"It did upset me" Married at First Sight's Ashleigh opens up about Jake breaking the rules of the experiment and leaving

In the latest episode of Married at First Sight Australia season 12, which aired on February 9, 2025, viewers witnessed an unexpected turn of events when Jake abandoned the experiment despite the show's rules. His wife Ashleigh has now spoken out about his sudden departure in an exclusive interview with 9Now.

"For him to decide he wanted to leave without even communication how he was feeling, it did upset me," she revealed, expressing her disappointment with Jake's actions.

The dramatic exit came after the season's first Commitment Ceremony, where Ashleigh voted to stay while Jake wanted to leave Married at First Sight. According to the show's rules, couples must remain in the experiment if one partner chooses to stay. However, Jake had other plans.

What happened between Ashleigh and Jake on Married at First Sight?

The couple's journey began with high hopes. Ashleigh, 34, recalled about their initial meeting on Married at First Sight:

"He was really friendly and it was really comfortable and easy straight away so I thought that was a really good sign,"

But the honeymoon phase didn't last long.

"The more I got to know him, the less attractive I found him and I just realised he wasn't on the same level of emotional intelligence as me," she explained.

Elaborating:

"I had a lot of trouble with his mentality, he would just be a bit immature and the jokes and the fun and the laughs started to go a bit downhill because he wasn't taking anything as seriously as I was."

Jake's inflammatory remarks about other brides during the Photo Ranking exercise severely damaged the relationship. Among the participants, he said one had "crazy eyes" and another appeared to be able to "stab you in your sleep."

When Ashleigh shared these comments with fellow bride Sierah, Jake saw it as a betrayal. Jake brought up this episode as the reason he wanted to leave during the Commitment Ceremony, which continued the tension.

Jake had other ideas, even if the regulations of Married at First Sight demanded that they remain for an additional week.

"[He] just turned around the next morning and packed his stuff and said 'I'm out of here'," Ashleigh shared.

His abrupt departure left her feeling frustrated and disappointed.

"Even if we didn't find love together I was hopeful to even learn more about myself," she reflected. The experience led her to a harsh assessment of her TV husband:

"So I just think, shame on you buddy, you selfish, selfish little man child."

Looking back on Ashleigh’s experience with Jake

Ashleigh saw Jake's leaving as more than just the dissolution of their union. It was about lost chances for development and comprehension. Their approaches to the project were fundamentally different, as evidenced by his choice to go without communicating.

The rest of the group on Married at First Sight agreed with Ashleigh that Jake's remarks during the Photo Ranking exercise weren't funny, even if he insisted that they were. The event brought to light the widening gap between the couple's communication approaches and ideals.

As the experiment continues without Jake, Ashleigh's experience serves as a reminder that even in a controlled environment, relationships can take unexpected turns. Her story on Married at First Sight raises questions about commitment, communication, and the importance of emotional maturity in relationships.

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Married At First Sight Australia Season 12 is streaming on 9Now.