Viewers praised Cleo for her ‘mature’ reaction

Cleo Rutene, the twin sister of MAFS Australia Awhina Rutene, has responded to a comment made by cast member Carina Mirabile, after she threw shade at her during the show’s Feedback Week.

Carina’s comment about Cleo, where she told her husband Paul she was shocked he went for a girl like her in the past, was in reference to Cleo’s looks and how he had previously dated her before coming on the show.

Speaking to her husband at the time, Carina said: “I didn’t know you would go for that kind of calibre”, implying that Cleo was of a lower standard or quality than herself. 

The comment landed badly on the show, with Paul later sharing what his wife had said with Awhina, Cleo’s sister, expressing how it gave him “the ick” and led him to view Carina as “a bit of a snob”.

And Cleo has finally clapped back, but not in the way you might imagine.
Posting a video online, Awhina’s sister has been praised by viewers for the way she handled the drama, with many people in awe at how maturely she handled the situation.

Speaking to the camera whilst lying down, Cleo says: “I found it really, really shitty. Just because, when I had seen leaked photos of Paul and Carina, I was saying how beautiful she looked and how happy I am for her.”

She explained how she had been approached by tonnes of viewers, asking how Carina’s comment had made her feel.

Cleo also explained that whilst she’d have preferred not to have addressed it, it became impossible to avoid after her sister had been on the reality TV show: “My inbox has been flooded with people wanting to know how I feel about the comment that was made by Carina.

“I would have preferred none of my past relationships to have been aired, however we’re here now. My sister went on a reality TV show so this was bound to happen.”

MAFS Carina and Cleo had no beef before the show started, so the comment was even more confusing for Cleo. The skincare business owner said she had spoken to Paul’s friends about his marriage to Carina and that her comment was uncalled for, especially seeing as she had been nothing but supportive: “I had spoken to Paul’s closest friend because I am on good terms with his friends and vice versa, and I had expressed how happy I was for them. They had said they were getting along great and I was all in support.

“For her to then turn around and say I’m of low calibre based solely on my physical attributes was really shitty.”

The 30-year-old ended the video with a message both to Carina and to her audience in general, saying: “We’re all out here trying to do better. Don’t judge anyone. That was what I call a mean girl 2.0 so don’t point fingers at Jamie.”

Cleo’s response highlights her composure over the situation and her mature reaction has been praised by viewers. One user described her as a “mature queen,” suggesting that she handled the situation with poise, despite being shaded for no reason. 

Comments on the video are also in support of Cleo, with one writing “Carina is the mean girl.”