Married At First Sight groom Ryan Donnelly has revealed disturbing behind-the-scenes drama that never made it to air, including a shocking accusation that brought filming to a grinding halt and left him fearing for his reputation and safety.
In an interview with Daily Mail Australia, Ryan, 37, explained how his tumultuous ‘marriage’ to bride Jacqui Burfoot spiralled into chaos.
Ryan claims that during their honeymoon, a seemingly innocent joke turned into a nightmare when Jacqui made an allegation so serious Channel Nine bosses immediately stopped production.
‘There was a situation where we were just enjoying ourselves, having some banter in the hotel room. There was a pillow menu, one of them was for pregnant women and I made a stupid joke,’ Ryan explained.
‘I said, “Be careful, these arms can cause pregnancies.” It was just cheeky banter. But she sat up and started interrogating me about it, like full-on interrogation. Asking if I’d gotten women pregnant before, if I had a criminal record.’
The situation escalated dramatically when Jacqui blindsided Ryan at the very first commitment ceremony and brought it up.
Married At First Sight groom Ryan Donnelly has revealed disturbing behind-the-scenes drama that never made it to air, including a shocking accusation that brought filming to a grinding halt and left him fearing for his reputation and safety
In an interview with Daily Mail Australia, Ryan, 37, explained how his tumultuous ‘marriage’ to bride Jacqui Burfoot spiralled into chaos
‘The first thing she did was sit down in front of the experts and the entire group and said, “Ryan, why don’t you tell them about the joke you made?”
‘Then, out of nowhere, she linked it to rape culture and sexual consent. She yelled across the room she’ll always stand up for women’s rights, particularly when it concerns rape.
‘I was absolutely gobsmacked. The entire room went silent. The experts leaned forward and asked her to clarify what she meant. She went white as a ghost.’
Production immediately cut filming and Channel Nine executives rushed to Ryan’s side.
‘They came running into the room, told me it was horrific and said, “That is never going to air.” They offered me support, told me to get legal advice and made sure I was protected.’
Ryan revealed he sought legal advice immediately.
‘I called my best mate, who’s a solicitor, and told him everything. I was terrified. That kind of allegation, even unfounded, can follow a man for life.’
Ryan said the fallout left him unable to connect with Jacqui emotionally or physically for the remainder of the experiment.
Ryan claims that during their honeymoon, a seemingly innocent joke turned into a nightmare when Jacqui made an allegation so serious Channel Nine bosses immediately stopped production
The situation escalated dramatically when Jacqui blindsided Ryan at the very first commitment ceremony and brought it up
‘I was so traumatised. How do you move forward with someone after that? Every time she complained I wasn’t being intimate with her, I was screaming inside. I was scared of what she might accuse me of next,’ he said.
‘She sat there on camera, saying I wasn’t giving her enough attention, enough sex… and the whole time I was terrified.’
Jacqui has since denied Ryan’s accusation.
‘Omfg! I DID NOT ACCUSE RYAN OF RAPE. I told that man it’s not funny to make jokes about getting woman pregnant via his strength,’ she said.
Following the show’s broadcast, Jacqui made a series of public claims accusing Ryan of being emotionally abusive and manipulative — allegations he strongly denies.
‘It puts me to sleep,’ Ryan said.
‘I don’t entertain that stuff. We’re not 17, this isn’t Gossip Girl.’
Ryan says Jacqui’s actions has gone beyond reality TV drama and is causing him harm in the real world.
‘That has a ripple effect — not just on me, but my friends, my family and actual victims of DV who are watching this unfold,’ he said.
‘Not one person from my past — no ex, no friend, no one — has ever come forward and said anything negative about me. She is the only person making these outrageous claims.’
Production immediately cut filming
In another bombshell, Ryan revealed Jacqui’s relationship with fellow MAFS groom Clint Rice began long before the cameras stopped rolling.
‘She admitted to me one night she called Clint at 3am while we were still married. She was upset about the experiment, about me and called him to vent.
‘My suspicions were confirmed later when I found out she was messaging Clint the entire time.
‘I felt betrayed. Why didn’t she just leave the experiment and pursue that relationship openly?’
Ryan also accused Jacqui of repeatedly lying during group events and attempting to manipulate how she was perceived on camera.
‘She told direct lies to the group — about me, about Jeff, about Rhi. She was trying to control the narrative,’ he said.
‘At one dinner party, she denied saying something to Jeff that I witnessed with my own eyes. It was exhausting.’
Despite the chaos, Ryan admitted he initially admired Jacqui’s sharp mind, but claims she used it to manipulate situations.
While Jacqui (left) was waging war against Ryan, she was hiding a scandal of her own – an off-screen rendezvous with Clint Rice (centre, with his ‘wife’ Lauren Hall on the right)
‘I was impressed by her intelligence at first,’ he confessed.
‘But it was used in evil ways, in my opinion. She knew how to bait me, how to control the narrative and she played the game.’
Reflecting on his time in the experiment, Ryan revealed his biggest regret.
‘My only regret is not speaking up sooner. You finally saw the real Ryan at that last dinner party, but I wish I’d shown up earlier.’
‘I wanted to make something positive out of the experience. I even offered to stay friends with Jacqui, make funny content together. But the way she chose to end it — with more criticism, more lies — that’s on her.’
Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7pm on Channel Nine.
