Publish date: 2024-01-07

BACHELOR Peter Weber has defended Victoria Fuller after their magazine cover was pulled due to her involvement in a 'white lives matter' clothing campaign.

In light of the controversy, the pilot, 28, has asked viewers to not be influenced by what they read but rather what they see of Victoria, 25, on the ABC show.

Appearing on the Build Series yesterday, he said: "Just being completely honest, I can’t really speak too much on it, because I don’t really know too many facts about the whole situation.

"I just recently heard about that with the cover being removed. But you know, obviously, during that moment too, I knew nothing about that. None of us did."

Explaining: "All I can speak on is the time I was able to spend with Victoria throughout this experience.

"And I truly enjoyed my experience with her. I really feel like she’s a good person. She’s got a lot of endearing qualities."

"I just hope that people can form their opinion on her based on what they see between the two of us and her time on the show," he added.

"She’s not perfect, I’m not perfect, no one’s perfect, but, yeah that’s all I can really say on that."

His comments comes a day after Cosmo editor-in-chief Jessica Pels announced that the Bachelor frontrunner's cover, which she won during The Bachelor group date in Costa Rica, wouldn't be release after she was linked to a clothing brand that featured the words “White Lives Matter.”

In an open letter published to the site yesterday, Pels wrote: "Unequivocally, the White Lives Matter movement does not reflect the values of the Cosmo brand.

"We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and any cause that fights to end injustices for people of color."

The publication was one of several to report on Victoria's involvement with a 2016 advertisement for an apparent marlin conservation group using the phrasing and branding of the White Lives Matter efforts last month.

Despite the phrase being used in a bid to raise awareness for sealife, the magazine editor-in-chef said that "both phrases and the belief systems they represent are rooted in racism and therefore problematic."

Pels added that she and her team had "many long discussions about how" they wanted to address the issue.

And ultimately "what felt right was choosing not to publish the digital cover on our website or social feeds".

Victoria previously addressed the controversy last month on Instagram: "The company 'We Love Marlins' is in support of catching white, blue & black marlins and releasing them back into the wild. "In regards to a sensitive topic, I come from a very diverse background & am in support of all races!

"Virginia Beach is a VERY large fishing town where marlin tournaments are held every year! Glad to clear this up."

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Although she has remained silent following the latest furor, she did apologize after an Instagram account, called @bachelorclues, shared the campaign.

Coming under fire for the ad by a follower, the reality star wrote in the comments:"I'm sorry if you or anyone else's feelings were hurt. That was never my intention."

Victoria also acknowledged how she could "definitely see how this could be offensive" and added in a separate comment: "I apologize immensely. It was never my intention to lessen this matter."

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