With stories that The Bachelor SA star Lee Thompson could also be destitute following his stint on the fact present, many fans are crying foul after paying upfront for a tell-all e book he has but to ship, or allegedly write.
The nation’s first-ever bachelor has sparked concern and confusion after You Magazine reported that he was homeless and dwelling on the streets of Cape Town’s metropolis centre.
But what of his highly-anticipated e book The Truth Behind The Rose, which he claimed he had written following his stint on The Bachelor SA season one?
Was all of it a lie? And has he swindled his feminine fans out of money?
ALSO READ: Riches to rags: Is ‘Bachelor SA’ star Lee Thompson homeless?
LEE THOMPSON FANS SPEAK OUT
Following allegations that Lee Thompson is not solely homeless however has trashed properties he stayed in, many fans took to social media to precise their concern.
Others – who preordered his e book, which he went public about final 12 months – have expressed frustration that he might have “swindled” them out of money.
Speaking to The South African, a number of ladies revealed that Lee Thompson had taken their cash and did not ship his e book.
Carla Goncalves Fontoura claimed that Lee basically ghosted her when she tried to observe up.
She stated: “I paid for the book but I never received it. I sent him an email but no answer at all. His last email was [in March 2022] that he was at some retreat and he would be adding this to his book”.
Melicia Kelly, who claimed to be a pal of Lee Thompson, was additionally snubbed after inquiring concerning the e book.
She stated: “I considered Lee a friend until I paid for my TWO books and never got them. Then he went ahead and blocked me. I am very unimpressed and I have also lost money on this. He has not said a word to me in months. I can’t get any information regarding the book or at the very least my refund.
She added: “I’d like to know what he did with all the money he got for the book? Did he even write a book? It’s just so sad that he felt it was okay to take money from people so he could finance his lavish lifestyle and then he still managed to mess it up”.
Other fans left scathing feedback underneath his publish.
Bronwyn Serradinho stated: “I definitely think we can kiss our money goodbye. Scam! Excuse after excuse after excuse”.
Candice Ying Sun added: “Scam scam scam. Don’t give him your money, you won’t get any book”.
MORE LIES?
After saying that he was writing a tell-all on what really happened on the set of the M-Net actuality TV present, Lee Thompson made one other daring claim. In a screenshot shared along with his Instagram followers, Lee claimed that media mogul Oprah Winfrey had “DM’d him” to get in contact about getting a copy of the e book.
According to the fact TV star, the e book was cited to unpack the “deception, manipulation and lies” he skilled on The Bachelor SA.
In October, Lee Thompson additionally claimed that he was supplied “seven figures” by TV big-wigs to can the e book. The Truth Behind The Rose was because of be launched in April 2021, however was pushed again to October. After that it was radio silence from the star.
He shared in a since-deleted Instagram publish:“ Turning down a seven-figure offer from the guys at the top to have me not release my book to the public wasn’t easy but it will be worth it”.
Lee additionally claims that he needed to cope with authorized points from the e book, little question from the daring claims. He added: “I’ve had a few legal matters to deal with regarding some information I’ve shared in the book which is the reason for the delay”.
Then there is the truth that Lee Thompson promised to donate 10% of all e book gross sales to his charity – Live Hope Love South Africa Children’s Fund – which seemingly has no digital footprint.
He advised publication Pet Prints in May this 12 months that the charity was “an initiative that I started this year to help underprivileged children finance their schooling and give them an equal opportunity at a quality education”.
‘SA’S TINDER SWINDLER’
If that isn’t alot to digest, TV blogger Thinus Ferreira aka “TV with Thinus”, claimed that the e book did not have a writer.
Thinus advised The South African that Lee Thompson made statements that “showed the book may not be real”.
He stated: “He would for instance say he got a ‘seven figure offer’ for it not to be published. That means between R1 million and R9 million. That is not how it works, definitely not in South Africa.
“Nobody – definitely not M-Net as a broadcaster – is going to pay R1 million for a book to not be published”.
Thinus even in contrast Lee Thompson to “SA’s Tinder Swindler” – referring to a Netflix documentary about convicted fraudster Simon Leviev who conned a number of ladies out of cash.
He added: “it seems to be a case of a South African Tinder Swindler. There are many stories of people he asked for money. Who knows how many might come out and talk about him owing them money? Some may be too embarrassed to say”.
LEE THOMPSON ‘ASKED WOMEN WHO FANCIED HIM FOR MONEY’
Speaking to The South African, a shut acquaintance of Lee Thompson – who requested to stay nameless – claims that Lee Thompson had a historical past of asking feminine admirers for cash.
She stated: “He asked women who he knew – who fancied him – for money. I watched him in action, I spent time with him. I dont wish him any will, I think it’s sad”.
The pal additionally claims that Lee had points that M-Net tried to assist him overcome after the present. She continued: “He told me he had short-term memory issues, whether that is true, I have no idea. His problems go way back to before he was on The Bachelor SA”.
Of Lee Thompson’s motivation to write down the e book, she added: “M-Net gave him the high life dating beautiful women. The outcome was not what he had expected. He may have felt a bit bitter and decided to try this tell-all book deal.
She added: He flew too close to the sun and didn’t have the tools and the savvy to stay there. He could have done it all but he needed someone to keep it together for him. But he wasn’t able to himself”.
The South African tried to contact Lee Thompson for remark, however on the time of publishing, he had not responded.