He entered Married At First Sight as one of the most controversial grooms of the season – but after a dramatic return, Eliot Donovan has completed a redemption arc that no one saw coming.
Now, the 35-year-old Gold Coast business owner is breaking his silence in a no-holds-barred interview with Daily Mail Australia.
Eliot opened up about what really happened behind the scenes, why he didn’t feel safe sleeping next to his bride Veronica Cloherty, and how a viral TikTok account changed everything.
When Eliot first entered the experiment, he was quickly painted as the season’s bad guy following an awkward match with bride Lauren Hall. But according to Eliot, viewers only got part of the story.
‘I didn’t really get a chance to show who I was,’ he admitted. ‘I was funny in the beginning, but those jokes didn’t make the final edit. They wanted a villain… and I guess I played the part.’
After leaving the experiment the first time, Eliot says he realised he’d gone into it with the wrong attitude.
‘I treated it like a matchmaking service. I gave them a checklist and said, ‘This is what I want, and if she doesn’t tick all the boxes, I’m out.’ That was the wrong approach.’
When producers gave him a second chance and matched him with intruder Veronica Cloherty, he saw it as a fresh start.
‘I definitely came back with a different perspective. I wasn’t as rigid. I just wanted to give it a proper go – and let people actually get to know me.’
Despite their turbulent end, Eliot says his first few days with Veronica were surprisingly romantic.
‘We had a magical five days. Horse riding, watching sunsets, having picnics… it was honestly lovely. But none of it got shown. I think they used one kissing scene in the trailer and that was it.’
Things changed drastically after the first dinner party.
‘It felt like she made up her mind about me straight away. She decided I was the villain and that was that.’
The relationship quickly spiralled. Veronica, who had secretly met up with Eliot’s ex-bride Lauren, appeared to form an alliance with her.
‘I had no idea that meeting even happened until everyone was talking about it at the dinner party,’ Eliot said.
‘She told me Lauren was just her friend- but imagine dating someone who’s besties with your ex you had a massive falling out with. In what world is that okay?’
Eventually, the dynamic got so tense that Eliot requested to sleep in a separate room.
‘I didn’t feel comfortable. After some of the conversations we had, I felt exposed. I didn’t know what she might accuse me of next, and I didn’t want to risk it.’
One of the most unforgettable moments of the season was at their final Commitment Ceremony.
‘It was like watching a monologue from a movie,’ Eliot recalled. ‘She was describing everything she was doing – but blaming it on me. I was just sitting there thinking, ‘Are we seeing the same footage?’
He added: ‘I really hoped the producers would show the truth—and to their credit, they did.’
When asked if Veronica got a bad edit, Eliot didn’t hold back.
‘What you saw on camera – that was what it was like 24/7 after the first dinner party. Even when she appeared to drop her walls at the couples retreat, she later admitted she was faking it.’
‘She told me that being kind to me was her ‘putting on a mask’. Like… what? How is basic kindness a performance?’
He says Veronica never truly took responsibility for her behaviour.
‘Even after the show, she was on The Today Show saying she was isolated. But she lived in Sydney, went home every weekend and was calling cast members constantly. It just doesn’t add up.’
Despite the drama, Eliot formed strong friendships with several other brides—including Rhi Disljenkovic and Jamie Marinos.
‘Rhi was like a sister during Couple Swap Week. We cooked for each other, played cards… it was just chill. There was never anything romantic.’
‘Jamie was the first to publicly back me when I was the most hated person in the room. That took guts, and I’ll never forget it.’
His surprise TikTok fame
After the show, Eliot found his voice on TikTok – where he now posts sketch-style videos poking fun at himself and the show.
Since starting his account last month, Eliot has amassed over 1.9million likes and over 104,800 followers.
‘I’ve always made fun of myself. It’s just that no one saw that side of me on TV.’
‘Now I’ve got this whole little community online and it’s amazing.
I’ve never been someone chasing Instagram fame, but I love connecting with people through humour.’
He even joked about jumping on Cameo- only to troll fans with a fake ‘Lauren booking.’
‘People keep messaging me asking where my Cameo page is. But that’s not really my thing. I’d rather just do free shoutouts for fun on TikTok.’
No dating apps – and no OnlyFans
Now that the cameras have stopped rolling, Eliot says he’s not rushing back into dating.
‘I’m focusing on myself right now. I don’t do dating apps. It all just feels a bit transactional.’
And despite the occasional cheeky DM?
‘OnlyFans? That would be a flop! I’d have like four followers. It’s not for me.’
Would he return to reality TV?
Surprisingly, Eliot says he’d go back for another round of MAFS in a heartbeat.
‘I would 100 per cent do it again. Third time’s the charm, right? I’m basically halfway to The Bachelor already.’
His advice for future contestants?
‘You have to be okay with being hated. Don’t go on the show thinking you’ll be the hero. You might be the villain and have zero control over it.’
What’s next?
Eliot has no interest in cashing in on his 15 minutes—but he is planning to auction off his now-famous red flag jacket.
‘I plan to do a charity auction and donate the proceeds to the Australian Foundation For Diabetes Research. Everyone keeps talking about the jacket, so let’s use it to help someone.’
As for his friendship circle, he says he’s still tight with Rhi, Jeff, Jamie and Adrian Araouzou—despite some viewers questioning his bond with the latter.
‘Adrian and I don’t always agree, but he’s honest and wants to grow. That matters more to me than being perfect.’
And where does he stand with Veronica now?
‘We don’t talk. There was no real apology. No ownership. I hope she figures things out, but I’ve moved on.’