Married at First Sight on Channel 9 – Today is a day worth celebrating, as it’s the day the experts will finally grill Jack for his shocking comments at last week’s Dinner Party. Oh, and it’s Tori’s birthday.
But Jack’s ‘Can you put a muzzle on your woman?’ comment is kind of stealing Tori’s birthday thunder because that’s all anyone can talk about.
“What a misogynistic, horrible thing to say,” Richard disappointedly sighs.
While Eden thinks “Jack should feel ashamed”.
But there is no sign of shame coming from Jack, who says: “I told Lauren to put a muzzle on it, it felt good saying it and I’m glad I said it.” Wow.
We have a feeling Jack will change his tune when he faces the experts at the always explosive Commitment Ceremony. Strap in, it’s time!
Lucinda and Timothy
It’s been a great week for Lucinda and Timothy. They’ve been going to shows, shopping at markets and even went to a strip club together – yes, the epitome of romance.
“So… it sounds like a really nice friendship,” expert Alessandra Rampolla observes.
Lucinda says that’s a “spot on” analysis and confirms that there’s been basically zero in the romance department.
Having started on a high, the whole couch session collapses into a wave of darkness.
Alessandra can sense Timothy’s frustration and decides to keep them on the couch for a little longer.
MAFS EPISODE 16 RECAP: Jack is in hot water with Lauren over a ‘gross’ rumour before one word has the entire Dinner Party seeing red
Timothy feels “thrown under the bus” and says there’s mixed messages, because he feels like they had a great few days. But now, it’s not good enough for Lucinda.
Jayden pipes up from the lounge and repeats Lucinda’s sentiment that it’s Married At First Sight, not Friends At First Sight.
It’s unsolicited advice that is not welcomed by Timothy, who has pointed out he’s old enough to be Jayden’s dad on a number of occasions.
“I get it and I don’t need advice from you,” Timothy quickly puts Jayden back in his place.
We think that’s the last roar we’ll be hearing out of our resident Paddle Pop lion for a little while.
READ MORE: ‘I said yes!’: MAFS’ Ella Ding is engaged to boyfriend Guy following a romantic ‘morning run’ proposal
John Aiken steps in and calls on Timothy to step out of first gear. He knows Timothy has been struggling with some of his past demons but says it’s time to prioritise romance and stop keeping Lucinda waiting.
Timothy feels “completely blindsided” by Lucinda. “I’m so pissed off I wrote ‘stay’,” he huffs. Well, there’s always next week Timothy.
Eden and Jayden
With their matching golden manes and beaming smiles, Eden and Jayden are “mad about each other”.
Jayden says he’s never felt this way about a partner before and the duo admit they’ve taken their relationship to the next level.
‘Stays’ all round for these two.
Sara and Tim
You might not recognise the couple sitting in front of you but it’s actually Sara and Tim.
They’ve come a long way from last week. Sara has been working on her communication style and Tim is happy that the pair are feeling more “flirtatious”
Mel is delighted to see a giddy Sara giggling like a little girl.
This is a 180 we love to see!
Jade and Ridge
It’s fairytales after fairytale on the couch and the experts think they know what answer they’re going to get from Jade and Ridge who are “all over each other”, but they ask them how things are going anyways.
Jade says that while things were “awkward” at first because of her “shy and reserved personality”, Ridge’s humour and affection has put her at ease.
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No surprises here. It’s a big ‘stay’ from Jade and Ridge.
Cassandra and Tristan
It’s been an “emotional” week for Cassandra and Tristan, and Tristan cuts to the chase and says he’s “not doing good”.
“I’m a bit nervous that we’re just friends and that’s where we’re going to stop.” Tristan
It’s a blow for Cassandra who says Tristan is “everything [she] wants in a husband.”
Hopeful for their potential, Cassandra decides to stay, but what comes next not even psychic bride Madeleine saw coming.
Tristan heartbreakingly writes ‘leave’.
“Cass, you need to understand this decision,” he says, “It’s nothing that you’ve done, it’s more that I’ve been struggling and I don’t want to waste any more of your time.
“I have to be honest because Cass deserves the bloody world and I want the dude that comes along after to be 10 times better than me.”
Cassandra is heartbroken and starts uncontrollably sobbing.
Despite tears and the card that has ‘leave’ written on it, there is no animosity between Tristan and Cassandra.
With no signs that there is anything majorly wrong with the relationship, Mel wonders if there’s a possibility that Tristan is “getting inside his own head”.
The most frustrating part for Cassandra is that Tristan is exactly the kind of guy she is looking for, he just doesn’t believe it.
Mel urges Tristan to hear what Cassandra is saying and believe it!
“We should’ve had this chat this morning and we could’ve avoided all of this,” Tristan nervously laughs.
From the lowest of lows to the highest of highs, Tristan and Cassandra seal their time on the couch with a kiss. They’re locked and loaded for another week.
Michael and Stephen
Michael and Stephen are mostly off to a “good start” but have been shaken by Stephen’s doubts after he discovered that Michael was previously matched in the experiment.
“I worry that you’re sitting here wishing it was someone else,” Stephen says.
John reassures Stephen that he personally told Michael that he would find him an even better match, so there’s no chance he’s second best.
Ellie and Ben
To be honest, we’d totally forgotten that Ellie and Ben were in the experiment as we’ve barely heard a peep out of them.
Were they even at the Dinner Party? Turns out yes, they were.
But after days spent being quiet, Ellie definitely has something to say now.
“I feel like I am not getting the authentic Ben. I feel like you’re trying to control the narrative and in turn control me,” Ellie does NOT stutter.
Ben then proceeds to say a lot of words. We’re not going to bother writing any of them out because as John Aiken says, “we don’t understand any of it”.
