Abbie Chatfield's bold take on resurfaced Australia Day snap: 'Not perfect'

Former Bachelor star Abbie Chatfield has addressed a newly-resurfaced photo of her in a bar on Australia Day in 2017 just hours after blasting others for celebrating on January 26th.

The snap shows Abbie dancing with a drink in hand at a bar in Newtown, Sydney, and was uploaded to her Instagram on Australia Day five years ago.

Abbie on Australia Day: 'Of course I've celebrated'

While the popular podcaster made no reference to the public holiday in her caption, it seems several social media users have called her out for contradicting her vocal 'abolish Australia Day' stance.

On Wednesday, Abbie criticised those who publically supported Invasion Day and related causes before attending parties that same day, which is widely considered a day of mourning for the country's First Nations peoples.

But, as Abbie explained in an Instagram Stories video the following day, it's not a secret that she has attended parties on Australia Day in previous years.

"I'm getting DM's from people trying to prove me wrong, being like 'I bet you celebrated Australia Day,'" she began.

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"Yeah, I have. Of course I have. I grew up in a white area in a white family and went to predominantly white schools that taught us the British invading this country was a positive thing," she added.

Abbie said that the final time she celebrated was in 2017 and, with the exception of 2018, has attended Invasion Day protests every year since.

She went on to say that she 'didn't come out of the womb knowing everything about everything' but once she learnt about the trauma associated with Australia Day for Indigenous Australians she changed her behaviour.

Abbie pointed out that the crux of the situation wasn't about her being perfect or the things she's done in the past but rather what she does now with the knowledge she's gained.

"I think the issue comes when you're posting a square [on Instagram] and you're saying, 'Always was, always will be,' and then going to celebrate. Choose a side. You can't be on both sides.

"You can't acknowledge the issue behind the day and then go and celebrate it. Once you know better, do better. As cliché as it is... that is the rule."

With many fans wondering if Abbie was calling out her Bachelor co-star Elly Miles for attending a party on Australia Day, she clarified that she was referring to 'about 15 people, not just one person' in her videos and posts.

'No excuse'

Indeed, while Abbie didn't name any names on Wednesday, she directly addressed those 'friends' who she'd unfollowed because they 'should know better' than to participate in celebrations on Australia Day.

The It's A Lot host called out those who argue that the event was not an Australia Day party per se but simply a party that fell on Australia Day — just hours after Elly was grilled for doing exactly that.

"'But it's not an Australia Day Party!!' Isn't an excuse," Abbie wrote. "You're having a party/enjoying your public holiday on a day of mourning for First Nations people."

She said that those who use the excuse are 'lying' to themselves and attempting to 'absolve themselves' from their 'true lack of care'.

"An Instagram Story at 10am doesn't change your celebrations at midday."

She doubled down on her sentiment in a subsequent video in which she said that the 'Australia Day party' argument 'doesn't add up'.

"People saying, 'It's not an Australia Day party, I see no Australian flags anywhere. It's just a party on Australia Day', is the same as saying, 'It isn't a New Year's Eve party, I see no sparklers or 2022 glasses anywhere. It's just a party on New Year's Eve'.

"Do you see how that doesn't really add up? You don't have to have Australian flags flying and be speaking about your patriotism for it to be an Australia Day party. Just so you know."

Elly Miles defends Australia Day 'party'

Abbie's fiery comments came shortly after former Bachelorette Elly Miles was called out for the second year running for sharing a photo enjoying some drinks with friends on Australia Day.

After the snap (which has since been deleted) was shared by the celeb_spellcheck Instagram account, Elly took to her Instagram Stories to clarify that she was "not celebrating Australia Day".

"People are a bit worried that I’m at an Australia Day party, I just wanted to say I am not. I'm at a friend’s house, we’ve got the kids in the pool. We’re hanging out for a friend’s going-away," she told her followers.

In 2021, the reality TV star copped heavy backlash after she posted about attending a 'Change the Date' rally before sharing footage of herself enjoying some drinks at a pool party that same day.

Elly later apologised for a 'complete lapse of judgment' and said she had 'a lot of regret' for her actions.

Additional reporting by Kristine Tarbert.

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