It wouldn’t be “MAFS” without a scandal, and the 11th season of our fave reality TV show we love to hate is living up to expectations. Promising fresh drama, the latest season has already delivered jaw-dropping moments, unexpected exits, and a record number of scandals that have left viewers on the edge of their seats.
As the season progresses, there’s no doubt more scandals and allegations will pop up. So, we’ve collated all the juicy scandals we’ve heard so far and put them in one place. From last-minute cast changes to heart-wrenching breakups and explicit best man speeches, “MAFS” 2024 is shaping up to be a rollercoaster of drama and spectacle that will keep fans eagerly anticipating the next shocking revelation.
Here’s everything “MAFS” 2024 scandal in one place.
All the “MAFS” 2024 Scandals
Ellie and Ben’s Cheating Scandal
It wouldn’t be “MAFS” without allegations of a cheating scandal, right? This year, the alleged scandal involves Ellie Dix and Jonathan McCullough. Ellie is currently paired with Ben Walters, but there have been reports that she’s about to entangle herself in a affair with Jono, who’s matched with Lauren Dunn.
Daily Mail Australia captured photos of Ellie and Jono, who are supposedly happily ‘married’ to other partners on the show — or at least, for now? The pair were recently snapped sharing a passionate lip lock at a Sydney beach.
A source told the publication that Ellie and Jono will publicly announce their relationship during the show’s reunion. Their secret romance allegedly began with clandestine text messages exchanged during filming, following Ellie’s breakup with Ben.
“Lauren had no idea that Jono kept in contact with Ellie and found out during filming, and boy was she not happy,” a source told Daily Mail. “She was completely gobsmacked and felt humiliated by the end — but everyone else is happy for them.”
They added, “Jono and Ellie maintained contact after she left the show, but the romance only escalated once Jono ended things with Lauren at the Final Vows. Their real-life meeting a few days later revealed an undeniable chemistry.”
Jack Dumped His Girlfriend for “MAFS”
Another bombshell to rock the experiment dropped with revelations from groom Jack Dunkley’s ex-girlfriend, Courtney Jade. The drama unfolded when Courtney claimed, via a comment reshared on The Wash’s Instagram in August 2023, that she was unceremoniously dumped by Jack right before filming for the show commenced.
The timeline, as disclosed by Courtney, indicated that Jack broke up with her immediately after she met his family and expressed love for her. The reason he provided was a purported “work opportunity in America”, but the truth was far from what Courtney expected.
Related: “MAFS” 2024 Recap: Jack Reminds Us That Toxic Masculinity Is Alive and Well
“We spoke regularly about our future together, and I don’t believe he is on the show for the right reasons at all,” Courtney commented on photos of Jack on his wedding day that were shared on social media.
Since Jack’s episode aired, Courtney has been openly discussing the emotional toll of watching her ex get married on “MAFS”. In an interview with the Daily Mail, she expressed, “It’s been a very hard time in my life. One that I don’t wish on anyone”, although she declined to delve into further details. As of now, Jack hasn’t officially confirmed or denied the relationship timeline.
Ben Was Axed from “The Bachelor”
The season kicked off with a surprising revelation about groom Ben Walters, a 39-year-old tour guide. Initially set to star on “The Bachelors”, Ben was abruptly axed from the line up. But, he soon received a last-minute call from “MAFS” producers.
So Dramatic! reported that Ben was originally selected as one of the three men for “The Bachelors”. He believed he had secured the role. However, Warner Bros. dropped Ben at the 11th hour, leaving him shocked — but free to appear on “MAFS”.
Related: “MAFS” 2024 Recap: Plot Twist — Ben Confesses to Joining the Show for Fame
“He was convinced he had bagged the role and even cancelled several tours and holidays he had planned with friends,” a source revealed to the Daily Mail. However, fate had other plans for Ben, as he received a phone call from Endemol Shine producers after Warner Bros.’ sudden withdrawal. Without hesitation, Ben accepted the offer to join the “MAFS” cast.
Best Man Speech Was Apparently Not So Bad After All
Groom Tim Calwell’s wedding took an unexpected turn when his best man, Ben, delivered one of the most controversial speeches in “MAFS” history. The speech took a shocking twist when Ben seemingly compared oral sex with bride Sara Mesa to eating expired chicken. The explicit remark, “Sara, you can find solace in the fact that, rancid or not, Tim will still eat you”, left both the wedding guests and viewers stunned.
Related: “MAFS” 2024 Recap: Sara and Tim’s Marriage Crumbles With Four Simple Words
In the aftermath of the controversial speech, Ben has since weighed in, and surprisingly, he seems to have no regrets. During an interview on the So Dramatic! podcast, Ben claimed, “Everyone clapped and cried. And Sara was [even] tearing up because it was so heartfelt”. He insists that he saw a lot of people laughing, and believed people genuinely enjoyed the speech, contrary to the final edited version aired on television.
“MAFS” Bride Lauren Dunn Dated an AFL star
“MAFS” bride Lauren Dunn, set to tie the knot this season, was once in a relationship with AFL star Ryan Crowley. The couple split in May, supposedly on amicable terms.
Although she has chosen to stay quiet on the details of the breakup, Perth Now has reported that Lauren said “the relationship had simply run its course,” emphasising that they still “remain on good terms”.
Multiple Cast Members Leave the Experiment
“MAFS” has seen a number of participants hitting the exit door. First up was Simon Flocco, a restaurant manager from Adelaide, who decided to bail just days before saying “I do”. John Aiken called it “unprecedented”, and trust me, chaos ensued behind the scenes. According to Daily Mail, the mass exit had the production team “running around like headless chickens,” desperately trying to fix the mess.
It seems like a bunch of others decided to follow Simon’s lead and quit the show throughout the season. While many of the names are still under wraps, at least one bride was reportedly having none of it, which caused major derailments in the show’s plans.
“She was having none of it, and I think she was regretting ever signing up for the show,” an insider told Daily Mail Australia.
To keep things rolling, the producers had to get creative, bringing in replacements as intruders way earlier than usual.
“MAFS” airs at 7.00pm on Sunday and Monday — Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Want more “MAFS” goss? Check out the stories below:
- It’s Time: Say Hello to the New Cast of “MAFS” 2024
- Disasters Waiting to Happen? Here’s all the “MAFS” 2024 Couples So Far
- “MAFS” 2024 Recap: Sara and Tim’s Marriage Crumbles With Four Simple Words
- Here’s How to Follow the “MAFS” 2024 Cast on the ‘Gram
- What Time Is MAFS on? We’ve Got You Covered
- You Asked, We Answered: Are “MAFS” Marriages Legal?
- Where Is “MAFS” Filmed? We Did Some Digging
- This is Exactly How Much “MAFS” Contestants Get Paid
- “MAFS” 2024 Is Almost Here — Here’s What We Know
