Adrian Portelli – who you’ll recognise from The Block and new Seven series Reno Rules – has denied reports that he was instructed by Seven to avoid any further mention of the series as he gears up to appear on the rival show.
The Block is broadcast on the Nine Network, owned by Nine Entertainment Co, which also owns this masthead.
According to an industry insider, former The Block faves like Neale Whitaker, mega-spender Adrian Portelli, ex-builders and even past producers who have joined the new series were reportedly slapped with a bizarre gag order, banning them from mentioning The Block! Ya know, the show that made most of them famous and the directive has insiders scratching their heads.
“It’s like they’ve been wiped from Block history,” a current Nine exec told PEDESTRIAN.TV. “The rule is raising eyebrows right across the industry.”
When approached for comment, Portelli responded: “First I’ve heard of it”, while Whitaker said: “I haven’t heard anything about this at all. It’s news to me!”
The insider noted that in Portelli’s latest LMCT+ promos, where he’s been spruiking the Phillip Island homes he snapped up during last season’s finale, there’s no acknowledgement of The Block itself.
It comes after Portelli threw shade at The Block in his Reno Rules announcement post, penning that “the reno games looking a little dusty”.
“Time for a fresh coat. The gloves are off,” he continued.
Adrian Portelli recently flexed about Reno Rules on his socials. (Credit: Instagram / Adrian Portelli)
He also recently engaged in a very public bust-up with The Block host Scott Cam.
On socials, fans also noticing something was up. Gone are the cheeky callbacks, nostalgic hashtags and sly nods to his The Block days. Instead? Silence.
“It’s as if he’s scrubbed his reality TV past clean,” one fan noted.
Industry insiders say the rumoured move is all part of Seven’s push to rebrand its new stars as “original” talent for Renovation Rules. A show already being roasted as a “photocopied version of The Block“.
“Everyone knows The Block launched these personalities into the spotlight,” a Nine source spilled. “But Seven clearly wants to rewrite the narrative. They’d rather the stars pretend they were never there in the first place.”
For loyal Blockheads, the whole thing is giving big Mandela Effect vibes. One minute your faves were The Block royalty, the next they’re contractually pretending it never happened.
PEDESTRIAN.TV has reached out to Seven for comment.
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