"The hurt angle is tired”— Married at First Sight Australia fans question Dave's behavior

Married at First Sight Australia Season 12 has viewers divided over the dramatic deterioration of Jamie and Dave's relationship. Once considered the golden couple of the experiment, their partnership began unraveling during recent episodes, culminating in heated exchanges that left fans questioning Dave's sincerity.

The social experiment, which pairs strangers at the altar and follows their journey to build a connection, has showcased the couple's dramatic fallout across multiple episodes.

What began as a promising match has evolved into one of the season's most controversial pairings, with Dave's sudden emotional distance and defensive responses drawing particular scrutiny from Married at First Sight viewers.

Married at First Sight fans have taken to social media in droves, with many criticizing his communication tactics as manipulative, while others suggest Jamie's emotional intensity might be contributing to their problems. The dispute has become a flashpoint for broader discussions about accountability, communication, and authenticity in relationships.

Married at First Sight fans divided over Dave’s behavior

The Married at First Sight fanbase has split into two distinct camps regarding the couple's ongoing conflict.

The majority of vocal viewers appear skeptical of Dave's behavior, accusing him of employing victim-blaming tactics to deflect from his own emotional withdrawal. Many fans point to his sudden shift from apparent devotion to detachment as evidence of insincerity.

“Dave the hurt angle is tired” one fan commented.

‘“Hey btw Jamie, you really hurt me by saying that I hurt you” - Dave, selfless empath” another fan tweeted.

“That’s a great victim strategy. One of the best ever!” another fan commented.

Social media has been flooded with comments questioning his motives, with some speculating about his reasons for joining the show in the first place.

“Dave flipping the script and trying to blame and justify his change of heart on Jamie - failed dismally” a fan said on X.com

“I don’t like the chaos in this latest season of MAFS Australia. This Dave switch up on Jamie. It’s not making sense” another fan reacted.

“Was kicking and giggling my feet every time I saw a clip of Dave and Jamie from MAFS Australia and NOW HES THE VILLAN I HATE MEN” a fan reacted.

“Dave’s true colours come out. We all know he left his fiancé for FBoy island, got rejected from it & was given the consolation prize of MAFS don’t we?” a fan commented.

“I know Jamie is A LOT, but Dave's mistreatment and dismissiveness of her is still pretty gross to watch.” another fan said.

A smaller but still significant portion of Married at First Sight viewers have defended Dave, suggesting Jamie's communication style might be overwhelming. These fans argue her approach to conflict resolution could be contributing to their problems. They note her tendency to interrupt during discussions and question whether her emotional intensity might be preventing productive conversations.

“Jamie girl I love ya but for the love of god let Dave talk. The only way to understand is to let him explain.” a fan commented.

“As much as I feel for #Jamie and what she’s going through, can we all agree she has very poor conflict handling/resolution skills?” another fan said.

"The way #Jamie is behaving is beyond. Did you ever maybe realise that your toxic behaviour might have turned what little feeling he had for you off? I mean come on," another fan commented.

What seems universal among viewers is the recognition that the pair's communication has broken down completely. Neither side appears willing to truly listen to the other, creating a feedback loop of misunderstanding and hurt feelings.

What exactly happened between Married at First Sight’s Dave and Jamie?

The couple's troubles came to a head when Dave visited Jamie's apartment following a tense dinner party. Rather than addressing her concerns about his lack of emotional investment, he immediately positioned himself as the wounded party.

"Last night you did speak to me probably the worst you've spoken to me throughout this experiment," Dave said, seemingly oblivious to Jamie's need for reassurance about his feelings.

This approach backfired spectacularly. Instead of facilitating reconciliation, it provoked Jamie to pack his belongings and throw them out of her room. Her frustration boiled over as she declared to cameras that she had no intention of continuing the relationship.

"I am not f--king writing 'stay' tonight. There's no chance. He's an absolute f--king liar," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

The interaction highlighted what many fans have identified as a pattern: Dave's apparent deflection of responsibility and redirection of conversations to focus on how he's been wronged, rather than addressing Jamie's core concerns about his emotional availability.

During the subsequent Commitment Ceremony, the experts pressed Dave on his feelings for Jamie, exposing the uncertainty behind his actions. When directly asked if he had romantic feelings for her, his hesitant response spoke volumes.

"I think I do," he answered, the uncertainty in his voice contradicting months of apparent commitment.

Jamie articulated her disappointment clearly:

"That's when I needed you to show up for me, and you didn't."

The Married at First Sight experts noted that Dave had never previously expressed doubts during Commitment Ceremonies, leaving both Jamie and viewers questioning the authenticity of his previous declarations. Despite his lukewarm emotional display, Dave wrote "stay," promising to "woo" Jamie once again.

Surprisingly, despite her earlier declaration, Jamie also chose to remain in the experiment, though with visible reluctance and skepticism.

As the couple headed toward Homestays Week, the damage to their relationship appeared substantial. In addition to Jamie's guarded relatives, who would probably be dubious after seeing their difficult time, Dave now has to persuade Jamie of his honesty.

Other parties have expressed outrage at Dave's actions, extending the controversy beyond the couple. Dave never voiced any reservations about Jamie to Jeff and TeeJay, indicating a gap between his public and private selves during the trial.

What started off as one of the most exciting matches of this Married at First Sight season has turned into a warning about emotional transparency and communication.

The future of the pair is still up in the air as Married at First Sight viewers continue to argue over who is to blame, but if social media sentiment is any guide, Dave will have a difficult time winning back Jamie and the audience's trust.

---

Married At First Sight airs Sundays at 7:00 PM and Mondays to Wednesdays at 7:30 PM on Channel 9 and 9Now.