Former Bachelor South Africa star Marc Buckner has addressed ongoing speculation about his relationship with younger German fitness influencer Timo Hagen, clarifying that the two are not romantically involved.
Buckner, 43, who rose to fame on the second season of The Bachelor SA in 2020, has been the subject of fan curiosity after appearing frequently alongside Hagen, 25, in social media posts. The pair, both based in Cape Town, have been spotted at the gym, attending events, watching rugby, and even swapping shirts in elevators.
While their close friendship and affectionate captions, including “It wouldn’t be nothing without [Hagen],” led some followers to speculate about a possible romance, Buckner has now set the record straight.
Speaking on the Wickedly Well with Natasha Viljoen podcast, Buckner joked that Hagen “tried to pick me up at the gym” when they first met. Hagen laughed and added,
“Yeah. I saw this guy and I thought, ‘Wow, I need to get in touch with him.’”
However, Buckner later made it clear:
“To make it simple – we’re not a gay couple. We’re just friends that have – as [Hagen] said – similar values. I enjoy training, he enjoys training, we’re both healthy, driven humans [that] motivate each other.”
The pair explained that their frequent collaborations online are simply because it’s “more fun” creating content together. Buckner added that his past experiences in the modelling world, where support was often lacking, inspired him to work more closely with like-minded people such as Hagen.
Reflecting on his love life, Buckner has previously said The Bachelor “destroyed the fantasy” of romance for him. He told TFG Media he is seeking mutual love but is focusing on personal growth for now:
“I’m needing to be happy with myself, and that’s why I’m not ready to meet someone yet.”
