Snezana Wood reportedly contacted a friend last year to ask how she could leave her eight-year marriage to The Bachelor star Sam Wood, according to a new report.
Speaking to the Herald Sun, a friend of the mother-of-four claimed Snezana had been facing difficulties privately, despite the couple’s polished public image.
“Everyone has known what’s gone on. It was an open secret in Brighton. Snezana wanted to find a way out,” the friend alleged.
The claims have emerged as Sam, 46, prepares to return to the Supreme Court on November 4 to seek bail again after spending three weeks in custody.
A second friend also alleged that Snezana had no access to her own finances or the couple’s shared bank accounts during the marriage.
Those claims come against the backdrop of the couple’s substantial property and business dealings in recent years.
A new report claims Snezana Wood contacted a friend last year seeking advice on leaving her eight-year marriage to The Bachelor star Sam Wood
Sam reportedly sold his online fitness company to a Melbourne billionaire for $71 million, while the couple’s Elsternwick property is said to have fetched $6 million when it was sold in May.
He later bought a $2.7 million home in Mount Martha. Meanwhile, the family’s Brighton residence has been listed for $7.15 million.
A former partner of Sam has also spoken about what she described as unpredictable conduct during their relationship.
She alleged that, after one disagreement, he threw her clothing onto the front lawn of her home.
“If things didn’t go his way, he became increasingly erratic. He was always tight with money … looking for ways to save a buck. He even tried to get Snezana’s engagement ring for free,” she claimed.
Snezana has recently been seen without her wedding ring and has not appeared on social media in recent days. Her daughter Eve, who had also maintained an active online presence, has likewise been absent from the platforms.
Since the allegations surfaced, Sam has reportedly lost more than 15,000 Instagram followers, while Snezana and Eve have attracted thousands of new followers.
Sam remains in custody and has since been transferred to another prison.
A friend claimed Snezana Wood was struggling privately despite the couple’s seemingly perfect image, according to the Herald Sun
Sam is due to make a further bail application in the Supreme Court on November 4 after three weeks behind bars
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The personal trainer was arrested and charged with domestic violence offences earlier this month following an alleged incident at the couple’s $3,000-a-night holiday home in Noosa.
Bail was denied when he appeared before Maroochydore Magistrates’ Court over the allegations involving Snezana, who is understood to support the prosecution proceeding with the charges.
Prosecutors allege that during the incident, which was reportedly witnessed by Snezana’s 21-year-old daughter Eve, Sam pushed his wife into a wardrobe, grabbed her by the throat, threw her against a wall and struck her head on the floor. Eve then called triple-0.
When he faced court in Queensland, police prosecutor Sergeant Jeanette Grigoris noted he had previously choked Snezana in a similar incident.
Sergeant Grigoris said Sam had not been charged over that alleged attack, but told the court his behaviour had been ‘escalating’.
It is alleged that a row broke out in Noosa ahead of the couple returning to Melbourne, and Snezana was pushed into a wardrobe before Eve intervened.
The court heard Eve told Sam to stop shouting, prompting him to approach her ‘aggressively’ before Snezana tried to get between them.
He is then alleged to have put his hands around Snezana’s throat and forced her to the floor, where he pinned her down and banged her head, leaving her unable to breathe.
She told police, ‘This was it… my life was going to end’, and said she thought Sam was ‘going to kill her’, the court heard.
Snezana had also told police Sam was ‘volatile and prone to angry outbursts’, and said she had to ‘walk on eggshells around him’.
Mr Cuskelly said his client suffered from severe depression and might rely on self-defence if the case went to trial.
Meanwhile, fans are urging Snezana to take over as the face and name of 28 by Sam Wood.
Sam founded the fitness business 10 years ago, before selling its parent company, Australian Life Tech, to myDNA for a reported $71 million in 2022. He remained involved with the brand under its new ownership.
The online fitness and nutrition program was designed around 28-minute workouts, meal plans and lifestyle support.
DBG Health, which owns myDNA, has quickly distanced itself from Sam, terminating its commercial arrangements with the former Bachelor star shortly after his arrest on these charges.
Snezana first captured Australia’s attention when she won Sam’s heart on The Bachelor in 2015.
Their romance became one of the franchise’s most celebrated success stories, with the couple marrying in 2018 and welcoming three daughters together.