Easily the most confusing couple on Married At First Sight (MAFS) 2025, Jacqui Burfoot and Ryan Donnelly have kept fans constantly guessing with their chaotic, hot-and-cold relationship this season.
The MAFS couple has easily had one of the most tumultuous relationship trajectories in recent years. To briefly recap, Ryan dropped Jacqui on the dance floor at their wedding, Jacqui felt upset by Ryan not offering her his jacket during their wedding photoshoot, Jacqui was hurt over being placed third during the Photo Ranking task, and this offence kept coming up again and again between the couple. Phew!
Not to mention the most recent controversy, in which Jacqui contacted another groom, Jeff Gobbels, about her issues with Ryan. This upset both Ryan and Jeff’s on-screen wife, Rhi Disljenkovic, although the incident led to a bonding moment for Jacqui and Ryan at the most recent Dinner Party, where Jacqui felt Ryan stood up for her in front of their castmates.
Why has Jacqui stayed in a couple with Ryan?
To say it’s been a rollercoaster would be an understatement, and many fans have wondered why Jacqui has continued to write “Stay” at Commitment Ceremonies, considering her ongoing frustrations with her husband.
In response, Jacqui took to Instagram and addressed the surprising reason she stayed on the show for so long.
In the Instagram Story shared to @jacquelineleejewellery, Jacqui alleged that the producer’s influence had her continuing to write “Stay.”
“I felt trapped,” she began in the post. “The experts were having a go at me every week saying that I think I’m better than [Ryan] or I’m being petty.”
She also said the experts and other participants dismissed her about issues like the Photo Ranking challenge and Ryan’s housekeeping.
“I discovered that if you are happy as a couple they leave you along [sic], so I literally just shut my mouth and stopped complaining and pretended,” she continued.
Jacqui even said she considered walking out of the show, like fellow participants Jake Luik and Eliot Donovan did earlier this season. “I should have just left on a random day—but production won’t let you; they force you to stay until the next [Commitment Ceremony].”
This all feels very at odds with Jacqui and Ryan’s current relationship status on-air, where they seem to have overcome their grievances and found peace. Will Jacqui’s act reveal itself on the show in future episodes? You’ll have to tune in to see.
Married At First Sight 2025 airs Sundays at 7pm and Monday – Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
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