Awhina Rutene has shared how her grooms best friend reached out to her after their chaotic pub argument during the family visits on Monday’s episode.
Jasmin Weston, the former BFF of Married at First Sight groom Adrian Araouzou, extended an apology to the bride and her twin sister, Cleo.
‘A few days ago she did reach out to us. She sent us both a message offering some sincerity and was holding herself accountable,’ Awhina told Nine on Tuesday.
‘I will say one thing, I do appreciate that she reached out to me, and I appreciate the apology. I just wish that it came sooner,’ she added.
Food influencer Jasmin was involved in an explosive verbal fight with Awhina and her twin sister Cleo during the friends and family visit screened on Monday night.
Before Adrian’s MAFS stint, he and Jasmin were ‘best friends’, with the pair running the now-defunct TikTok account Sweet Sundayz together.
She took Adrian’s side as she argued with Awhina and Cleo before storming off alongside Adrian and his two sisters as the confrontation boiled over.
Prior to the dramatic scenes playing out on screen, Jasmin shared a ‘damage control’ post to her Instagram story on Sunday night, apologising to Awhina and Cleo.
‘Over the next couple of nights, you are going to watch me (regretfully) defend Adrian in MAFS,’ Jasmine began.
‘I take full responsibility for my actions and the things I say during that interaction. It is not at all the best version of myself and I have since reached out to Awhina and Cleo to apologise.’
Jasmine revealed that Adrian was no longer in her life, and admitted that Adrian’s behaviour on the show was all too familiar.
‘As you know, Adrian and I are no longer friends. Watching Adrian argue with Awhina is like having dejavu,’ she wrote.
‘But during the time this was filmed (6 months ago) I was still very much so Adrian’s best friend. I only knew his (warped) version of reality. Not Awhina’s.’
Jasmine stated that she was simply defending her then-friend from a verbal attack.
‘I can be a reactive person and will always come to my friend’s defence in any situation which is what you will see unfold,’ Jasmine said.
‘Now, being on the outside looking in, I can understand exactly how and why Awhina had those feelings toward Adrian.’
Going further, Jasmine slammed her former friend’s ‘manipulation tactics’ which she said were also behind the end of Sweet Sundayz.
‘This is not at all an excuse, I would just like to speak my truth before the ep goes live,’ she added.
‘I wish I sympathised with Awhina more. I wish my rose-coloured glasses weren’t on and I am very glad Adrian no longer has a chapter in my life.
‘Awhina and Cleo, again I am sorry for the things I say and Awhina, you have my support in this all.’
However, it seems not all MAFS fans were ready to accept Jasmine’s apology.
‘She forgot to say ‘I wish I wasn’t an a***hole from the second I sat down,’ one fan wrote.
Another chimed in questioning the timing of the apology.
‘Because it will ruin her brand,’ they wrote. ‘She could have posted it ages ago.’
Another claimed that the post was ‘damage control’ as Jasmine had recently released a cookbook called Everyday Eats.
‘This pelican/disgusting human has a cookbook and is now on damage control.’
The friends and family visit turned into an all-out disaster on Monday night’s episode of MAFS.
The meetings, which have been on all series of MAFS, are designed for family and friends to gauge the state of relationships and discuss any problems.
This meeting quickly descended into shouting and recriminations.
Cleo confronted Adrian about his treatment of her sister, leading to a fiery showdown that left the couple – and their families – at breaking point.
‘She’s been telling me some pretty unsettling things about her husband Adrian,’ Cleo shared.
‘She tells me that he regularly puts her down to make himself look better and that she doesn’t feel seen. She feels invisible.’
Adrian, who appeared visibly emotional, insisted he had been making an effort, but Awhina hit back, claiming he had barely acknowledged her presence.
‘Honestly, just acknowledging that I exist would be really nice,’ she said, her frustration evident.
Cleo didn’t hold back as she accused Adrian of failing to support Awhina in the way a husband should.
‘Awhina deserves a kind, loving partner who’s willing to show up for her,’ she declared. ‘And Adrian, you are not that.’
Things escalated when Adrian’s sisters and friend Jasmine attempted to defend him, arguing that Awhina was focusing too much on the negatives.
At one point, Jasmine tried to mediate the situation, suggesting that Adrian may have been showing up in his own way. But Cleo exploded.
‘He has not even shown up! Not once!’ she screamed, leaving the room in stunned silence.