When Cat Law applied for Big Brother in 2014, she was 30-years-old and looking for a unique life experience. Indeed, that’s exactly what she got by going on one of the most popular reality TV formats of the decade.
Cat formed a romantic connection with one of the other contestants on the Channel Nine show, then-23-year-old Lawson Reeves, who had a girlfriend in the outside world. The highly-publicised pair, known as Clawson at the time, sparked moral outrage from the country.
When the two were evicted from the show, Australia was intrigued: Was this a reality TV stunt? Would they last?
But despite the scrutiny and scepticism, Cat and Lawson maintained their relationship for four and a half years following Big Brother.
Watch: Cat and Lawson met on Big Brother Australia in 2014. Post continues after video.
Talking to Mamamia, Cat says “It was a relationship that wasn’t for TV or for ratings or for getting us further in the game.
“It was something that developed unexpectedly and that’s why the relationship lasted outside the house as well, because there was genuine feelings there.”
She continues: “We just had so many things in common and it was just genuine love, he was a really significant person in my life and I will always have really strong feelings towards him I think.”
However Cat tells Mamamia the two have since parted ways: “We broke up early this year.”
She hasn’t spoken publicly on their separation until now, she explains, because it’s been emotionally tough.
“Breakups are really hard,” Cat admits, “and I find it really hard to talk about when you’re going through it because it’s so emotional.”
“We don’t have any ill will towards each other,” she adds, “but breakups are really painful and I think for myself limiting contact with him for the moment is really important for me to move on. It would bring back all those old feelings and I could end up back where I was when I was finding it really challenging.”