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MAFS’ biggest scandals and blow-ups REVISITED!

And oh boy, there have been a few - by Alex Lilly
  • 25 Jan 2022

If there was one Aussie reality TV show that was the epitome of drama and scandal, it would have to be Married At First Sight.

WATCH: Which MAFS couples are still together?

Cheating, couple swaps and downright fights have all happened over the course of the last eight seasons and as we approach the ninth, we doubt 2022 will be no different.

In honour of the upcoming MAFS season, we took a trip down memory lane and revisited some of our favourite scandals the show has seen.

Grab a red wine, this is going to be a long list.

mafs

Jono and Clare didn't exactly get off to a good start.

Nine

"She's not what I ordered."

Back in season two when Jono Pitman was matched with his TV wife Clare Verrall, the groom uttered one of the show's biggest phrases...and insults.

Upon seeing his bride walk down the aisle, Jono mused: "She's the opposite of what I expected to walk down the aisle. She's not what I ordered."

Jono ended up becoming the season's villain and his marriage to Clare went from bad to worse over the course of the season and he even admitted to Now To Love in 2017: "I honestly wish I never met her, that's the truth."

mafs

Cheryl confronted Jonathan at a commitment ceremony.

Nine

Secret texting and the birth of the couple swap

The show's very first texting scandal kicked off thanks to season four's Jonathan Troughton and Scarlett Cooper who hit it off at the first dinner party and ended up swapping numbers and sending flirty messages to each other all night.

Jonathan's wife Cheryl Maitland was so blindsided by his actions she dumped him, tearfully confessing: "I hate disloyal people. I heard you last night saying you got paired with the wrong person. And then you swapped numbers and you have been talking to each other."

mafs

Dean and Davina's scandal was one of the most talked about TV moments of 2018.

Nine

Dean and Davina's dangerous liaison

Arguably the biggest scandal of season five was Dean Wells and Davina Rankin's secret date that was unbeknownst to their respective partners, Tracey Jewel and Ryan Gallagher.

In the end Dean, who denied ever doing anything wrong, went back to his on-screen wife whilst a humiliated Davina and Ryan ended up leaving the show. However, Dean's marriage didn't go the distance and Tracey ended up dumping him at the final vows.

Not even that rap could save them.

mafs

Who saw these couples coming?

Nine

The shock season five re-couplings

For the 2018 finale, not one but two shock couples decided to make their grand debut.

Troy Delmege (yes the toothbrush guy) and Carly Bowyer revealed they'd hooked up as did Tracey and Sean Thomsen, leaving even the experts speechless.

Both relationships eventually went down in flames but we'll be the first to admit we didn't see either couple coming.

mafs

Ines and Sam engaged in a sexual affair behind the backs of their spouse.

Nine

ANOTHER cheating scandal 

If Dean and Davina's dalliance was the PG version, the MAFS team cranked things up a notch with Ines Basic and Sam Ball's affair in 2019.

Season six saw Ines and Sam engage in a sexual affair behind the backs of their spouses, Bronson Norrish and Elizabeth Sobinoff.

In the end, Ines apologised for her wrongdoings when she herself fell victim to Sam's "empty promises" and poured her heart out in the final commitment ceremony that Sam didn't attend.

"Sam told me he wanted to make it work outside of the experiment but it didn't happen. I had huge feelings for him. I chose to see the best in him, but like Elizabeth said, he says one thing and does another," she said.

mafs jess

The Talking Married episode that made everyone cringe.

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Jessika and Dan's disaster

As soon as Jessika Power was matched with farmer Mick Gould, we knew their relationship wasn't going to be the stuff of fairytales.

In yet another couple swap of 2019, Jess set her sights on intruder Dan Webb and they engaged in an affair behind Mick and Dan's wife Tamara's backs.

However, unlike other affairs, the experts controversially allowed Jessika and Dan to re-enter the experiment as a new couple and whilst they seemed to hit things off at first, when Dan learned that Jessika had made a move on co-star Nic, things turned sour.

After an awkward interview on Talking Married, the couple announced they were over.

mafs cyrell

Things got rather heated between Cyrell and Martha.

Nine

Cyclone Cyrell vs Martha

It'll go down as one of the most iconic MAFS feuds of all time - and they weren't even married!

It all started when Cyrell Paule confronted Martha Kalifatidis over a rumour Nic had flirtatiously touched Jessika's leg at a dinner party but ended in yelling, glass breaking and a producer having to separate Cyrell and Martha, the latter of whom was wearing a sheet face mask the whole time.

Part two kicked off at the final dinner party when Martha famously tipped her glass of red wine over Cyrell's head and they had to be physically separated once more. Geez Louise that'll go down in history.

mafs

Stacey and Michael were one of the most explosive couples the show has ever seen.

