Renovation show The Block is back for 2025, and while producers have promised less drama and more, well, renovation… Han and Can are already shaping up to be the ‘villains’ of the year. After two sensational walk-outs on The Block 2024, along with some juicy affair storylines, who knows what this year will bring? Our money is on some explosive drama surrounding Han and Can, with the pair isolating themselves from the rest of the cast. Yikes.
Adrian Portelli has also vowed not to return for the auction, so will these houses even sell? Or will it be a repeat of The Block 2022, when two houses failed to sell and left Sarah-Jane and Tom with a measly $20,000 in profit? In anticipation of all the wild storylines we’ll see on The Block this year, we’ve rounded up the most controversial moments from The Block’s history.
The most controversial scandals on The Block
Kylie quits The Block over Mimi and Brad’s cheating scandal
Who could forget the actual cheating scandal of 2024? Kylie Baker and husband Brad’s relationship was put to the test when he was caught flirting with Mimi Belperio, saying he’d subscribe to her OnlyFans, and he was fkn pissed.
Kylie quit the show in a dramatic fashion, before returning for the money. “If I gave up we’d leave with nothing so, whatever we get, even if it’s 10 grand, I’m taking fucking half of what you get and then I’m leaving your ass, you can keep your fucking house and I’m fucking off,” she told Brad.
“I don’t even know if I’m staying in Cairns to be honest there’s nothing there for me anymore. You treat your partner like this you can fucking deal with it.”
However, Brad and Kylie ended up getting back together and were still on speaking terms with Mimi and her husband, Kristian Belperio, after the show wrapped up.
Never forget. (Credit: The Block)
Jesse and Paige quit The Block
Paige Beechey and Jesse Maguire left The Block 2024 after Paige suffered from mental health issues, and they were replaced by eventual winners Maddy and Charlotte Harry. Although there were rumours flying around that the pair left to save their relationship, Paige insisted this wasn’t the true narrative.
“We’re not naive to the absolute chaos [producers] are chalking our experience up to be, and it’s a shame that everything that has been shown is not in the context in which it happened,” she told PEDESTRIAN.TV at the time. “Leaving The Block was easily the best decision we made.”
Joel and Elle quit The Block
Elle Ferguson and ex-AFL player Joel Patfull spent a few days on The Block 2022 before departing abruptly. According to Dylan Adams and Jenny Heath, Elle and Joel didn’t tell the other contestants they were leaving.
“I thought it was weird they didn’t say goodbye or didn’t tell anyone because we saw them the night before judging, and they just told us they were going for dinner and they never came back,” Jenny said.
At the time, Daily Mail reported Joel’s mum Trish fell and fractured her neck, which is why the pair decided to leave. Elle also shared an Instagram Story of the pair at the airport, saying, “Wherever you are in the world. Whatever you are doing. Family always comes first.”
Photos taken moments before disaster. (Credit: The Block)
Two 2022 Block houses fail to sell at auction
While The Block 2022 broke records with Omar Slaimankhel and Oz Said winning $1,686,666.66 in prize money, two duos were left shattered when their houses failed to sell at auction.
Ankur Dogra and Sharon Johal were disappointed when their house was passed in, but Adrian Portelli swooped in post-auction and purchased it, giving the pair a $170,000 profit. Dylan and Jenny weren’t so lucky — after their house was passed in at auction, it didn’t sell until three months later, and it apparently sold below reserve… so the couple received nothing for their hard work.
Ankur and Sharon receive racist hate
Sharon and Ankur were the ‘villains’ of The Block 2022, and were the victims of some nasty hate messages rooted in racism.
“These people come and find you, they find your email address. They find your family’s email address, they try to dig dirt on you. They just don’t stop and it’s relentless,” she told Yahoo! Lifestyle at the time. “It’s just really lazy, honestly, by trolls to straightaway go to the colour of my skin.”
Omar and Oz break a rule
In 2022, Omar and Oz also shocked the judges when they added a gorgeous baby grand piano to their living room. Judge Shaynna Blaze noted an item of this calibre usually retails at around $36,000, which was firmly out of the pair’s budget.
When Omar and Oz were confronted by Scott Cam about their schmick piano, the duo admitted they had only paid $7,500 for the item. Contestants aren’t allowed to receive a discount over 50 per cent on any trade goods, so Omar and Oz were struck with a three-point penalty on their score that week.
Sarah-Jane’s ciggie break
Woman’s Day broke a story about Sarah-Jane misusing The Block funds in 2022, and look, she just needed a ciggie — who can blame her? Being on The Block seems STRESSFUL. According to the publication, Sarah-Jane used a credit card strictly for house purchases to buy a packet of cigarettes, but promised to pay the full amount back to production.
Luke and Jasmin cheat by copying an existing design
Luke and Jasmin Neuwen took a cheat’s way out on The Block 2020, after completely ripping off another design for their stunning kids’ room. After Shaynna found a design magazine with a very similar room inside, she confronted the pair about their shady decision.
“Inspiration is one thing, completely taking someone’s idea and making it your own is another,” Shaynna said. “You haven’t changed it up enough — it’s not fair on the other contestants that they can win a room and win money on a professional designer’s ideas.”
Simon and Shannon’s phone-gate
In 2014, Simon Voss attempted to get a leg up on the competition by eavesdropping on the judges. Simon wanted to listen to what the judges had to say during judging, so he hid a mobile phone in their master bedroom and set it to record.
Unfortunately for the pair, the judges found the phone and left the brothers a cheeky video message. When Scott called out their cheeky move, Simon’s brother Shannon was blindsided by his brother’s actions.
Anastasia and Tim’s pay stoush
Anastasia and Tim Ielasi quit The Block in 2011 after they were accused of not being able to pay their tradies.
“The word on the street, by a few people and a particular plaster company, is that there’s a certain couple that haven’t paid their plasterer,” contestant Daz Jolly told Anastasia and Tim’s builder.
Eek! (The Block)
Scott ended up intervening, trying to help the couple figure out ways to pay their tradies, but Anastasia walked off-site instead. However, the duo relented and came back to The Block a day later, and ended up winning $755,000 at auction.
Tanya’s photo-taking scandal
Tanya Guccione is one of the earliest Block villains, and it can all be traced back to the moment she took a photo of the production team’s schedule — a secret that’s meant to be kept far away from the contestants’ eyes. While The Block ended up throwing the schedule out after hearing about Tanya’s actions, she denied ever taking the photo.
However, at the very end of the season, Tanya admitted she had indeed taken the photo.
Deanne goes off at Shaynna
Dea Jolly was deeply offended after hearing what Shaynna had to say about one of her rooms and went off in an infamous tirade.
“You’re a bogan from Wantirna, and you’ve got no fucking idea, and I’d out-style you any day,” Dea said, before warning Shaynna to stay away from her at the wrap party.
Ooft. Dea went OFF! It’s going to be verrrry interesting to see what other tidbits we’ll be able to add to this list after The Block 2025 finishes, so keep your eyes peeled.
The Block 2025 airs Sunday on at 7:30pm and Monday to Wednesday at 7pm on Channel9 and 9Now.
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