Married At First Sight (MAFS) star Mel Akbay has apologised to “anyone who felt hurt or offended” by her whirlwind stint on the reality show.
The participant, who left alongside on-screen husband Luke Fourniotis during the third Commitment Ceremony, said she felt compelled to share a statement after “watch[ing] parts of myself on TV that have been difficult to see”.
“There were moments where I didn’t communicate well and came across insensitive. For that, I’m truly sorry to anyone who felt hurt or offended,” Mel wrote on Instagram.
Mel called attention to a few incidents in particular, including a moment during Revelations Week where she mentioned “stalking” her ex-partner.
“I do not think stalking is funny and I absolutely do not condone that behaviour. I was referring to something from when I was 17 and joking with friends,” Mel said, adding that she “regrets” the “careless” statement.
She also “clear[ed] up” her wedding episode, insisting she “did not ignore Luke’s sisters” and actually “hugged them and spoke with them”, despite rumours she had no interest in befriending his relatives.
As for the chatter around Mel and Luke’s sleeping arrangements during the honeymoon, the MAFS bride clarified the pair shared a bed.
“Another moment that has been circulating is the scene about Luke sleeping on the floor with a towel. This was said jokingly between us in the moment,” Mel said. “Luke slept in the bed the entire time.”
Mel offered a final apology to Luke himself, saying she is “sorry for not developing feelings for” him and “genuinely wish[ing] him the best” post-MAFS.
The bride caught heat for her comments about Luke on the show, including that he’d made her life a “living hell”.
Mel touched on similar topics in an interview earlier this month, saying the “version of me that you saw was someone in a really bad place”.
“I want to make it clear — I’m not a bad person. I am not depressed, I am not mean, I’m not cruel,” she said on Abbie Chatfield‘s It’s A Lot podcast.
Speaking generally in her Instagram apology, Mel said MAFS was a “learning curve” and said the experience made her “reflect on how I handle certain moments”.
“All I can do is acknowledge it and keep growing,” she wrote.
Mel’s exit from MAFS certainly hasn’t dialled down the drama, with an action-packed Couples Retreat and a screenshot scandal becoming the focus in recent episodes.
This season of MAFS is expected to end early next month, which is more than enough time for this cast to deliver any number of bombshells. Strap in!
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