The Block heartthrob Ricky Recard has been branded a heartthrob by his abandoned ex after he dumped her the night before their dream trip abroad to flirt with a married make-up artist he met on the show.
The 34-year-old plumber broke up with Lauren Smith after she waited for him at home for three months while he filmed the new series of Nine’s renovation show in Phillip Island.
Just days after the split, he announced that he was now dating married mother of two Erin Lee, who had broken up with her heartbroken husband to be with the star of the show.
To make matters worse, Recard immediately flew off on vacation with his new lover, leaving Lauren alone for their romantic trip to Mexico for her 30th birthday.
“I was completely surprised,” she told Ny Breaking Australia.
“I took care of his dogs and his house for three months, while also helping his employee with the business.”
Mrs Smith said the couple had organised a holiday abroad to celebrate her milestone birthday, which would be the first time she had been away from their daughter.
“We were supposed to go for my 30th birthday in early July, but we broke up about two weeks after he got back from filming,” she said.
“When I was in Mexico, I found out that he had apparently started a relationship with Erin while I was away.”
Ricky Recard is in a relationship with married mother of two Erin Lee
His heartbreaking ex-girlfriend Lauren Smith says she was ‘overwhelmed’ after looking after his dog and house-sitting for three months while he was busy filming The Block
Ricky Recard, left, has impressed female fans after joining The Block, alongside his best mate Haydn Wise (pictured) in the yellow team
Recard, who hails from Melbourne, has proudly taken to social media to boast about his budding relationship with the 40-year-old mother of two.
The couple flew to Port Douglas in north Queensland last month and kicked off their relationship on his private Instagram page.
He posted a photo of the couple together with the caption: ‘Beach time with this beautiful girl.’
On Thursday, Ms Lee also shared her experiences with Recard, saying: ‘Sometimes the path we never planned leads us to better things and the happiness we always needed.
“Trust the journey.”
Mrs Lee’s estranged husband, Lucas Day, who is a look-alike of her love rival Recard, insists his wife only got involved with the Block tradie after their marriage had ended.
“We’re separated now and I’ve come to terms with it,” he told Ny Breaking Australia.
“They got back together after we broke up, when he came back from Mexico in July. That was the end of it.”
Day also admitted that he bears a striking resemblance to Ms Lee’s new lover, calling the resemblance between the two “strange.”
“It’s a little strange, that’s for sure,” he said.
Lauren shared a glowing post about her now ex on Instagram
Recard and his new love enjoyed a trip to Port Douglas together last month
Lucas Day (right) admits he bears a striking resemblance to his ex Recard’s new lover
In a recent interview with New Idea, Recard confirmed his new lover, but he did not mention her name.
Oddly enough, he claimed that despite working as a makeup artist on The Block, she was unaware of his role on the show.
“I can definitely say she was impressed, and why wouldn’t she be?” he said.
‘The reason she was impressed wasn’t because I’m on The Block. She thinks it’s quite funny.
‘She didn’t know I was on The Block when we first met.’
He even claimed she was making fun of him and joked that she was now dating “someone famous.”
Recard also responded to viewers who called him the heartthrob in this year’s highly anticipated 20th anniversary series.
He has gained a large female fan base, with many viewers calling him their biggest crush, as they are in love with his tough looks.
Fans are also charmed by his positive attitude and cheeky sense of humor, calling Ricky’s Yellow Team their favorite on social media.
The plumber laughed at being called a celebrity crush, insisting he wasn’t famous enough to be given that label.
“I don’t know if I really consider myself a celebrity,” he told Yahoo Lifestyle.
“I think as a celebrity you should have an honest resume, right? Like Shelley [Craft]She has had The List for years – Saturday Disney, Funniest Home Videos, The Block.
“She’s an Australian icon and I’m just an absolute nobody. But if people want to have a crush on me, that’s cool. I appreciate the love.”
Ny Breaking Australia has contacted Recard and Nine Network for comment.
