In a twist that could have been ripped straight from the scripts of Home and Away itself, off-screen drama is rocking Summer Bay after a newcomer to the hit Aussie soap reportedly accused her real-life lover — and co-star — of betrayal.

According to on-set insiders, rising star Tahlia Rivers, who joined the long-running series earlier this year as fiery newcomer Mia Donovan, has allegedly fallen out with her on-screen and off-screen flame Jack Lawson, known to fans as bad boy Nate Corbin.

The couple, who were said to have started dating just weeks after Tahlia’s arrival on set, were initially described as “inseparable” by crew members. But that all changed recently when Tahlia apparently confronted Jack over what she described as “a major betrayal.”

“She called him a traitor — right there in front of everyone,” one production insider told TV Week Confidential. “It was tense. No one knew whether to keep filming or to step in.”

While the exact reason for the alleged betrayal hasn’t been confirmed, multiple sources claim that Jack may have been secretly meeting with a producer to discuss changes to their joint storyline — without telling Tahlia.

“She felt blindsided,” the source continued. “They’d been promised this big, emotional arc together — but suddenly, she found out her character was being written into a completely different direction. She thought Jack had gone behind her back to protect his own storyline.”

The incident reportedly caused major tension on set, with filming allegedly delayed for nearly an hour while producers tried to calm both actors down.

“Tahlia’s passionate — she’s the kind of actress who gives everything to her role,” another insider said. “But she’s also new, and this business can be brutal. What happened really hurt her. She genuinely thought Jack had her back.”

Despite the behind-the-scenes chaos, Channel Seven has so far declined to comment officially on the alleged feud, though a network spokesperson did confirm that both actors remain “committed to their ongoing storylines.”

Meanwhile, fans have begun to speculate whether the real-life fallout could be reflected in the show’s upcoming episodes. Home and Away writers are reportedly under pressure to either lean into the off-screen tension — or completely rewrite the plot to diffuse speculation.

Social media has exploded with rumours, with some fans even dubbing the pair “Summer Bay’s own Ross and Rachel — if Ross had written Rachel out of the script.”

As for Tahlia, she’s remained tight-lipped on the situation, though a cryptic post on her Instagram story last week raised eyebrows:

“Loyalty isn’t a storyline — it’s a choice.”

Whether this storm will pass or become a full-blown scandal remains to be seen — but one thing’s for sure: the drama in Summer Bay isn’t just on screen anymore.

Home and Away airs weeknights at 7:00pm on Channel Seven and 7Plus.