple had an overseas holiday arranged to celebrate her milestone birthday, which would have been the first trip away from her young daughter.
‘We were due to go at the beginning of July for my 30th birthday but we broke up about two weeks after he got back from filming,’ she said.
Now, months after debuting his new romance with Erin amid cheating allegations, Ricky has said he ‘wasn’t in love’ with his ex, reported Woman’s Day
‘I found out while I was in Mexico that he had apparently begun a relationship with Erin during the time I was away,’ she added.
Meanwhile, Erin’s estranged husband Lucas Day has insisted his wife only started her relationship with the Block tradie after their marriage ended.
‘We are separated now and I’ve dealt with it,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘They got together after we split when he got back from Mexico in July and we were done then.’
Ricky, from Melbourne, dismissed Lauren’s allegations shortly after, admitting he was surprised she spoke publicly about their separation.
He was grilled about the claims by Brendan Fevola, who asked Ricky: ‘Your ex has come out, Lozza, and she’s labelled you a love rat. What’s happened, man?’
‘Geez, love rat’s a bit harsh,’ Ricky replied, before revealing he was ‘pretty shocked’ to hear of Lauren’s allegations.
‘I’m shocked when anyone goes to the media about that sort of thing. That’s not really my style,’ he shared.
Saying he has no ill will towards his former flame, Ricky revealed that his relationship with Erin was first kindled before filming started on the latest series of The Block.
‘I don’t have anything bad to say about her,’ Ricky said.
‘I was lucky enough to meet Erin just before filming started on The Block, on one of the launching days we had down there [in Phillip Island].
‘The Block is apparently good for a couple of things, it’s not only building dream houses for potential families but also a love story there as well.’
‘We’re very happy,’ Ricky added of his new relationship.
