Married At First Sight Australia has already aired a whole range of unexpected and dramatic moments, including Jesse and Claire's solo entry to the series' first dinner party and Melinda's snub at her new hubby - but on tonight's episode (which aired on Wednesday, March 15), one couple's love story took an even more shocking turn.
Not only did Shannon show little regard for his new wife's emotions when he ranked two of the other female participants as more attractive than her, he also broke her heart on camera when he admitted that was still in love with his ex.
Shannon had previously explained to the programme's love experts that his most recent relationship was an on-off relationship with his daughter's mum, which spanned seven years. He told Caitlin that this relationship with his ex had been "toxic" but that he often couldn't help himself but go back to his partner, time and time again.
Sadly, after an emotional late-night phone call with his former fiancée, Shannon felt overcome with emotion and choked back tears as he confessed to Caitlin that he wasn't over his ex partner and was still in love with her. Understandably, Caitlin was devastated.
"I honestly don't know [how I feel]," Shannon told Caitlin. "I've come from a toxic relationship. It was seven years on and off, on and off, on and off. The break up that we had was 12 months ago. And then we tried again for my kid. I wanted to break that cycle."
Tearing up he added: "And I just feel like I can't. I'm still thinking about my ex. Like maybe this is just easier. I hate the fact that I say this but I still love her. I've got so much respect for you.. I'm not just going to lie. I can't do it. You're an absolute saint. I just feel like I'm leading two people on."
Later, Caitlin broke down on camera and said: "I was just hoping maybe this time I'd be with someone who could love me. But no. I'm not surprised."
Watching from home, viewers have rallied around Caitlin and many have said she "deserves so much more than Shannon."
"Shannon, you’re a k**b," said another viewer. "And if your ex doesn’t take you back, not another woman in Australia will have you!"
Another wrote on Twitter: "This is what happens when guys like Shannon do things like this. It reinforces Caitlin’s belief that she’s not worth loving or sticking around for when she is! It’s so damaging. I hope she’s gonna be ok."
The shocking scene took place just a day after the newlyweds were tasked with ranking all of their fellow brides and grooms by attractiveness, for their first challenge of 'Confessions Week,' dubbed as one of the most "intense stages of the experiment".
Explaining the purpose of the challenge, Mel Schilling, one of the Love Experts on the show, said: "Confessions week has always been one of the most intense stages of the experiment, where our couples' relationships are fast-tracked. The purpose of this phase is to have hard conversations early which ordinarily would takes months in a relationship in the outside world.
"The tasks of confessions week can be confronting and may uncover uncomfortable truths so it's important our couples balance empathy with honesty."
While Shannon was certainly honest in his decisions - including where he ranked his own bride - he wasn't as empathetic as perhaps he could have been.
Ranking Melinda - not Caitlin - as his number one and Claire as his number two (both of whom he referred to as women that men would "show off" to their mates), Shannon initially placed his new wife Caitlin in his top three as well. But he soon stood back and revised his ranking, placing her lower in the pecking order.
Speaking to the VT after this placing was made, Caitlin said: "I don't think I have anything to say."
Telling Caitlin his reasoning for this order, Shannon said: "I'm just getting all the honesties out. Cause I think that's the logic of the task. It's just cause I know more about you and those emotional sides sort of kick in. And, you know, I haven't seen these girls without make up on either and I've seen you without make up."
He added: "You have the potential to be over here [at the top]. You know what I'm saying? You have the potential to level up. This is tough. It feels 'pressureful' as well."
Speaking in the VT, he opened up and said: "If I put her second, I would have been lying to myself. I had to put her there."
"Their natural beauty shines more than yours. I need to be honest. I need to," he added. "There are girls who I've seen that are more attractive to me than Caitlin. And I'm not going to just put her second to be nice."
After this admission, viewers were utterly outraged, calling for Shannon, a personal trainer, to "do better".
Twitter user @vintageveganmum wrote: "Oh no, no, no Shannon NO. You've just put the nail in the coffin mate. Do better #MAFSAU", while @K_for_K4r3n commented: "Cheeky bastard!!!! Caitlin is heads & shoulders above the ones he chose! Natural beauty & Melinda in the same sentence....the irony! Smoke & Mirrors, Shannon, smoke & bloody mirrors little boy. #MAFSAU". A third, @emilyroseon, added: "Oh my god, do not tell a woman she has a potential to get prettier, GROSS. She doesn’t even need make up. How disgusting. Telling a woman she has potential is so degrading."
Married At First Sight Australia airs weekdays on E4 at 7.30pm.
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