Drama continues to unravel on 'Married At First Sight' (MAFS) Australia as contestant Jacqui Burfoot has filed a police report against her ex-husband Ryan Donnelly, accusing him of sharing private explicit images, commonly known as 'revenge porn.'
The report was formally lodged on March 17, 2025, and Jacqui took to her Instagram account to detail her allegations. She claimed Ryan had shared 'explicit screenshots' on social media, declaring, "FYI, I filed a police report against Ryan yesterday after sensitive, private, sexual content revenge he has resorted to. I encourage anyone to disengage with this content as nobody deserves to go through this." She called for action against his behavior, stating, "There is no shame on me, there is shame on you (Ryan, ESA, Channel 9 and his enablers who are continuing to enable his abuse)." It remains unclear what specifics underlie her grave accusations, but they have generated significant attention.
Jacqui’s disclosure marks yet another twist in the rollercoaster relationship between the pair, which has been fraught with tension since their time on the show. Following their on-screen union, which showcased both personal conflict and unexpected tenderness, it was announced they had split after filming. Prior episodes depicted Jacqui confronting emotional turmoil over Ryan’s lifestyle choices, including his unconventional home decor, which appeared to shock her during their home visits.
Compounding the drama is the recent exposé concerning Jacqui’s living arrangement. Viewers were led to believe the luxurious Manly property she showcased to Ryan during their Homestays Week was her actual home. Yet, Ryan revealed the truth on social media shortly after the episode aired. "This wasn’t Jacqui’s home. It was an Airbnb booked for the one night we filmed," the 36-year-old project manager stated. He elaborated by explaining, "Her actual place was a rental apartment with two other housemates, and they were instructed not to make any mention of it being fake." The cost for the Airbnb was reportedly $200 per night. This deception has stirred frustration among fans, who see it as undermining the show's premise of authentic glimpses rather than curated depictions of participants' realities.
After Jacqui's Airbnb was called out, it was discovered her genuine living space was considered “too small” for the crew to film. According to insiders from the production, Jacqui's apartment was deemed messy and unreliable for filming purposes, forcing producers to opt for the more visually appealing, yet deceptive, rental.
Jacqui expressed her perspective on the situation, stating she was “not embarrassed at all” by her choice of production-controlled settings. "Production hires these for participants who have housemates to protect their privacy. It’s been happening for years," she said. Her comments highlight the persistent confusion around authenticity on reality television.
Throughout the season, Jacqui and Ryan have clashed on numerous personal issues, with Ryan being portrayed as the less mature partner. After visiting Ryan’s home, Jacqui broke down on camera, tearfully describing her discomfort with his décor as reminiscent of "an old person's house." This impression was punctuated by her comments about Ryan's possessions, including his collection of skulls and what she referred to as 'grotty' interiors, sparking reactions from the audience questioning her self-awareness.
The couple's most recent confrontation occurred when Jacqui criticized Ryan for not compromising on his facial hair, leading to tears as she recounted frustrations. The dynamics of their relationship have drawn mixed reactions, with comments online reflecting both support for Jacqui’s candidness about mental health and criticism for what many termed elitism.
Fan reactions to Jacqui’s intense moments have been polarized. Some viewers have accused her of being hypocritical, as she openly mocked Ryan’s living quarters. Others have taken to social media to share their empathy, citing her as suffering from the show’s stress, especially following her recent placement on screen.
Adding to the complex public persona, Jacqui has faced significant personal fallout post-filming. While discussing the toll of her on-screen portrayal at the hands of editors, she expressed feeling unable to continue her career as a lawyer, stating, "I've been left to fend on my own, basically." Her emotional distress raised alarms about the mental health impacts of reality television participation.
Jacqui disclosed she has not worked as a lawyer since the show aired, claiming her mental health challenges have greatly hindered her capacity to perform her duties. "I wasn’t medically capable of performing my duties because I was under so much mental distress and trauma," she shared with reporters.
This cascading series of events ignites questions about the broader ethical responsibilities of reality show producers and their duty to protect the contestants’ reputations and well-being. With previous contestants corroborated similar experiences, the discussions surrounding transparency, authenticity, and mental health may place pressure on producers to reconsider how they portray participants and the narratives they create.
Despite the chaos, Jacqui seems to have found support from another contestant, Clint Rice, igniting curiosity about potential romance outside the MAFS experiment. Fans are eager to see where this newfound connection may lead as Jacqui navigates through these tumultuous changes.
Indeed, as more revelations come to light surrounding the show's production practices and participant narratives, viewers remain captivated by this volatile storyline, reflecting the complicated interplay of reality, perception, and emotion on screen.
