SHE’S already one of the franchise’s most controversial Bachelorettes after her ex Grant Kemp accused her of cheating on him.

And Ali Oetjen’s stint has gotten off to a shaky start during Wednesday night’s premiere after the 30-year-old joked that she was glad a male contestant’s big “confession” wasn’t that he was a woman.

During her meet and greet with this year’s male contestants, a nervous Bill told Ali he had a secret he had to tell her.

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media_camera Ali’s stint as Bachelorette has gotten off to a shaky start

“I have a little confession to make about myself, I wasn’t actually born Bill,” he said. “I was born something different. I was born actually” — but before viewers could find out, the show cut to an advertising break.

But when the show returned from the ad break Bill was allowed to continue speaking and revealed he was born “David, but ever since I can remember I’ve been known as Bill … it’s just a little fun fact about myself”.

The show then cut to a piece to camera with Ali, who laughed and gleefully remarked: “He’s not a woman — tick!”

media_camera Unfortunately for Ali viewers didn’t share her mirth over the situation

But Ali’s relief didn’t go down well with viewers, who took to Twitter to accuse the 30-year-old of transphobia — and slam Channel 10 for teasing out Bill’s big “reveal”.

Can someone tell Ali that if Bill was trans he would be a man not a woman as she so disgustingly said #TheBacheloretteAU — TheRealRQ (@imogenrq) October 10, 2018

Hard to watch #TheBacheloretteAU when you are just not rooting for the girl. She’s just not a nice person and I don’t want any of the guys to be with her. Bachelor in paradise showed her true colours. — ViVi B (@ViVi_RFObsessed) October 10, 2018

Trans jokes. Good work. Hilarious stuff. FFS #TheBacheloretteAU — Lizzy Green (@lzzygrn) October 10, 2018

@oshergunsberg very interested in your take on the "not a woman" comment honestly #TheBacheloretteAU — you make me touch your hands for stupid reasons (@aislina) October 10, 2018

REALLY CHANNEL 10? He’s not a woman... tick? Trans men are not women. 🙅🏻‍♂️🙅🏼‍♀️ #TheBacheloretteAU — Miller 🔥 (@lightastrike) October 10, 2018

WOW GOODBYE ALI OR HOWEVER YOUR NAME IS SPELLED #TheBacheloretteAU — you make me touch your hands for stupid reasons (@aislina) October 10, 2018

Wow. Transphobia to build fake tension 😒 #thebacheloretteAU — Danielle P (@DanielleSPope) October 10, 2018

“He’s not a woman, tick” love a little transphobia on TV to start my evening #TheBacheloretteAU — Paris (@parisvelvet) October 10, 2018

Honestly that “big reveal” was annoying and offensive. Why are the producers leading people to think that this man was perhaps born a woman, and showing horrified reactions? Not cool @TheBachelorAU #TheBacheloretteAU — Georgia Rose Nelson (@georgianelson1) October 10, 2018

THANKS FOR QUEER BAITING AN THEN MAKING FUN OF TRANS PEOPLE I AM NOT FUMING RIGHT NOW AT ALL #TheBacheloretteAU — Eeveebeth (@littleeeveebeth) October 10, 2018

It’s not the first time The Bachelor franchise has come under fire for its treatment of LGBTIQ issues.

The Bachelor was criticised for promoting Brooke Blurton’s bisexuality as a big ‘secret’ she had to tell Nick Cummins, while Bachelor in Paradise was accused of “queerbaiting” a kiss between bisexual contestants Elora Murger and Megan Marx that never actually happened.

—The Bachelorette continues Thursday night at 7.30pm on Network 10.

Originally published as ‘Disgusting’ Bach start riles fans