MAFS’ ‘sickening’ twist: Insider ALI DAHER reveals which brides and grooms say YES to the ‘deal with the devil’ final challenge that’s set to detonate the few remaining couples: ‘It was f**ked-up’

Married At First Sight will end this season on a twist so shocking that insiders are calling it ‘sickening’, ‘sadistic’ and ‘f**ked-up’. 

Producers introduced a new coda to the experiment this year dubbed ‘Is the Grass Greener on the Other Side?’

It’s a cruel and manipulative challenge designed to test the strength of the couples’ relationships in the most brutal way possible.

The twist saw participants surprised with an envelope containing a tempting offer: stay committed to their current spouse or meet another potential match who has been scientifically selected by the experts as a ‘back-up option’.

This explosive development has been kept tightly under wraps – until now.

Twist that ‘ruined marriages’

A production insider tells me the experiment was devastating for certain marriages.

‘We lined up potential matches for everyone – essentially a Plan B,’ the source says.

‘The participants were asked if they wanted to meet their back-up… It was f**ked-up because even happy couples were strongly encouraged to “explore their options”.’

According to the insider, the final challenge sent shockwaves through the cast, leaving many participants blindsided.

‘This twist ruined marriages. Some couples ended things right then and there. It was heartbreaking to watch. They’ve totally given up on this being about love stories.’

The task was introduced in the early hours of the morning, with participants separated and forced to make the decision alone, without knowing what their partner had chosen.

‘Once they made their choice, they had no idea if their partner had said yes or no,’ the insider adds.

‘It created chaos. The whole thing was designed to rattle them, and it worked. Some people said no without hesitation, while others decided to meet their back-up and instantly regretted it.

‘Even for those who didn’t regret it, it caused massive trust issues with their partner. It really tested who was truly committed to the process and who was willing to risk it all.’

Who said yes?

I can now exclusively confirm which participants accepted the challenge.

Paul Antoine and Jamie Marinos both agreed to meet their back-up match.

Awhina Rutene and Adrian Araouzou, Jacqueline Burfoot and Ryan Donnelly, and Teejay Halkias and Beth Kelly also failed the challenge in the eyes of the experts by deciding to meet their back-up options.

In a humiliating twist, Jamie’s back-up who she agreed to meet stood her up on their date, leaving her embarrassed and regretting her decision to leave Dave Hand.

My insider adds that Paul regretted his decision almost instantly.

His choice would have dire consequences for his relationship with wife Carina Mirabile, who rightly considered it ’emotional cheating’.

Sources also reveal Dave was ‘absolutely disappointed’ in Jamie’s choice to meet her back-up, even though he didn’t show up in the end.

Meanwhile, I can confirm the only participants who refused to take part in the challenge were Carina, Dave, Jeff Gobbels and Rhi Disljenkovic.

Experts defend the task

As expected, the controversial twist sparked fury among the participants and led to emotional breakdowns, fiery confrontations and, in some cases, walkouts.

‘Some people felt betrayed just knowing their partner had even been given a back-up option,’ my insider reveals.

‘And for those who chose to meet their back-up, it created tension – not just in their relationships but within the whole group dynamic. It was like a grenade went off.’

While most couples struggled to repair the damage, a handful reportedly grew stronger, using the experiment to reaffirm their commitment to one another.

‘A few participants came out of it stronger, but for most it was catastrophic. This twist will go down in MAFS history,’ adds my source.

Despite the fallout, relationship expert John Aiken defended the decision. He told me in a previous interview the challenge was necessary to push the participants out of their comfort zones.

‘At Married At First Sight, we’re always looking for ways to challenge the participants and see how deep their commitment runs,’ he said.

‘This task was about forcing them to confront the idea of temptation and whether they truly believe in the match they’ve been given.’ 

Sexologist Alessandra Rampolla echoed his sentiments, adding: ‘It’s always fascinating to see how people react when faced with difficult choices.

‘The task wasn’t about breaking couples apart – it was about seeing who was willing to fight for their relationship and who wasn’t.’

The brutal aftermath

With trust shattered, relationships in turmoil and some couples calling it quits entirely, MAFS’ most ruthless final task is no doubt one of the most shocking twists in the show’s sordid history.

And with weeks left in the experiment, there’s no telling what chaos will unfold next.

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