From secret hook-ups to a strippers and white powder party and a butt dialling scandal: Inside the most shocking moments in Married At First Sight history

Married At First Sight has long been one of Australia’s most controversial reality shows, delivering explosive drama and jaw-dropping scandals year after year.

From cheating accusations to fiery confrontations, Channel Nine’s social experiment has seen it all.

While some participants joined in search of true love, others became embroiled in shocking betrayals and unforgettable controversies that have left fans reeling.

These moments not only made headlines, but also cemented MAFS as must-watch television and sparking endless debates among viewers.

As viewers prepare for another scandal-filled season, Daily Mail Australia has compiled the most shocking moments from the past 11 seasons. 

Tim reveals criminal past

Timothy Smith appeared on Channel Nine's A Current Affair news program shortly after the dating series wrapped and came clean about his criminal history in which he spent more than a year behind bars.

The 2024 MAFS groom had been caught using a helicopter to smuggle large amounts of marijuana from Canada into the United States 17 years ago. 

During his prison sentence, tragedy struck twice when both his mother and younger brother died. 

Instead of turning their backs on the reality star, fans flocked to social media to express empathy, declaring that the groom has 'done his time' and is 'still a good bloke' regardless of his past.

During his appearance on A Current Affair, an emotional Timothy expressed his regrets after being caught smuggling marijuana.

'I was a helicopter pilot in North America who did something really stupid,' he said, revealing he was paid to take flying lessons for the purpose of trafficking.

'It's something I'm not proud of. I'm definitely not proud of it, but it doesn't define who I am and I'm not the same person I was 17 years ago.'

Timothy said he would make $100,000 per trip across the border flying a helicopter full of marijuana.

'I would take off from a little unmanned airport and I would fly up a valley into a creek where I would meet a four-wheel-drive... within a minute, the helicopter would be loaded,' he said.

Timothy was caught by police in Los Angeles when he returned to the country after visiting his sick mother in Australia. 

The groom was sentenced for 'trafficking marijuana over an international border' in 2006, but Timothy said he spent another 'four or six months in immigration' detention.

Despite spending his days locked up with hardened criminals, the real punishment came when both his mother and younger brother Dave died while he was in prison. 

Ellie and Jono cheating scandal 

One of the most talked-about moments in MAFS history came in 2024, when Ellie Dix and Jonathan McCullough’s secret romance was exposed.

Despite being matched with other participants - Ellie with Ben Walters and Jonathan with Lauren Dunn - the pair exchanged several messages.

Speculation grew as reports revealed their romance had started with flirtatious text messages exchanged behind their partners’ backs.

The affair was finally confirmed during the reunion, leading to heated confrontations and heartbreak for their respective matches.

Sara’s Secret Rendezvous with Her Ex 

Sara Mesa became a lightning rod for controversy in 2024 after it was revealed she had secretly met with her ex-boyfriend during the experiment.

The shocking admission came after fellow bride Eden Harper overheard Sara planning the meeting. Sara’s husband Tim Calwell was blindsided by the revelation, sparking a dramatic confrontation at the next dinner party.

The fallout left the couple’s relationship in tatters, with Tim questioning Sara’s intentions in joining the experiment.

Jack Dunkley’s Pre-Show Breakup Bombshell

2024 also saw groom Jack Dunkley face backlash after it was revealed he had ended a long-term relationship just before entering the experiment.

Jack’s ex-girlfriend Courtney Jade claimed he used the excuse of relocating for work to break up with her, only for her to discover he was joining MAFS.

The revelation came during filming and raised questions about Jack’s true intentions in seeking love on the show.

The scandal cast a shadow over Jack’s time in the experiment, with his bride Tori Adams left questioning his honesty and commitment.

Tayla and Cam's 'sexting scandal' 

Bombshell intruder Tayla Winter was accused of cheating on her partner Hugo Armstrong with Cam Woods during season 10's reunion.

The couple, who had both split from their respective TV spouses, apparently began flirting via text messages after filming wrapped. 

An insider told Daily Mail Australia that things eventually became sexually explicit when Cam exposed his penis during a video call with the Tasmania-based nurse. 

'Cam FaceTimed her while at a night club and showed her his d**k. She just laughed off the incident, but she was impressed,' the source claimed. 

Cam's TV wife Lyndall Grace reportedly got wind of the X-rated exchange, and confronted Cam and Taya during the show's much anticipated reunion.

Bronte's leaked voice notes prove she knew who Harrison was on wedding day

A series of leaked voice notes reveal Bronte Schofield actually knew all about her groom's past weeks before filming began and plotted with her friend to 'put on a show' for the cameras.

A month before her TV wedding, she exchanged voice notes with her pal Jessica Tomlinson - the same wedding guest who would later 'expose' Harrison at the reception - in which the two women discussed their plan of action.

The audio files showed that not only did Bronte know Harrison was going to be one of the grooms on MAFS beforehand, she also knew details about his alleged 'girlfriend' - although she didn't know for sure she would be matched with him.

She used this intel to ramp up the drama on her wedding day by arranging for Jessica, 25, to 'break the news' of Harrison's other relationship to her at the couple's reception, then acting completely blindsided in front of the cameras.

In one voice note, Jess was heard warning Bronte about Harrison's '21-year-old girlfriend' - who was later identified as Abby Miller - and Bronte responded by saying she was willing to 'play this up like crazy'.

'Butt dial' scandal set up by producers

Intruder groom Rupert Bugden sparked the drama after he accidentally 'called' his wife Evelyn Ellis while he and fellow grooms, including Dan Hunjas, were trash-talking their wives at a bar.

However damning screenshots obtained by Daily Mail Australia proved the whole storyline was staged by the show's producers.

