There are still several Married at First Sight season 17 cast members that are being controversial after the season. Married at First Sight season 17 was the longest season in the franchise yet. It began in mid-October 2023 and ended in late April 2024. The longevity of the season had to do with a MAFS first, in which cast member Michael Shiakallis was faced with a runaway bride at the altar. After consideration, Michael agreed to be rematched by the MAFS experts, and he went on to marry Chloe Brown.
However, Michael and Chloe got married after the other couples were already halfway through the eight-week journey to Decision Day. This meant that once all the other couples had gone through their Decision Day decision or early breakups, Michael and Chloe’s story still had to be aired. This caused there to be a lot of filler drama between the other cast members that aired during the episodes Michael and Chloe were highlighted. Post-show, there are still season 17 cast who have been causing controversy with their behavior and online antics.
MAFS Season 17 Had A Lot Of Cast Drama
It Was The Most Contentious Cast
After Decision Day, it was first revealed by an interaction between exes Clare Kerr and Cameron Frazer that there was silencing going on among the couples. Clare accused Cameron of trying to silence her during the experience, and Cameron said that was the farthest from the truth and that Clare had him lie to protect her image.
“I’ve literally lied every single day of this f****ing marriage to protect [Clare]. The fact that she’s not attracted to me — that’s one of those things she told me I couldn’t say out loud. Oh, there we go! I just broke a promise! “
At the Reunion, it was revealed that there was an entire attempted group dupe that took place, with the exception of Michael and Chloe not being a part of it. The Married at First Sight season 17 cast got together off-camera and agreed that they would try to present themselves in the best way possible, which led to their relationships becoming inauthentic with resentment building. The group dupe failed, as the truth came out. However, the women of the season felt the men orchestrated the dupe, and therefore, took the experience away from them.
Emily Balch, Becca Haley, Lauren Goodger, and Clare all wore pink in solidarity with each other and came for their ex-husbands and the male cast in general, during the Reunion (via Lifetime.) It led to the most contention between the cast of any season ever. Moreover, Chloe had a massive falling out with the other women of the season over Lauren and Michael’s potential budding relationship. Chloe put a stop to it and earned the disdain of the angry foursome.
“I wish them love, light, healing and everything they may need to be different people,” Chloe said about the other wives.
Emily Still Raises Contention
She Has Many Things To Still Say
Emily seemed to be the most negative of the four contentious wives in MAFS season 17. Her ex-husband Brennan believed Emily was a mean-spirited and negative person, and called her out for it as the reason he didn’t want to be with her. Emily has taken her hostility and anger online by calling out Chloe in an Instagram post that allegedly showed Chloe giving a false timeline for when things went bad between her and the women.
Moreover, Emily made an Instagram post in early July 2024 that was a birthday commemoration post, but ittook aim at the injustices she felt from the show. She insinuated that there was toxicity aimed toward her during the show and that she was a victim. She also touted her personal growth and accountability, although she didn’t seem to take any accountability for what her ex-husband and fans complained about her during the show.
Emily has shown that she still harbors frustration from the show and that she is willing to put her drama and feelings in the public eye.
Orion Got In Hot Water With MAFS Fans
Orion’s Actions Upset Fans
Over the Fourth of July, Orion got in hot water with Married at First Sight fans for sharing an Instagram Story of himself shooting off illegal fireworks in Colorado. In Reddit post by Embarrassed-Band-854, they called Orion out for the lighting off the illegal fireworks in fire-vulnerable Colorado. They called him a “jerk,” and other MAFS fans landed in the comments to express disdain for Orion’s actions. The original poster had DMed Orion and got a response, but the image of the exchange has been removed.
Most of the MAFS cast seems to have moved on from the wayward experience. However, Emily still brings up the past and tries to defend herself. Orion’s behavior post-show is being watched by fans and called out. The Married at First Sight season 17 cast is still relevant before season 18 comes out in the near future, and the usual suspects are the ones causing the continued controversy.
Married at First Sight seasons 1-17 are available on Amazon.