{"id":298806,"date":"2025-11-21T07:38:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T07:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/298806\/"},"modified":"2025-11-21T07:38:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T07:38:10","slug":"the-golden-bachelor-winner-sunny-long-fires-back-at-wild-claim-wont-apologise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/298806\/","title":{"rendered":"The Golden Bachelor winner Sunny Long fires back at wild claim: ‘Won’t apologise’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Golden Bachelor<\/a> winner, Sunny Long<\/a>, has responded to claims that she only won Barry \u2018Bear\u2019 Myrden<\/a>\u2019s heart on the reality show because she spoke about sex. The Channel 9 reality show ended with with Bear professing his love for Sunny<\/a> in Cape Town, South Africa, leaving fan favourite Janette Bendle<\/a> \u201cblindsided\u201d.<\/p>\n

While many viewers were also surprised by Bear\u2019s decision, Daily Mail<\/a>\u00a0columnist Amanda Goff claimed that she knew Janette \u201cnever stood a chance\u201d against Sunny, simply because the South Korean contestant had told Bear that she was \u201cvery sexually active\u201d. Amanda, who was previously known as Australia’s most high-profile escort, Samantha X, wrote that Sunny \u201cknew precisely what Bear wanted to hear\u201d because \u201cmen pick sexy over sensible every single time\u201d.<\/p>\n

But Sunny has since hit back at these claims, telling Yahoo Lifestyle that there was nothing calculated about her and Bear discussing their sexual compatibility, and it was a perfectly normal conversation to have with someone you\u2019re dating.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that some people think I \u2018won\u2019 because I spoke openly about sex really shows how much stigma is still attached to sex, especially when it comes to mature women,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the truth is that it\u2019s a normal, healthy part of many relationships at every age. There is nothing shameful about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Sunny says sex is \u2018a normal, healthy part of many relationships at every age\u2019. Photo: Channel 9<\/p>\n

Sunny calls out ‘double standard’<\/p>\n

The 58-year-old CEO pointed out that young people speak about sex all the time on shows like Love Island; however, when older women have the same honest conversations, it\u2019s suddenly seen as \u201ctoo much\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is definitely a double standard there,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople also seem to forget that this wasn\u2019t just Bear\u2019s choice; it was mine too.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were on a show to find love, and as my feelings for him grew, I wanted to understand his feelings around intimacy \u2014 that\u2019s a normal part of the kind of relationship I want, and it\u2019s a perfectly valid thing for a woman to care about.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘I won’t apologise’<\/p>\n

Sunny, who was praised throughout the season for wearing her heart on her sleeve, added that she would always be true to herself, even if it challenged people\u2019s expectations.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, there is still a lot of slut-shaming out there, especially towards women who dare to speak up about their desires, but I refuse to be ashamed for that,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I won\u2019t apologise for being honest about who I am and what matters to me!\u201d<\/p>\n

SHOP:<\/p>\n

Sunny previously told Yahoo Lifestyle<\/a>\u00a0that she had avoided reading comments on social media because a lot of it was \u201creally hard to swallow\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was confronted with blatant racism simply because I’m Asian, simply because I am a confident, outspoken lady,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, we\u2019re living in 2025. Australia, we are so behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

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