Why viewers were furious with the first episode of 'The Bachelorette Australia'

The premiere episode of The Bachelorette Australia 2018 had a few firsts, including a contestant dressed as a knight, the introduction of the Wild Rose and a kiss at the cocktail party(!), but there was one moment that stood out to viewers for the wrong reason.

As the introductions got going between Ali Oetjen and the 18 men who'd arrived at a Sydney mansion to woo her, a tall man named Bill, a 31-year-old mechanical plumber from Victoria, seemed to make quite the impression on Ali.

They started off with some basic banter, but then he told her he had a "confession."

"I have a little confession to make about myself," he started. "I wasn't actually born Bill. I was born something different. I was born actually…" He then trailed off, making it the perfect segue for an ad break.

When the show returned, Bill revealed his 'secret': "I was born actually David, but ever since I can remember I've been known as Bill." He added, "It's just a fun little fact about myself."

The camera then cut to Ali, who was relieved Bill was "not a woman -- tick!" She laughed and even appeared to catch herself out for her statement.

Maybe this is Bill's go-to line when he's trying to pick up women -- you know, his signature move.

Given the hype around Bill's big reveal, viewers were not happy with the way the information had been teased, or 33-year-old Ali's reaction.

Many took to Twitter to express their anger and accused the program of transphobia.

This is not the first time the Bachelor franchise has come under fire for its treatment of the LGBTQIA+ community. On Bachelor in Paradise the show was accused of queerbaiting after it alluded to openly bisexual contestant Megan Marx hooking up with Elora Murger -- it turned out to be a long-haired Canadian male intruder, just shot from behind -- and on The Bachelor Australia 2018, Brooke BlurtonBrooke Blurton -- that she had been in two relationships with women -- was overplayed.

Whatever Bill did worked in his favour.

Towards the end of the first cocktail party, Ali -- who has tried to find love twice on the Australian Bachelor franchise before, first in 2013 on the inaugural season with Tim Robards, and then again on Bachelor in Paradise earlier this year -- gave her Wild Rose to Bill, which gives him the power to steal a single date Ali has invited someone else on.

She liked that they had "good communication" (despite only knowing each other for about five minutes).

But the shocks didn't stop there. After giving him the Wild Rose, Ali then kissed Bill on the lips in full view of the rest of the men, who weren't exactly thrilled with the PDA.

It was definitely another way to get people talking about the series.