AFL star Bailey Smith and fitness influencer Tammy Hembrow have officially defined their much-speculated relationship, announcing they are firmly in the friend zone. The pair revealed their platonic status in a cheeky Instagram video on Monday, confirming a partnership as mutual Tinder coaches ahead of the app's busiest day of the year.
From Romance Rumours to 'Friendfluence'
The announcement puts to rest months of speculation about an on-again, off-again romance between the 25-year-old Western Bulldogs player and the 30-year-old social media personality. Instead of a romantic 'hard launch', Smith told his followers they were making their friendship official. "I'm actually hard launching someone today," Smith said in the video. "Hey guys. So Tammy and I have decided to make it official. We're gonna be each other's Tinder coaches this summer."
The campaign is timed for Dating Sunday on January 4, which Tinder identifies as the year's peak day for dating app activity. Their collaboration taps into the emerging trend of 'Friendfluence', where friends actively help shape each other's dating lives. According to Tinder's own data, 42 per cent of young singles say their friends influence their dating decisions.
Coaching for a 'Tinder Summer'
As part of their new roles, Smith and Hembrow will act as personal dating consultants for one another. They plan to offer banter tips, red-flag checks, and feedback on first messages. A key part of their strategy involves giving their own Tinder profiles a substantial refresh. "We'll be working on less shirtless selfies and more substance," Smith joked, referencing his own social media habits. "You know, get to know the man behind the ARBs. So stay tuned. It's time to get in shape for a Tinder Summer."
Updated profile screenshots and images from their joint promotional shoot have already begun circulating online, sparking mixed reactions from fans who had anticipated a different kind of announcement. The duo emphasised their friend-first approach, with Smith noting, "Now that we're just mates who better help you with your dating game than a friend."
Navigating Public Speculation
This formal declaration follows a highly publicised dating stint earlier in the year that fuelled weeks of media and fan speculation about a potential relationship. While romance rumours persistently swirled, the pair have now drawn a clear line, stepping into 2026 as friends and business collaborators. Their partnership with the dating app giant formalises a dynamic that moves them firmly out of the realm of romantic conjecture and into a curated, public friendship with a commercial angle.
The move highlights how modern celebrity relationships are often navigated in the public eye, with social media announcements and brand partnerships becoming a standard method for defining personal boundaries. For Smith and Hembrow, their 'Tinder Summer' coaching pact offers a definitive answer to the question of their status, while capitalising on their combined influence in the realms of sport, fitness, and social media.