Nine

Michael's affair - and Stacey's shock reaction

It didn't take long for the first 2020 scandal to come to light when Hayley Vernon revealed that she and Michael Goonan had kissed after a drunken night.

Both Hayley's husband David and Michael's wife Stacey were hurt and angry by the revelation, but it was Stacey's defence of Michael that had fans stunned.

"Why were you even out with my husband alone? You've just ruined a relationship, yes he's a d---head and he parties but you've taken that for granted. You were encouraging vulnerable Michael," Stacey said at the dinner table.

The couple stayed together until the end, but more on those two later.

mafs

David cleaned a dirty toilet with Hayley's toothbrush.

Nine

Toothbrush gate

Stacey may have been hurt, but David's reaction to the affair took things to a new and disgusting low.

A video of David cleaning a dirty toilet with Hayley's toothbrush emerged during the dinner party and Hayley even decided to stay in the experiment purely as an act of revenge on her husband.

However, the experts ended up making a MAFS first and asked them both to leave.

"It is very unhealthy what you've got going on between you. We have certain standards and it is not in the spirit of the experiment," expert John Aiken said at the couple's final commitment ceremony.

"There are boundaries that have been crossed that should never have been crossed."

mafs

Mikey made sure there was one final bombshell.

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Mikey's final bombshell

It's the biggest mystery since the Sphinx - did Mikey Pembroke sleep with Stacey?

Mikey's ex-wife Natasha Spencer dropped that bombshell at the final 2020 dinner party to the entire group and whilst Stacey denied it ever happened, Michael (who had his own cheating scandal if you remember) couldn't forgive her.

"They're both going to great lengths to prove that they're right so I'm as confused as everyone else," Natasha confessed in a chat with Now To Love shortly after the finale.

"I think something might've happened, I don't know if it's sex but clearly the two were in a room alone together - why else would Mikey say 'I didn't want to be seen going into your room.' I think there's Mikey's side, Stacey's side and the truth."

mafs

In yet another twist, Michael ended up dating co-star KC Osborne.

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KC and Michael's post-show fling

Even after the seventh season ended, Michael was still involved in the drama - this time when he and KC Osborne started dating.

The couple enjoyed a brief fling and even went into lockdown together in Melbourne but Michael just couldn't shake his old partying ways.

"He sold me that dream of, ‘I would stop my playboy ways to have a girl like you, you’re such a good girl’. You have to remember too, I had felt really rejected and here I was with this guy telling me everything I’d ever dreamed of hearing," KC told Who back in July.

"I got along with him and I cared about him but I had that voice in my head going: ‘No no no KC this is a danger zone, you shouldn’t go there, you know what he’s like, he’s a party boy, he’ll probably break your heart.’ But when you have someone telling you: ‘You’re amazing, I give you my word, if I had a girl like you I’d change my ways, I want to move forward and have a family,’ it was so full-on and I’d never had a guy say that to me before. I got sold the dream and I fell for it."

coco cam mafs

Sparks were flying between Cam and Coco - too bad they were married to other people.

Nine

You guessed it - another cheating scandal

In season eight, Coco Stedman and Cameron Dunne were at the centre of a cheating scandal, but unlike past seasons, this one was talked about in depth with all the contestants.

It all kicked off when Coco, who had numerous clashes with husband Sam Carraro, sought comfort from Cameron who knew Sam outside of the show.

The pair quickly hit things off and remarked that they shared a connection, but things didn't last outside of the show and they went their separate ways.

bryce mafs

Bryce was accused of having a girlfriend on the outside.

Nine

The secret girlfriend 

A rumour that Bryce Ruthven had a secret girlfriend on the outside all started when Beck Zemek accused him of telling her he was buying a gift for another woman.

While Bryce denied the accusations, it was later brought up during a visit to Canberra with his wife Melissa Rawson, and Bryce's friends were caught talking about the rumour when they thought no one was listening.

"Do you think he’s lied to her?" one said, while another answered with "Yeah, no doubt."

"Because the gift thing is true," they added.

It was brought up yet again when bride Samantha returned to the show to tell Melissa that she'd heard about Bryce texting a girl outside the experiment, and that she was waiting for him.

beck mafs

Beck was caught kissing another man on camera.

Nine

Beck's 'brotherly' kiss

It's safe to say that season eight's Beck Zemek and Jake Edwards' TV marriage was far from fairytale even though they committed to each other at the final vows.

Things took a real turn when Beck went home to Perth to visit her sick dog during the final weeks of the experiment, and she reconnected with a secret boyfriend behind Jake's back - and it was all caught on camera.

When the pair took to the experts' couch, a video was played of Beck and a mystery man kissing right in the corner of the frame.

With his face blurred-out, Beck originally claimed that it was her "brother" who she was kissing, but then later admitted it was an "old burn" who helped her transport Oscar around.

"Emotion sparked and we shared a kiss," Beck said in the episode.

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