New Idea claims 2025 contestant Alicia Aplin became a "lifeline" for Jolene while filming, citing an unnamed source. The publication says producers put the two women in contact as Jolene struggled with the pressure of the competition and her deteriorating relationships with other teams.
The account has not been confirmed by Jolene, Alicia or Nine, so the behind-the-scenes claims should be treated as allegations rather than established fact.
What Viewers Have Actually Seen
The friction itself is no secret. Nine's trailer for the week previewed separate confrontations involving Jolene, Wyatt and Tayla, while the episodes have shown just how quickly the mood between the contestants has soured.
Jolene's argument with Tayla erupted during the Freedom shopping challenge after a dispute about tiles. Jolene eventually walked away, saying she would not tolerate Tayla's behaviour. The situation was already combustible before Wyatt was later caught inside House 1 looking at Adam and Jolene's plans.
Wyatt apologised the following morning and Jolene accepted it, although she admitted she was not entirely convinced by his explanation. The full sequence played out in the latest run of community-challenge episodes, giving viewers clear evidence of the disputes without relying on anonymous commentary.
Several confrontations have played out on screen, but any private support arrangement between Jolene, Alicia and producers has not been publicly confirmed.
The Alicia Aplin Claim Comes From An Anonymous Source
According to New Idea's source, Jolene was "ready to talk" and Alicia gave her an outlet away from the immediate competition. Alicia competed on the previous season with Sonny and would understand the workload, public pressure and unusual isolation that come with filming The Block.
New Idea's source did not explain how often the women spoke or whether Alicia offered any specific advice. Neither woman has publicly addressed the claim, leaving the precise nature of the alleged support unclear.
What is public is Jolene's commitment to the Mornington Community Support Centre challenge. She said any prize money won by House 1 would be donated back to the charity, even as the strain between contestants followed them from the main build to the community project.
Questions Remain About Auction Day
The same unnamed source claimed some relationships may be beyond repair and raised doubts about how the teams will handle being reunited for auction day. That remains speculation. Contestants often reassess conflicts once filming ends, and no participant has publicly confirmed that an auction-day reunion is in jeopardy.
Jolene has been at the centre of a particularly difficult stretch of the competition. Whether Alicia was quietly helping her through it remains unconfirmed.
