Bluey star shuts down wild online theory about Chilli: 'Slanderous!'

Bluey star Melanie Zanetti has finally addressed a wild online fan theory surrounding her character Chilli, the mother of Bluey and Bingo.

Speaking with Yahoo Lifestyle at the 2023 TV WEEK Logie Awards on Sunday, the Australian actress shut down rumours that there is a romance blossoming between Chilli and Lucky’s dad Pat.

“I’ve heard some slanderous things about Chilli and Lucky's dad, which are not true, just for the record!” she asserted.

“Bandit and Chilli forever!”

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Speculation over Chilli and Pat’s relationship first began over two years ago, with one user taking to Reddit to suggest there is “ample evidence” supporting the theory.

“Are Chilli and Lucky’s dad hitting on each other?” they wrote. “Chilli comments that ‘his grass is looking greener’ in ‘Hammerbarn’; Lucky’s dad ‘dog calls’ her during ‘Dance Mode’; Chili (drunkenly?) responds enthusiastically to Lucky’s dad showing off during ‘Stumpfest’.”

“Chilli and Bandit are the perfect parents/couple, so the only reasonable explanation is that they swing,” someone else replied.

“I like to think Pat is just that blonde eye candy next door that Chilli appreciates, but definitely won’t act on,” a different user shared.

Melanie's surprising fan encounters

While Bluey is arguably one of Australia’s biggest TV shows, with the latest season receiving a whopping 11 million viewers, Melanie told Yahoo Lifestyle that she doesn’t often get recognised for her role in the series.

“You’re very incognito, which I love,” she said about being a voice actor. “But when they find out, the children don’t care, they have cognitive dissonance. Parents just lose their minds.”

She added that she’s surprised by how diverse the fanbase is for the animated children’s show.

“I just found out tonight on TikTok that there are all of these teenagers who are obsessed and having Bluey birthday parties, which I think is wild and wonderful.”

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