MAFS 2025 'accidentally' pairs ex-couple in a monumental mistake

In one of Married At First Sight’s biggest ever mess ups, the show’s upcoming twelfth season has seen two exes 'accidentally' matched by the experts – with nobody realising the monumental mistake until the pair met down the aisle while filming their TV wedding.

Yahoo Lifestyle can reveal that former Neighbours actor Jeff Gobbels and fitness influencer Rhi Disljenkovic, both based in Melbourne, were shocked when they were unexpectedly reunited on the set of the reality show last Thursday.

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After turning around to get his first look at his new ‘bride’, Jeff appeared surprised and said “Hey Rhi” before she had even introduced herself. Rhi was then seen explaining their connection to a producer off-camera after tying the knot.

How do Jeff and Rhi already know each other?

A source tells us that the pair were seeing each other this time last year after being introduced by a mutual friend, Australian Survivor star and football presenter Abbey Holmes, but “never became official”.

Instagram posts shared during their time together show Jeff interacting with all of Rhi’s stunning selfies.

Since parting ways, the pair “have kept in touch” and both still attend the same group classes at their shared gym, Hurt Locker Richmond. Yahoo Lifestyle can reveal that they also still followed each other on Instagram before their MAFS wedding.

Bushfire disrupts filming

The fact that Jeff and Rhi knew each other before getting married wasn’t the only drama from their wedding, with the event thrown into disarray due to an unexpected bushfire. Filming was disrupted and producers were sent into a panic when the picturesque location of Middle Head overlooking Sydney Harbour became blanketed in smoke.

While the fire was likely controlled back burning, a production insider tells Yahoo Lifestyle that things quickly got “out of control” as the flames grew bigger and bigger.

“The ceremony had to be delayed and everyone was in a panic,” the source says. “Guests were coughing and the bride’s limo had to circle around for over an hour. They couldn’t even get the limo through because fire engines were blocking the road.

“No one was quite sure what was happening. Producers were overheard asking one another, ‘What are we going to do?’. It was a total mess.”

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The ceremony eventually began after a 90-minute delay, which is when the former exes finally came face to face.

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