In the texts, Rupert, 28, admitted the phone call this 'wife' Evelyn supposedly overheard when he pocket-dialled her on a boys' night out never actually happened.

Dan, 44, had allegedly told the other grooms his wife Sandy Jawanda wasn't his type and also bragged about his previous conquests.

Claire and Adam's secret kiss

Claire Nomarhas admitted to kissing Janelle Han's husband Adam Seed on a boozy night out, despite being married to Jesse Burford in season 10.

The now 34-year-old kindergarten assistant denied the hook up for days, before she eventually admitted to the kiss.

Olivia exposing Domenica's OnlyFans account

Olivia Frazer infamously outed rival bride Domenica Calarco for having an OnlyFans account during a dinner party during her season in 2022.

Domenica was humiliated to learn her co-stars knew about her racy side hustle and broke down in tears.

Olivia refused to apologise for sharing Dom's racy photos, which a friend of hers had discovered circulating on Twitter and Reddit.

While the distribution of the image was described by many viewers at the time as 'revenge porn', a police investigation into the matter has effectively been closed after Olivia refused to speak with officers. 

 Carolina and Daniel's affair

Carolina Santos and Daniel Holmes didn't hit it off with their respective 'spouses' in 2022, so decided to pursue a secret relationship with each other.

They eventually came clean about their affair at a commitment ceremony and asked the experts if they could re-enter the experiment as a new couple, but their request was denied.

They lasted in the outside world for 10 months before announcing their split. 

Coco and Cameron's shock romance

It seems there's nothing MAFS participants love more than a good fling.

During the 2021 season, Coco Stedman and Cameron Dunne were at the centre of an explosive cheating scandal that divided fans.

Coco, who was paired with Sam Carraro, sought comfort in Cameron after multiple clashes with her uninterested 'husband'.It didn't take long for the two to hit it off, and the other brides and grooms weren't shy about discussing their budding romance. 

But it turns out their relationship didn't last once the cameras stopped rolling.

Coco said at the reunion: 'Since leaving the experiment, Cam and I hung out a few times… Cam and I got intimate.'

When asked if Cameron had 'hit it and quit it', Coco laughed it off by saying: 'He got his Coco Pops and left for the day [but] there's no ill feelings there.'

Martha and Cyrell's red wine moment

Martha Kalifatidis and Cyrell Paule had an explosive feud that almost turned physical during season six in 2019.

One of their arguments escalated to the point Cyrell grabbed Martha's dressing gown and a producer was forced to separate them.

Martha laughed as Cyrell walked away from the melee, then proceeded to smash a fruit bowl in anger.

At the next dinner party, Martha was still simmering with rage and told fellow bride Ines Basic she was going to 'pour a drink on Cyrell' - and followed through with her threat.

She tipped a glass of red over her rival's head, causing total chaos.

Viewers were quick to condemn the brides' petty behaviour and the moment soon became one of the show's most memorable scandals.

Sam and Ines' affair 

After weeks of secret text messages and flirty meet-ups, viewers were on the edge of their seats when Ines Basic and Sam Ball finally sealed the deal in the 2019 season.

With both of them 'married' to other people, their affair caused widespread outrage, with many fans furious that the experts didn't intervene and put a stop to it.

Sam's 'wife' Lizzie Sobinoff later said the pair were 'disgusting' and 'belong with each other' - but their illicit romance didn't last outside the experiment.

Bronson Norrish calls his wife Ines a 'c**t' 

After weeks of enduring verbal abuse from his 'wife' during the 2019 season, frustrated groom Bronson Norrish finally snapped at the first commitment ceremony.

He accused his unhinged bride Ines Basic of 'acting like a c**t', leaving the entire cast and trio of experts speechless.

Relationship guru Mel Schilling was particularly appalled, and told Bronson it was never acceptable to call a woman the C-word.

But many viewers disagreed, saying Bronson was right to call Ines a 'c**t' because of her awful behaviour on their honeymoon.

Dean and Davina's affair 

The most talked-about moment from season five was the affair between Dean Wells and Davina Rankin.

The pair betrayed their respective spouses by meeting up for a secret coffee date.

However, their brief tryst came to an end when Dean decided he was happier with his 'wife' Tracey Jewel, before kicking Davina to the curb. 

Telv's white powder regrets

Tradesman Telv Williams and beautician Sarah Roza were portrayed as the golden couple of Married At First Sight's fifth season in 2018.

But Telv's less-than-squeaky-clean past outside of the show was exposed when photos emerged of him snorting white powder from a stripper's backside.

Things went from bad to worse for the father of two when leaked emails obtained by Daily Mail Australia revealed he had called Sarah a 'crazy woman' and told a Channel Nine employee their 'relationship' was strictly for publicity purposes.

'Oh s**t!' Sean rejects Jo at the altar 

Australia fell in love with bubbly single mother Jo McPharlin in 2018, but the same couldn't be said for her 'husband' Sean Donners.

The pub owner famously muttered 'oh s**t' under his breath when he saw his eager-beaver bride trotting down the altar.

He later voted to 'leave' her at the first commitment ceremony, resulting in a heartbroken Jo calling him a 'douchebag' in front of the other couples.

Ryan's 'Naked Dating' appearance

Ryan Gallagher was portrayed as a poor, broken-hearted groom when his 'wife' Davina Rankin cheated on him during the 2018 season.

But a very different side to his personality emerged when footage resurfaced from his X-rated appearance on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Ryan was a contestant on the program's infamous Naked Dating segment, stripping down in the studio in front of a giggling Jackie 'O' Henderson before admitting his dating style was 'KFC and a root'.