MAFS 2023: Experts Break Protocol as Josh Decides to Leave the Experiment

The “Married At First Sight” couples set out to find love in the experiment, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. And that’s precisely what we saw happen during Sunday’s commitment ceremony with Melissa and Josh.

Looking visibly defeated, Josh sat in front of the experts and told them he was unhappy in his relationship after having his manhood questioned by his ‘wife’ Melissa.

“She has used degrading and dehumanising language to me, questioning my manhood. And can I say, that if I was a woman saying these things, the group would feel very differently about this,” he said.

Melissa told the experts that she felt like she was the ‘Alpha’ in the relationship — a comment that didn’t sit well with her ‘husband’.

“There is a significant issue in this relationship about control. In this relationship, Melissa has attempted to restrict my access to the TV, she’s attempted to restrict my access to my mobile phone, she’s trying to place limitations on the times I can read my books, she’s trying to tell me when I can go out, where I can go out, who I talk to, when I talk to them,” Josh claimed.

Expert John Aiken could see the mental toll that was being placed on the groom and announced the show would do “something [they’d] never done before”, allowing Josh to decide whether he wanted to stay or leave the experiment, despite Melissa choosing to stay.

The “MAFS” rules state that if one person wants to stay, the pair have to spend another week in the experiment. However, speaking on the “Today” show this morning, Aiken said that he could see that things between the pair were “dead in the water”, which is why he chose to make an exception to the rules.

What “MAFS” Viewers are Saying

Watching the episode, people on Twitter were outraged after hearing what had been going on behind closed doors between Josh and Melissa.

“The men backing Josh saying a real man is someone who gets vulnerable with their emotions is what we need to hear, Melissa is a horrible person,” one user wrote.

Another said: “Josh being moved to tears by Melissa, broken, serves as a poignant reminder that despite societal constructs, men are not impervious to their emotions or vulnerability. Equally, to be vulnerable is to entrust. No person should be diminished for baring their truths.”

The men backing Josh saying a real man is someone who gets vulnerable with their emotions is a what we need to hear, Melissa is a horrible person #mafs #mafsau

— Welchy (@WelchyOTTB) February 19, 2023

Josh being moved to tears by Melissa, broken, serves as a poignant reminder that despite societal constructs, men are not impervious to their emotions or vulnerability. Equally, to be vulnerable is to entrust. No person should be diminished for baring their truths #MAFS #MAFSAU

— Sahar Adatia (@sahar_adatia) February 19, 2023

Imagine the outrage if a man was speaking to and about a woman the way Melissa is speaking to and about Josh. He is an absolute gentleman #MAFSAU

— Amy Johnston (@ajbloodstock) February 19, 2023

SO telling that Melissa didn’t deny controlling him and abusing him ? SO PROUD of him for saying what he said. The “experts” didn’t give her enough of a roasting #MAFSAUS #MAFSAU

— Cairyn Jay (@CairynJay) February 19, 2023

Melissa Speaks Out

After receiving harsh backlash, Melissa appeared on the “Kyle & Jackie O Show” after exiting the show, where she reiterated that not everything that happened at the commitment ceremony was shown during the episode.

“What the public need to know about going on reality TV [is] they’re only showing the clips that they want you to see, they’re not showing the kind, the caring side,” she told the radio hosts, adding: “I feel like there’s this character now that’s made up of myself that’s not 100% true.”

“Married At First Sight” continues tonight at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Related: Which Couples Have Called It Quits on MAFS 2023?