Controversial reality television figure Dean Wells criticised the architectural design of Crown Sydney after the luxury hotel’s lobby was left pooling with rainwater, posting footage of the incident to social media.
In a clip shared on Wednesday, Wells, 47, is heard and seen pointing to buckets on the lobby floor collecting water that was dripping from the ceiling. "We went to an event at Crown Sydney tonight. As we were waiting for our car, the entire lobby was leaking from the rain outside," Wells wrote alongside the video, adding, "They were using buckets to catch the water and partitions to hide it. Isn't that building brand new?"
Crown Sydney, a 71-storey skyscraper on the city’s Barangaroo precinct, opened in December 2020 after construction began in October 2016. The development, reported to have cost about $2.2 billion, comprises a casino, hotel, luxury apartments and several high-end restaurants.
Daily Mail reported the video and said it had contacted Crown Sydney for comment. The property had not provided an immediate public response to the social media post at the time of reporting.
Wells rose to public attention on the fifth season of Married At First Sight and has since maintained a high media profile. He hosts a podcast and YouTube series, and his public statements have previously prompted controversy. In February 2023 he posted a doctored flyer related to a drag performance at a library event, a move that drew criticism from community members and commentators.
The social media post about the lobby came after an event at the venue, according to Wells's captions. He has continued to be an outspoken figure in Australian entertainment circles, and his comments frequently garner attention from tabloid and social media audiences.
Crown Sydney is among several high-profile developments on the Sydney waterfront that have faced scrutiny at different times over construction, maintenance and planning issues since their completion. The company that manages the property has previously defended the building’s design and operations in response to other complaints, noting the complexities of operating a large mixed-use precinct in a coastal city.
Wells’s video adds to public attention on the incident, prompting social media commentary and coverage in entertainment outlets. Reporters sought comment from Crown Sydney following the post; no substantive response had been made public by the time of publication.
Wells’s personal life and media career remain subjects of public interest. He announced his engagement to Aimee Woolley, a former contestant on the television show Beauty and the Geek, in August 2023. His continued presence in reality television and digital media ensures his posts are widely shared and reported.
This article was compiled from the social media post and reporting from entertainment outlets. Crown Sydney did not offer an immediate statement in response to requests for comment.