Married at First Sight Australia 2025: Are Jacqui and Ryan still together?

Married at First Sight Australia has delivered yet another rollercoaster season of romance, drama, and unexpected twists. Among the standout couples from season 12, Jacqui Burfoot and Ryan Donnelly captured viewers' attention with their mismatched expectations and explosive arguments.

The premise of Married at First Sight is simple but extreme: strangers meet for the first time at the altar, marry immediately, and then navigate the challenges of newlywed life under the scrutiny of cameras and relationship experts.

For 29-year-old law graduate Jacqui, who described herself as having "the beauty and the brains," the experiment offered hope of finding a go-getting man who would take the lead. Meanwhile, 36-year-old project manager Ryan, who called himself a "warrior," seemed confident about his marriage prospects.

Despite making it through several tough weeks in Married At First Sight, the couple's relationship ultimately didn't survive. Jacqui has since confirmed their split on social media, revealing she's already moved on with someone new who ticks all her boxes.

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Jacqui and Ryan’s journey on Married At First Sight?

From the moment they met on Married at First Sight, Jacqui and Ryan's relationship faced challenges. While Ryan was immediately smitten with the former Miss New Zealand contestant, Jacqui's first impression was less favorable.

"He hadn't shaved, which is a big turn-off," she remarked after their first meeting, also criticizing his vows as rehearsed rather than authentic.

The wedding photoshoot further highlighted their differences when Jacqui became upset that Ryan didn't offer his jacket when she was cold.

"I can't make someone want to be a man. You know, either he is a man or he's not," she told cameras through tears.

Elaborating:

"There are just so many s**t men out there and I'm so sick of being single and independent."

Ryan, meanwhile, was oblivious to her disappointment, believing their day had gone perfectly.

"There's a synchronicity there," he said, describing their connection as "shared chemistry."

Despite their difficult start, Jacqui eventually warmed to Ryan, admitting:

"The more I get to know him, the more I'm starting to like him."

However, intimacy issues soon plagued their relationship.

During Married At First Sight's Intimacy Week, tensions escalated when Ryan ranked Jacqui third in the notorious Photo Ranking Challenge. When she asked for more compliments, he pushed back firmly.

"I don't need compliments in order to feel happy, okay? Because I've done a lot of work on myself. You haven't put any of your standards aside," Ryan told her.

Declaring:

"I am interested in balance. You haven't been with a man like me before, and it's really challenging you. But I'm not gonna change."

The situation deteriorated further at the Couples Retreat when Jacqui shared intimate details about their s*x life with the other wives.

"He really cares about training all the time," she revealed to the group.

Explaining:

"He only wants to have sex if he's not training. As in, he'll only have sex after training and never in the morning. It has to be at night, after training. Because he wants to save his testosterone – he says."

When Ryan discovered Jacqui had discussed their private life with others, he delivered an ultimatum:

"I'm only going to say this once, if it happens again this relationship is over."

In later episodes, Jacqui messaged another groom for a private chat, risking both marriages. At that week's Commitment Ceremony, she threatened to leave:

"I'm going to be leaving this experiment today. Unless you come up with any practical solutions on how you're going to improve your behaviour going forward."

Surprisingly, both chose to stay, but their relationship continued to fracture.

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What does the future hold for Ryan and Jacqui?

While the show was still airing, Jacqui broke protocol by creating a new social media account to confirm her split from Ryan. She didn't hold back her feelings about the production either.

"I actually have a diary cam taken during filming of me saying, 'I don't think they're going to air Ryan's behaviour because it's not appropriate for TV because it's way too rough and controlling and disgusting. I hope they don't just air me crying because I'm going to look f***ing insane,'" she reportedly shared on an Instagram Story.

Jacqui has since announced she's found love again:

"I am ready to settle down and have babies (4-5 kiddos) ANNNNDDDDD I am currently in a relationship with a person who has exactly what I asked for — someone kind, considerate, a great man, and intelligent."

Her social media activity suggests she's now dating fellow contestant Clint Rice, who originally married Lauren Hall on the show. Eagle-eyed fans have spotted Jacqui filming TikToks from Clint's Tasmania home, which was featured in earlier Married At First Sight Australia scenes.

As Married At First Sight Australia continues to air internationally, viewers will get to see exactly how Jacqui and Ryan's relationship unfolded and ultimately collapsed. Jacqui has promised to release her diary videos as the show progresses, potentially offering a behind-the-scenes perspective on their tumultuous relationship.

While Ryan has remained relatively quiet about the split, Jacqui seems more than ready to move forward with her new relationship, leaving her MAFS experience firmly in the past.

For fans of Married At First Sight, Jacqui and Ryan's journey serves as yet another reminder that the path to love—especially when it begins at the altar with a stranger—is rarely smooth.

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Married At First Sight Australia airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30 PM on Channel 9, with streaming on 9Now.