In the digital age, a breakup is rarely just between two people, especially when 16 million followers are effectively sitting in the courtroom. Fitness entrepreneur and social media powerhouse Tammy Hembrow has recently broken her silence on the complexities of divorce, dating, and the persistent “double standards” that seem to follow high-profile women in Australia.
Appearing on the Stellar podcast, Something To Talk About, the 32-year-old mother of three didn’t hold back. Reflecting on the whirlwind of public opinion that followed her separation from former Love Island star Matt Zukowski, Hembrow highlighted a frustrating reality: for women in the spotlight, there is often no “correct” way to move on.
The Timeline Trap
Hembrow and Zukowski married in a lavish Byron Bay ceremony in late 2024, but the union ended just seven months later in June 2025. When Hembrow was spotted on dates with AFL star Bailey Smith shortly thereafter, the internet’s reaction was swift and, in many corners, remarkably harsh.
Hembrow suggests that the public’s perception of her “rebound” was skewed by her own desire for privacy. By the time she officially announced the split, she had already been processed the end of the marriage behind closed doors for some time. “Because I didn’t announce my break-up until quite a long time after it happened, it seemed like a shorter period,” she explained. However, the nuance of a private grieving period is often lost in the fast-paced world of celebrity gossip.
The Gendered Lens of Parenting and Career
Hembrow’s critique of how society views working mothers. The “Tammy Fit” founder argued that men are often praised for their professional travels, while women are scrutinised for being “absent.”
“If a man travels to another state for work, it’s not a problem. But if a woman does it, the world ends, apparently,” she noted. It is a sentiment that resonates far beyond the Gold Coast influencers’ circle. Hembrow’s frustration stems from being placed in a box—one where she is either a devoted mother or a successful business owner, but rarely allowed to be a “complex human being” who manages both while also attempting to find personal happiness.
Lessons in Resilience
Despite the “trolls” and the name-calling, Hembrow remains remarkably candid about her journey. She admitted that she hasn’t always made the best relationship choices, but she maintains that her mistakes shouldn’t forfeit her right to explore new connections.
As for the brief romance with Smith, Hembrow had nothing but praise for the Geelong player, describing him as “the sweetest guy.” It seems the drama was largely a construction of the commentary section rather than the individuals involved.
