While Married at First Sight Australia has had its fair share of broken marriages over the years, fans were hopeful that Ashleigh Ackerman and Jake Luik would be the exception.
Both teachers, big kids at heart and ready to settle down, the couple seemed like they would be a couple to watch in the experiment.
But while their compatibility on paper was off the charts, the pair never got the chance to experience what it would be like to be in a relationship in the real world.
Scroll on for everything you need to know about their relationship on MAFS so far.
When honesty is not the best policy
While the banter bouncing between the couple was off the charts from their wedding until their honeymoon, things took a more serious turn in their relationship during confessions week when tasked with the photo ranking challenge by the experts.
While this task brought other couples closer throughout the week, it seemed to have the opposite effect because of Jake’s brutal honesty about the other women and their appearances, which appalled Ashleigh.
As he ranked the brides, he said one had “crazy eyes”, another had a lazy eye, and that Sierah looked intimidating due to having the “face and vibe” of someone who would stab him in his sleep.
He continued his jabs by turning to Awhina and said while he did not want to sound racist, he mainly liked Caucasian people.
Reeling from the confessions, Ashleigh said it was nasty and could have been delivered without malice – much to Jake’s annoyance.
Insisting it was a joke and more of their banter, he walked away from the situation. But it seems the cracks from those comments could deepen after Ashleigh guiltily confessed in a video diary that she got tipsy and went and told Sierah what was said.
Speaking with Yahoo Lifestyle shortly after the episode aired, Ashleigh said she had no choice but to call him out for his “brutal” comments.
“I was still trying to get to know him and build a connection because it was only two weeks in, so there was like this tug of war, but I had to stand up for what I believe in.”
“I’m actually really proud of myself for how I handled that,” she added.
An explosive first Commitment Ceremony
Despite regretting telling Sierah what Jake had said about the other brides, Ashleigh was firm in her belief that Jake’s comments were inappropriate, and disrespectful and left her feeling “unsettled.”
“Just knowing that Ash went behind my back, yeah she’s broken my trust,” an upset Jake shared after being told that his wife and spoken about him to other participants.
When grilled by the experts on the couch in the first Commitment Ceremony, Jake referred to his comments as “jokes” made in “bad humour.”
“I don’t think you need to be disrespectful to women,” an upset Billy said in response to what Jake had said about his own wife Sierah.
“That is so hurtful and disgusting,” a visibly distressed Awhina shared when discovering what had been said about her.
Despite choosing to see the best in her husband and wanting to stay in the experiment, Ashleigh was left alone in her decision after Jake opted to leave.
“It was really hard to hear that she did talk behind my back. I think trust is the biggest thing in a relationship, it’s not something I expected from Ash voicing those things to other people. For that reason, I actually said leave,” a hurt Jake shared.
A shock exit
After spending the night apart after their first Commitment Ceremony, Jake decided he would be “going for good” and returning to his hometown of Perth.
“I think at the Commitment Ceremony he decided he was leaving, I think he was just hoping I would write leave too,” a frustrated Ashleigh shared with producers.
“I do think blaming the trust issue now is a bit of a cop-out, I just think it was his best out. He doesn’t want to face the repercussions of his actions.”
“I think Jake is a 30-year-old man with the maturity of a teenager,” she added.
But her fleeing husband had his own perspective on the situation: “Last night was a lot to take in. I learnt a lot about Ash on that couch, a lot of things that I actually disliked.”
“I came into the experiment saying that I would be selfish with want I want, and I don’t want to change and I am sticking to that,” he shared.
In an interview with the Daily Mail shortly after the episode aired the runaway groom slammed the editing on the show.
“A lot of things I said, a lot of things I brought up, just got completely cut from the footage.”
He also claimed that Ashleigh was “rushing” their relationship: “She was like, ‘I need to know if you’re going to be the father of my children.’ I’m thinking, “Mate, I don’t even know what I’m having for breakfast tomorrow, let alone planning for that.'”
As well as his wife’s intensity, Jake claims Ashleigh would disappear for days at a time during filming, making it hard for them to build a connection.
“There were times when I’d be sitting in the room, silently, with no effort from her side. I had a miserable time. I wasn’t happy,” he added.
Humble beginnings
Both reaching a point in their lives where starting a family is a priority, the experts paired Ashleigh and Jake together with the hopes that the quirky couple could match each other’s energy and bond over a mutual love of children.
For high school teacher Jake, he said despite being full of love he has struggled to find the right partner in the past. Describing his dream woman as someone with “great banter and a light-hearted nature”.
“I just want someone who is fun and light-hearted. I want my partner to be my best friend,” he said at the beginning of the experiment.
Speaking of her ideal match, dance studio owner Ashleigh said she was looking for someone genuine.
“I’m a big kid [at heart],” Ashleigh said. “I’m just looking for me but in a man.”
On their big day, a nervous Jake accidentally mistook the Maid of Honour for his bride, but the moment he locked eyes with Ashleigh, his fears disappeared and the pair instantly clicked.
“She’s gorgeous. Like wow. Lovely smile,” a smitten Jake said to himself out loud without realising.
“He’s beautiful. I definitely like what I see,” an equally enamoured Ashleigh shared with producers after their romantic first kiss.
Sadly these two were unable to work through their differences and quit the experiment just two weeks in.
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