Former The Bachelor star Matt Agnew has addressed Sam Wood’s shocking domestic violence charges with a strongly-worded statement, describing the celebrity fitness guru’s alleged behaviour as “abhorrent”.

The engineer, astrophysicist and passionate science communicator, who won The Bachelor in 2019, took to social media on Tuesday to distance himself from Wood and condemn domestic violence.

It’s understood Wood, his wife Snezana and their daughters were staying at The Sebel in Noosa when police were called to the property about 9pm on Saturday following a report of alleged domestic violence.

Queensland Police said a 46-year-old Victorian man was charged with two domestic violence related offences.

Agnew said that despite knowing Wood, he wasn’t going to stay quiet or defend him against the allegations he faces.

“I know Sam Wood,” his Instagram statement began.

“That does not soften where I stand.

“Domestic violence is abhorrent. I condemn it absolutely and unequivocally.

“Knowing someone is not a reason to look away. It is not a reason to stay quiet.

“If anything, it creates a greater responsibility to speak clearly. And on this, there is ambiguity.

“I feel a responsibility to say this clearly.

“Sam and I share a connection through The Bachelor. I have met him. I know him. He has been kind and supportive to me in the past.

“None of that changes where I stand.”

Agnew said Wood’s charges, particularly the allegation of strangulation, “are extraordinary serious”.

“The behaviour alleged is abhorrent,” he continued.

“I condemn domestic violence without hesitation, without reservation and in the strongest possible terms.

“Knowing someone does not require you to defend them. Kindness shown to me does not erase alleged harm done to somebody else.

“There are some lines where friendship, familiarity and personal history simply cease to matter.

“This is one of them.

“My thought are with those affected. I hope they are safe, protected and surrounded by the support they deserve.”

Agnew’s followers and friends supported his stance in the comments section, with The Bachelorette star Cam Cranley telling him it was “well put”.

TV personality and The Bachelorette star Angie Kent said just because people share an experience, doesn’t mean they’re in “some ‘Bachelor Alumni’ club where we blindly support each other”.

“Thank you for always being such a strong voice in this space. We need more men to follow suit!”

Queensland Police charged Wood with assault occasioning bodily harm (domestic violence) and strangulation in a domestic setting following his Noosa arrest.

He has since been stood down from his job at fitness and nutrition group 28 by Sam Wood, which he co-founded in 2016.

A shared statement was released via Wood, his company, and his wife’s social media channels on Monday.

“This is a difficult time for all of us, we are working through this as a family and are thoroughly co-operating with the authorities,” it read.