A former Noosa councillor removed from The Bachelorette after a series of lewd on-screen incidents has failed to have the penalty against him reduced, seven years after his controversial television appearance.
Jess Glasgow took leave from his position on Noosa Shire Council in 2019 to join the fifth season of the reality dating show, which featured Angie Kent.
His time in the mansion ended after only two episodes, when Kent asked him to leave over what she described as repeated inappropriate behaviour.
The short-lived appearance triggered 128 complaints to Queensland’s local government watchdog and led to a formal investigation. Although some members of the public called for Glasgow to resign, he stayed on the council until losing his seat in May 2020.
The Councillor Conduct Tribunal later ruled in February 2021 that Glasgow had engaged in misconduct through his behaviour on the program and comments he made to the media after it aired.
He was ordered to pay Noosa Shire Council $4,000, equivalent to 15 penalty units, along with a further $1,000 towards costs. His bid to reduce that financial penalty has now been unsuccessful.
The Tribunal reviewed both episodes in their entirety, including a moment in which Glasgow boasted about kissing women without their consent. “I’ve kissed plenty of girls and they’ve turned their heads before. I’m used to it,” he said.
The remark was made while the contestants watched a photo shoot involving Kent and another man, and discussed whether the pair might kiss.
Jess Glasgow took leave from Noosa Shire Council to appear alongside Angie Kent on the fifth season of The Bachelorette, which aired in 2019
His time on the reality dating show ended after just two episodes, with Kent sending him home following a series of behaviour complaints
By the close of the second episode, Kent had had enough of Glasgow treating her like a “piece of meat” and told him to pack his bags
Glasgow also made comments including, “If it was me, I would’ve laid one on her; just slip the tongue in,” and, “S***, I bet she’s turned on, she’s up for it.”
His conduct escalated during another photo shoot, in which Kent was instructed to climb onto his back while he acted as a horse.
As Kent mounted him, Glasgow told her, “Don’t mind me if I get some wandering fingers, alright,” before looking towards the camera and saying, “I’m gonna be the first person she’s gonna get to ride.”
The episode also showed him encouraging Kent to “come on, pat the horse’s bum”, prompting another male contestant to intervene with the warning: “Stop being a sleaze, bro.”
Glasgow was also seen making suggestive mouth movements towards Kent’s backside before declaring, “Damn, this beats my last girlfriend.”
One contestant later told Kent that Glasgow’s actions had made members of the production crew uncomfortable as well.
At the end of the second episode, Kent confronted Glasgow and sent him home, explaining that she was tired of being viewed as a “piece of meat”.
Kent ultimately sent Glasgow home after telling him she was tired of being treated as a “piece of meat”
Glasgow later described his appearance on the program to the Sunshine Coast Daily as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” and said it provided plenty to discuss at a summer barbecue
While leaving The Bachelorette mansion, Mr Glasgow told viewers his behaviour was ‘just harmless fun’ and that he’d return to Noosa to find the love of his life ‘in a dirty, dingy nightclub’.
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Soon after, he told the Sunshine Coast Daily his appearance was a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ and the perfect conversation starter at a summer barbecue.
Mr Glasgow also claimed he had the blessing of Noosa’s then mayor, Tony Wellington, quoting him as saying, ‘What I do on annual leave is up to me, just don’t bring council into disrepute.’
He made similar claims on ABC Radio, but a response from Mayor Wellington clarified Glasgow had not sought approval for his appearance.
At the February 2021 hearing, the Tribunal was told Mr Glasgow had ‘behaved in an inappropriate way, making offensive comments and gestures’ towards Ms Kent, as well as ‘disrespectful comments about women generally’.
The Tribunal also heard that Mr Glasgow’s later statements to the media were ‘false or misleading’ and appeared to be an attempt to ‘shift the responsibility’ for his actions onto the mayor.
Mr Glasgow first challenged the Tribunal’s decision in May 2021, later obtaining an extension and a stay of the proceedings. Proceedings dragged on for several years, with a hearing finally held in May 2026.
Angie Kent starred as the Bachelorette in the program’s fifth season in 2019
Mr Glasgow downplayed his conduct on the program as harmless fun
The matter was set down for hearing in September 2025, but a month earlier Mr Glasgow sought an adjournment, citing deteriorating mental health caused by the stress and demands of the process.
According to the Tribunal’s decision published last week, Mr Glasgow repeatedly asked for the proceedings to be paused or discontinued, but was told he could withdraw his own case if he wished to bring the matter to a close.
Initially, Mr Glasgow challenged both the misconduct findings and the sanction imposed, but later accepted responsibility for his conduct, disputing only the penalties.
While he acknowledged his on-screen behaviour was well below the standard expected of a councillor, he argued he was influenced by production conditions, access to alcohol and isolation from the outside world.
He submitted that the ‘highly produced’ nature of the show, combined with encouragement to drink, contributed to ‘conduct which was out of character for him’.
The Tribunal considered the context of The Bachelorette, but said it did not ‘materially diminish Mr Glasgow’s responsibility for what he said and did’, noting his conduct was not limited to a single remark.
Instead, there was a ‘series’ of sexualised comments and observations, which had the ‘cumulative effect’ of diminishing or disregarding the dignity of women.
It was also noted that Mr Glasgow was ‘not a callow youth’ unaware of ‘ordinary standards of respectful conduct’, but a ’36-year-old elected local government representative’.
The Tribunal found that Mr Glasgow’s comments about kissing Ms Kent – including saying he would ‘lay one on her’ and ‘slip the tongue in’ – demonstrated an attitude that ‘diminished the significance of the other person’s willingness or consent’.
Regarding his post-ejection media appearances, Mr Glasgow denied intentionally making false or misleading statements about having the mayor’s blessing to appear on The Bachelorette.
Instead, he blamed journalists and the audience for creating that impression.
The Tribunal found this position was significant, as it did not amount to genuine acceptance of responsibility, but rather a deflection.
Ultimately, the Tribunal concluded that the penalties imposed in 2021 were fair and proportionate, reflecting the seriousness of Mr Glasgow’s misconduct.