What we do understand is that Ellie wants to leave and she makes it known – in Sharpie.
But with Ben writing ‘stay’, the pair have a week to try and turn it around. Whether or not Ellie wants to is another matter entirely.
Andrea and Richard
Usually our resident lovebirds Andrea and Richard spend their time on the couch making everybody else envious of how unproblematic their relationship is.
But things are different this week.
Following Richard’s very vivid description of their sex life at last week’s Commitment Ceremony, Andrea admits she felt “disrespected”
“I felt like my bubble burst,” she confesses.
Andrea knows she’s put a wall up ever since and the couple haven’t been able to recapture the romance they had.
“Our marriage started with passion and fireworks and it came to an abrupt end because of what I said to her,” Richard says.
He owns his part for what he said about his and Andrea’s sex life but is “gutted” that everything between them has changed.
Mel encourages Andrea to “rise out of that unconscious voice that tells her ‘Richie is like all the other guys.”
Andrea knows that Richie is a “good, kind man”. It’s a comment so touching to him it brings him to tears.
It’s just a little speed bump for the couple who say they’re “not going anywhere”.
Madeleine and Ash
Ash is “really frustrated”. He feels like everything was going really well for the couple and then suddenly they did a nosedive off a cliff.
The turning point for the pair? Madeleine’s meltdown in the middle of a cow paddock.
Earlier in the week, Madeleine cried when she visited a herd of cows after eating steak the night before.
Ash also recounts the dinner they had that was interrupted by voices that psychic Madeleine was hearing.
EXCLUSIVE: Madeleine explains why she quit acting after 12 years and became a psychic medium on MAFS 2024
On top of that, Ash isn’t convinced Madeleine is here looking for a partner.
“I’m not here for potatoes at a Dinner Party, I’m here to find love,” Ash emphasises.
Madeleine insists she is as well and then follows that up by saying she wants to leave.
We, Ash and the experts are all baffled by Madeleine’s response so she offers up this explanation: “Life is weird and the universe pulls us to do things.”
At the moment, the universe is pulling Madeleine and Ash to stay in the experiment for another week. Well, let’s face it, Ash did the pulling on that one.
Lauren and Jonathan
There’s no beating around the bush here. John is ready to grill Jonathan for failing to back Lauren up at the Dinner Party.
This is Jono’s big opportunity to make things right with Lauren so he offers up this apology.
“I apologise. I really love you guys – oh and happy birthday, I hope this didn’t ruin it,” he says.
There’s just one problem. JONO IS SAYING SORRY TO TORI AND JACK.
John Aiken cuts the crap calling it “unacceptable” that Jono is grovelling to Jack and not his wife Lauren.
John turns his focus to the comment Jack made about Lauren. We all know what it is at this point, but here it is again. “Can you muzzle your woman?”
John admits, “If someone said that to me about my wife, I would not back down. I would come out full throttle, all guns blazing.”
But Jono isn’t the only one taking the heat for not standing up for Lauren.
John Aiken has a question for the wider group: “Can I just ask the men, why did you generally stay silent after that comment?”
And the silence continues from the macho men of MAFS. Except for Ben who offers this insight: “I didn’t hear the entire context of the conversation, like the actual decibels.” And on that note we’re reinstating the silence order.
WATCH: Dom and Ella explode over Jack’s ‘muzzle your woman’ comment and one groom’s emotional revelation
John takes the mic back and has this very important message: “It’s simply not good enough. If you’re in that position again I want you to speak up.”
“It’s your responsibility to call out bad behaviour.” Hear, hear John!
Jono “deeply regrets” not having Lauren’s back the way he should’ve and the timing couldn’t have been worse because things were actually going really well for the couple.
That’s past tense of course, because this whole ordeal has changed how Lauren feels.
But she’s willing to give Jono the benefit of the doubt.
“Up until last night he’s treated me with nothing but respect and kindness and I’m going to stay,” Lauren.
Tori and Jack
It’s the time we’ve all been waiting for. For Jack to get the serving of a lifetime from expert John Aiken.
And John doesn’t disappoint.
“I heard something last night, I was disgusted by it,” he begins.
“I’ve heard some things in these experiments that have repulsed me, that’s one of the worst things I’ve heard.”
With the disapproving looks of the experts, 20 plus of his peers and millions of Aussies, Jack says he’s “ashamed” and has “lost sleep” over what he said.
That’s not what you said this morning Jack, but we’ll let it slide.
Expert Mel Schilling’s question is why Jack’s reflex was to make a comment that was degrading to women.
Jack doesn’t have an explanation and so he does all you can do in this situation – grovel and profusely apologise. Judging by the looks on everyone’s face, not everyone is buying Jack’s ‘sorry’.
It’s time to hear from the one person we haven’t – Tori.
And all we hear is a whole bunch of excuses.
But Tori has her a-ha moment when Mel Schilling draws her attention back to the comment Jack made about couple swapping and having another groom sleep with Tori so he doesn’t have to.
“It seems like you’re offering your wife up on a platter,” Mel said when she heard the comment again.
“Hearing you put it like that it actually makes me feel physically sick,” Tori admits.
Jack again and again explains that it was a joke but no one is suggesting Jack quits his day job to become a comedian.
But despite the week from hell that Tori and Jack have had, it seems nothing can break these two.
They’re definitely hanging around for another week, but now that Mel has shone a different light on things it’s clear that Tori’s brain is ticking.
And in case she needs any more fresh perspectives, Family and Friends Week is just around the corner.
Tori’s friend Lea will be back to confirm if her doubts about Jack were right all along… and we can’t wait to see how it plays out.
See you tomorrow night!
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