Married At First Sight Australia star Dean Wells has insisted he’s not transphobic or homophobic after backlash to an edited picture he shared of a drag queen, and being dropped by his management.

Earlier this week, the 37-year-old, who participated in season 5 of the reality TV series, made clear he wasn’t a fan of Drag Queen Story Time events and suggested they were harmful for children.

In the now-deleted post he wrote: ‘Our tax dollars are being used to fund a thing called Drag Queen Story Time where drag queens go to our libraries and schools and are paid to read to kids as young as three, usually about gender identity and from an extremist left wing perspective.’

‘I honestly do not get what the cultural benefit of this is and think it is sending confusing messages to kids.’

He added that ‘being a drag queen is inherently sexual’ and that some queens have ‘serious mental disorders that need to be dealt with’, according to reports.

Alongside this, he shared a photoshopped picture originally shared of an event by Manly Library in Sydney, however, Wells posted a version that edited the drag queen into a sexual position with her legs spread and a taco placed between them.

Well has now addressed the backlash, insisting that he’s not transphobic.

In a video on Instagram he said: ‘I am not homophobic, transphobic or against drag queens. I’ve grown up in the LGBTIQA+ community – I have five gay family members, including my sister.’

He continued: ‘My post was about one thing – drag time story hour for three year old children. This is a taxpayer funded event happening in my neighbourhood, about 100 metres from my house. I think I have the right to ask questions about that.’

Wells went on to say that after sharing the edited picture, his ‘whole page was attacked and bombarded with hateful messages, comments and threats. Some of the most vile things you can image being hurled at me, just for asking a question about drag queen story hour for three year old kids.

‘Why is it so controversial to ask if that’s appropriate?’

Dean Wells was dropped by his management earlier this week (Picture: WireImage)

Wells continued: ‘It’s about advanced gender ideologies being taught to three year old children. I would have the same issue if it was dominatrix story time, or stripper story time. It’s not about whether or not the person is homosexual, it’s because it’s sexual.’

Shortly after sharing the post Wells’ management agency, Stage Addiction, announced they would no longer be working together.

‘As a queer-owned business, Stage Addiction has always and will always celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community,’ it wrote.

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‘The deeply hurtful comments made today by Dean Wells do not align with our values and as such we have parted ways.’

In the video, Wells continued: ‘My income and my ability to put food on the table taken away because I expressed an opinion.’

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Dean faced a lot of backlash and ‘threats’ over the edited image he shared.