MAFS 2025 in 'chaos' as six cast members quit and brides rebel

The producers of Married At First Sight are said to be scrambling to save the upcoming 12th season after a staggering six cast members quit within the first two weeks of filming.

Eliot Donovan was the first participant to quit the show after being “unimpressed” with his bride Lauren Hall and flying home to Brisbane days after their wedding, Daily Mail Australia reported on Monday.

The news of his exit comes after Yahoo Lifestyle revealed last week how the casting team behind the social experiment were frantically searching for a replacement groom on Instagram, which is now understood to have been for Lauren.

It is currently unclear if they have found Lauren a replacement match and she will re-enter the experiment as an intruder.

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Two couples to quit during first MAFS commitment ceremony

Yahoo Lifestyle previously reported that groom Dave Thomas also tried to bail on his wife Jamie on their honeymoon, branding her a “nightmare” and believing he’d been “stitched up” by production – but was “talked into” giving things a go.

Following Eliot and Lauren’s abrupt departure from the experiment, Yahoo Lifestyle understands two more couples quit at the first commitment ceremony – despite producers “doing everything they could” to convince them to stay.

MAFS producers struggling to keep cast 'in line'

Amid the mass exodus, an inside source told Yahoo Lifestyle that producers have also been struggling to keep the existing cast members in line – noticeably with the brides, who have been frequently sneaking out of their accommodation for unauthorised catch-ups.

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Exclusive pictures show participants Morena Farina, Awhina Ruene and Jacqueline Burfoot out having a coffee and gossip together on August 16, discussing everything happening in the experiment.

“The reason producers ban these mini-meet ups from happening is because they don’t want any cast members interacting without a camera crew there to capture it. Otherwise the narrative doesn’t always flow on-screen and viewers can tell they’ve missed significant moments,” our insider says.

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