Married At First Sight groom Billy Belcher has taken a brutal swipe at co-star Eliot Donovan, slamming his outdated views on women and relationships.
The British plasterer, 31, didn’t hold back when discussing Eliot’s controversial stance, questioning whether the 35-year-old business owner is stuck in another era.
‘I’ve never met a character like Eliot,’ Billy told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I don’t surround myself with people like that. He says that he wants someone from the 1950s. Does he know that we’re in the 2000s now? We don’t live in that time anymore.’
Billy’s predictable comments come amid growing backlash against Eliot, whose rigid expectations for a ‘traditional’ wife have sparked outrage among viewers.
Eliot has openly expressed his desire for a partner who prioritises homemaking over career aspirations—statements that have not gone down well with woke Karen fans.
MAFS groom Billy Belcher (L) has taken a brutal swipe at co-star Eliot Donovan (R), slamming his outdated views on women and relationships
‘You have to have a little bit of a modern twist now,’ Billy continued.
‘You have to be open to other situations. It’s not all gonna be—girls these days want a career, and they do want fashionable handbags and all these kind of things. That’s just the era we live in now.’
Despite the backlash, Eliot has remained firm in his beliefs, insisting that modern dating dynamics have lost their way and that traditional gender roles create the strongest relationships.
Billy, however, wasn’t convinced and admitted he struggled to understand Eliot’s mindset.
‘It’s not that I didn’t get on with him. It’s just—I’ve never really surrounded myself with someone that was saying some of the things that he did. So yeah, it was…it baffled me. It baffled me.’
It comes just days after Eliot broke his silence about his shock exit from the show on Thursday, revealing to Daily Mail Australia the real reason he chose to walk away from his TV marriage.
He explained his departure wasn’t due to any major fallout or lack of physical attraction, but rather because he didn’t see a long-term future with Lauren.
‘I left because I didn’t find love. I was there to find love, and I didn’t see a future with Lauren,’ he admitted.
‘I’ve never met a character like Eliot,’ Billy told Daily Mail Australia. ‘I don’t surround myself with people like that. He says that he wants someone from the 1950s. Does he know that we’re in the 2000s now? We don’t live in that time anymore’
‘Yeah, of all the reasons to leave, I think that’s a pretty fair one. It wasn’t because of anything physically wrong with her or anything like that.
‘It was more just like a long-term thing, and I didn’t want to go through the motions and fight with this person for three months just to milk the opportunity.’
Eliot went on to say he was open to receiving the experts’ advice in some areas of his love life, there were some things he just wasn’t willing to compromise on.
‘Not for things like when it comes to having a family and stuff. I didn’t wanna change… what I wanted. Do you know what I mean?’ he said.
Lauren will eventually get a second wedding and is paired with professional golfer Clint Rice
‘If it was something like, oh, we argue a lot, and that’s a problem, a hundred percent I’d be open to hearing their wisdom about, ‘Oh, look, this is a way that you can communicate better.’
‘It was more just the fact that we had different goals in mind. So, one of us is going to have to change what we wanted dramatically.’
As previously reported by Daily Mail Australia, Eliot is set to make a sensational comeback which will leave both his estranged bride and fellow contestants reeling.
His return comes after Lauren is paired with a new partner, professional golfer Clint Rice.
Insiders revealed the cast and crew were in a state of disbelief when Eliot suddenly reappeared on set, arriving late for the dinner party.
‘It was like the ultimate plot twist,’ a source close to the show dished.
‘Lauren and Clint had just started to get comfortable with each other when Eliot showed up out of the blue.
‘The look on Lauren’s face was priceless. She was completely gobsmacked. And Clint? He was not impressed at all. Clint let Eliot absolutely have it.’
According to a well-placed insider, Eliot’s return wasn’t just about mending fences with Lauren.
‘Eliot feels like he was misunderstood. He’s back to clear his name, but isn’t apologetic about his behaviour,’ the source said.
‘Him and Lauren were a complete mismatch, and hasn’t changed his mind about wanting out of their romance.’
Lauren, who was left heartbroken by Eliot’s abrupt departure, has been navigating her new relationship with Clint, who is known for his cool demeanour under pressure.
‘Lauren and Clint were really starting to hit it off,’ the insider continued.
‘Clint’s been a rock for her, and she’s been enjoying the fresh start. Eliot’s return has definitely thrown a wrench in the works.’
Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine and 9Now
