Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause is once again speaking out in defense of her partner, Australian musician G Flip, amid a swirl of social media controversy and behind-the-scenes tension with her castmates.
In a series of Instagram Stories posted last week, Stause called out fellow cast member Bre Tiesi for promoting a politically charged brand and for allegedly using an outdated and offensive term to refer to G Flip, who is nonbinary.
“Some people are GREAT for TV, but when it comes to talking about our real issues (using slurs etc), they tend to be cut,” Stause wrote over a screenshot of a promotional post by Tiesi for a company called MAGA Bracelets. “So use this as a guideline when you watch season 9.”
Photo: Instagram (@chrishell.stause)
The MAGA Bracelets brand, according to promotional materials, markets itself as selling “patriotic conservative jewelry.” Tiesi has since apologized, claiming she was unaware of the affiliation and stating in an Instagram Story, “I am far from MAGA” and “I cannot apologize enough for the oversight here.”
Photo: Instagram (@bre_tiesi)
Influencer Jennifer Stano also came to Tiesi’s defense, explaining that Tiesi had been sent an evil eye bracelet from a company called Lavara Verse and that the promotional material included a card from a related brand — MAGA Bracelets — without Tiesi’s knowledge of the connection.
Despite the apology, the controversy didn’t end there. Stause continued addressing the issue on her Instagram, pointing to a People report from April 2024 that detailed a lawsuit involving Tiesi and three former employees. The suit accuses Tiesi of “emotional distress, loss of earnings, and loss of employment benefits,” with the plaintiffs claiming they were “harassed, discriminated against, and/or retaliated against on the basis of their sex, gender, and/or sexual orientation.”
Tiesi has denied all allegations made in the suit.
Stause emphasized that her concerns go beyond politics. “Finding out how she referred to my partner will not make the show, but no this is not just a political thing to those saying that,” she wrote.
Photo: Instagram (@chrishell.stause)
Stause added that production limitations due to the lawsuit forced cast members to “tiptoe around the real issues while filming.”
She later shared the dictionary definition of the word “transvestite,” labeling it an “outdated and often considered offensive term.”
Photo: Instagram (@chrishell.stause)
“Not my job to teach her that this term is EXTREMELY outdated, but here’s a free education,” she wrote. “And if my partner WAS trans, they are not, I would happily love them exactly the same. GTFOH. Someone take my phone.”
G Flip, who began dating Stause in 2022 following her split from Selling Sunset co-star Jason Oppenheim, identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns. While some nonbinary individuals identify as transgender, others do not.
This incident isn’t the first time Stause has had to advocate for her partner’s identity on the show. During a 2023 episode, she corrected castmate Marie-Lou Nurk, who misgendered G Flip by using “she/her” pronouns.
“Okay, my partner is nonbinary, they use they/them pronouns, this is a simple thing,” Stause told Nurk on camera.
She also addressed tension with Nicole Young during the Season 7 reunion episode. Stause accused Young of liking an Instagram comment that read, “I was hoping the lesbian chick was off in Australia this season and not on our screens.”
“First of all, say whatever you want about me, I’m a tough bitch,” Stause told Young during the reunion. “But don’t go after my partner. Ever.”
“Listen, I will own it. I’ve been a bitch to you. I hate you. I own it… If you’re gonna literally go to homophobic people and cheer them on because they hate me for that reason, that is hate, Nicole.”
While Netflix has yet to officially announce a ninth season of Selling Sunset, Stause and several cast members have confirmed that filming has already taken place.
