Family stories often capture our attention, especially when they come with an unexpected twist.

This one, however, takes unconventional to a whole new level..

In a tale that reads like a script from a daytime drama, former Neighbours actress Scarlet Vas has announced that she is expecting her first child with her husband, who is also her stepbrother.



Scarlet Vas, known for her role on the iconic Australian soap opera before her departure in 2018, has been open about her unique relationship with singer Tayo Ricci.

The couple's journey began in their teenage years in Melbourne and took a surprising turn when their parents entered into a relationship, making them stepsiblings.



Despite the unconventional start, Vas and Ricci's bond deepened into love, culminating in a picturesque wedding in Mykonos, Greece, in September of the previous year.

Now, at 29, Vas is preparing for the arrival of their daughter. However, the news of her pregnancy has been met with mixed reactions online, with some critics labelling their relationship as 'weird' and 'gross.'

Yet, Vas remained unfazed by the negativity, choosing instead to focus on the strength of her partnership with Ricci.

‘Honestly, it doesn’t affect us because we have each other,’ she said.

‘I don’t really read our comments section, but if I do, I actually laugh. We find trolls very entertaining.’

‘If something’s really negative, we might comment back, we find it is quite a good disarming tactic.’



The couple first caught the public's eye in 2021 when they shared their love story in a viral video.

Although the video, which depicted a staged kiss between Vas and Ricci while Vas' then-boyfriend watched, was intended as a skit, their decade-long relationship is anything but fictional.

‘We’ve been together for 10 years and have just moved back to Australia after living in the US for the last five of those,’ Vas explained.

‘We were about 13 years old when we first met through mutual friends, our families knew each other, and they introduced us, I guess you could say. So we’ve known each other for a very long time.’



Vas emphasised that she and Ricci are ‘definitely not blood-related’ and preferred to keep the details of their family connection private out of respect for their parents.

Instead, they address inquiries about their relationship through Ricci's song 'Strawberry on Ice,' which he wrote about their romance and performed at their wedding.

The song's lyrics hint at their unique bond but stop short of detailing the family merger that brought them together as stepsiblings.



In a video sharing the couple’s baby shower, the comments from people were divided.

‘She is pregnant with her stepbro…like [the f***]?!’ one raged.

‘I was smiling until you said he was your stepbrother,’ remarked another.

You can watch the couple’s video below:


Have you encountered similar situations within your own family or social circles? How do you feel about the blending of families in such unique ways? Let us know in the comments below!