It was the photo that caused a massive stir on Instagram: Rhys posing topless with some very suspicious looking puppies.

Them puppy tickles are the best!???? (for those that are a little slow… and haven’t read my bio.. it’s called ‘taking the piss’…)

A photo posted by R h y s C h i l t o n ???????????? (@rhyschilton) on Jan 22, 2016 at 2:45am PST

Surely…surely those happy little puppies aren’t real, right?

Naturally, when he dropped by the Bach Chat studio, Laura Brodnik and Amy Cooper got him to set the record straight.

“Those puppies are totally real!” Rhys joked, before revealing his Insta secrets.

“No, look. My humour, especially on my Instagram, it separates the people who are idiots and who can actually read a comment or two. If you scroll down, there’s a comment about me saying, ‘I can’t believe I actually fooled you’.”

Perhaps, then, you won’t be too surprised to learn that a number of Rhys’ other Insta snaps are “digitally altered” as well…

I miss Chomps so much! We used to tan together but I haven’t heard from him in ages ???????? #crocodile #pet #fathersontime #tanningbuddies #southbank #brisbane #mates #totesreal #youidiots

A photo posted by R h y s C h i l t o n ???????????? (@rhyschilton) on Oct 24, 2016 at 5:01pm PDT

I just love spending time with my cub ???? Can’t believe how fast he is growing! ???????? #blessed #myboy #fathersontime #truth #myveryrealtigercub #favepet . [email protected]

A photo posted by R h y s C h i l t o n ???????????? (@rhyschilton) on Oct 24, 2016 at 12:30am PDT

Listen to the latest episode of Bach Chat, the podcast where we talk all things Bachelorette.