⁠"Privacy is important" Married at First Sight Australia star admits to using an AirBnb for 'Homestays'

Married at First Sight Australia contestant Jacqui has confirmed she used a rental property instead of her actual home during the show's famous Homestays week. After viewers noticed the suspiciously impersonal apartment lacked any personal touches, Jacqui took to Instagram to explain her decision.

"As a single lady, security and privacy is important to me and my friends," she stated.

Declaring:

"I didn't feel comfortable opening my home up to all of Australia."

The revelation adds another layer to the reality TV show's already questionable authenticity, with Jacqui also pointing out that the apartments couples live in during the experiment are "actually also decorated hotel rooms."

Currently airing in the UK, these Homestays episodes are crucial for testing relationships outside the experiment, as couples visit each other's homes to determine if their connection will survive in the real world before making their final commitment decisions. Jacqui's admission has sparked debate about reality television production practices and contestant privacy.

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Married at First Sight Australia’s Jacqui defends her decision

The controversy began when eagle-eyed fans noticed something off about Jacqui's supposed Sydney home. The apartment, located in the Manly area, appeared suspiciously generic and lacked any personal items that would normally be found in someone's living space.

Australian viewers, who saw these Married at First Sight Australia episodes earlier this year before they reached UK screens, immediately questioned whether Jacqui was presenting a genuine look at her life. Social media lit up with speculation about the seemingly staged environment.

The suspicions proved correct when it was later revealed that the property was actually a $200-per-night Airbnb rental that had been arranged specifically for filming the Homestays segment with her match Ryan.

Rather than deny the allegations, Jacqui addressed the situation directly on her Instagram account. She posted a video from what she claimed was her actual apartment and provided a straightforward explanation for the switch.

"For anyone curious, this was taken at my actual Manly apartment," she wrote alongside the footage.

She then elaborated on her reasoning:

"As a single lady, security and privacy is important to me and my friends. I didn't feel comfortable opening my home up to all of Australia."

She also attempted to downplay the significance of using authentic homes on the show.

"Homestays is about getting to know someone in their usual neighbourhood doing usual activities. If you care about the actual homes you should watch a show like The Block, not MAFS lol," she added.

To further validate her claims, she shared additional photos of her genuine residence, highlighting the difference between her real home and the temporary Married at First Sight Australia filming location.

Despite Jacqui's security-focused explanation, inside sources provided alternative reasons for the rental arrangement. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, a production insider claimed that Jacqui's actual living situation was deemed unsuitable for filming purposes.

"Jacqui's actual living situation was deemed 'too small' and impractical for filming. She had roommates living at her house and it was in a messy state, and she didn't feel comfortable with it," the unnamed source revealed.

The same insider also suggested that contestants were instructed to maintain the illusion:

"Ryan and Jacqui were instructed not to make any mention that it was a fake house and just to pretend that it was actually Jacqui's."

This contradiction between Jacqui's public explanation, and the Married at First Sight Australia production source's account raises questions about transparency in reality television production.

Jacqui explains this common practice

In comments to PEDESTRIAN.TV, Jacqui suggested this practice is actually common on the show.

"Production hires these for participants who have housemates to protect their privacy," she stated.

Explaining:

"It's been happening for years. Like with Eden Harper last year."

She appeared unconcerned about potential criticism, adding that she was "not embarrassed at all" by the situation. Her perspective framed the practice as standard procedure rather than deception.

"Production are in control of filming locations and sets — the content is the focus and they try to create things as accurately as possible," she explained, suggesting Married at First Sight Australia viewers should focus on the relationships rather than the authenticity of filming locations.

The controversy highlights the complex relationship between reality television and actual reality. While Married at First Sight Australia presents itself as a social experiment testing real relationships, production elements like staged homes blur the line between documentary and scripted entertainment.

During the episode, the show's voiceover explicitly described the Airbnb as "Jacqui's home," creating a deliberate misrepresentation of her living situation. This raises ethical questions about how much manipulation viewers should expect from reality programming.

Jacqui's point about the apartments featured earlier in the season being "decorated hotel rooms" further underscores how controlled the supposedly authentic environment really is.

The situation creates an interesting tension between contestant privacy and show authenticity. While Jacqui's concern for personal security is understandable, it contradicts the premise of Homestays week, which is meant to reveal how couples might function in their actual living environments.

For Married at First Sight Australia viewers invested in the "reality" aspect of reality television, such behind-the-scenes manipulations can feel misleading. On the other hand, contestants like Jacqui must balance their television commitments with legitimate privacy concerns.

As reality television continues to dominate ratings, this incident serves as a reminder that what appears on screen often represents a carefully constructed version of reality rather than an unfiltered glimpse into participants' authentic lives.

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You can watch Married at First Sight Australia Season 12 for free on 9Now, Channel 9’s official streaming platform. In the UK, new episodes air on E4 and are available for catch-up on Channel 4’s All4 platform.