Former Married at First Sight UK contestant Joe has broken his silence on the whirlwind holiday romance with fellow participant Julia-Ruth that left viewers stunned and his ex-wife Maeve heartbroken.
The Instagram Revelation
After weeks of maintaining radio silence on social media while other cast members continued to post about the show, Joe took to Instagram to address the controversy directly. In a lengthy post that served as his formal sign-off from the MAFS UK experience, he didn't hold back about his views on the show's true nature.
"I went into the experience with genuine intentions, but soon realised the true nature of the 'experiment'," Joe wrote. "It's a reality show, created to entertain the viewers and divide opinion."
He made a pointed remark about some cast members' behaviour, stating: "I didn't act up to the camera, which can't be said for some people."
The Holiday Romance Fallout
The drama unfolded during a girls' day reunion when Julia-Ruth was confronted by Joe's ex-wife, Maeve, about her romantic getaway with Joe. The revelation came as a shock to both viewers and fellow cast members, including Sarah who appeared astonished by the news.
Julia-Ruth subsequently apologised for causing hurt to Maeve but described herself as "just a woman who was trying to find love and connection". However, she later revealed that Joe had ghosted her after their trip to Lanzarote, leaving her without explanation.
"Things didn't end the way I expected," Julia-Ruth explained. "We had planned for me to visit him again after our trip, but the day before I was meant to go, I was ghosted."
Joe's Defence and Apology
In his Instagram statement, Joe acknowledged that his actions might have been seen as insensitive but maintained his right as a single man to do as he pleased. He offered a conditional apology to those affected by his behaviour.
"Although as a single man I reserve the right to do as I please, I understand that some people may see my actions as insensitive," he wrote. "My intention was never to hurt anyone, and if I did trigger or upset anybody through my actions, I'm genuinely sorry."
He concluded with a stark assessment of the reality TV environment: "The fact is, no one knows the truth of what actually happens in MAFS. I have learnt that some people will lie, deceive and tread on others to get where they want to be."
Joe originally left the MAFS UK experiment under unusual circumstances, citing his grandfather's passing as the reason for his departure. His exit left Maeve heartbroken, particularly as he decided to leave without having a face-to-face conversation with her.
