Married At First Sight groom Eliot Donovan becomes an instant villain with his egotistical ‘red flag energy’ as viewers brand him a ‘judgmental control freak’
A Married At First Sight groom has become the show’s biggest villain before the 2025 season of the Channel Nine reality program properly kicked off on Monday night.
Eliot Donovan enraged viewers during the first 20 minutes of the show when the ‘egotistical’ business owner outlined what he wants in a woman.
Several viewers said the 35-year-old displayed ‘big red flag w**ker energy’ as soon as he said he didn’t want to be matched with a ‘judgmental control freak’ and does not condone ‘crass behaviour’ from women.
‘If this Elliot came in with all those high standards and controlling attitude. Why was he picked??’ one viewer wrote on X. ‘He’s going to be a nightmare.’
‘Eliot won’t find 20 housewife (sic) to his ‘standard’ – he’s expecting a young Charlize Theron‘ another said, referring to his match Lauren Hall.
‘Honestly Eliot should just identify as a woman at different points during the marriage ceremony and just marry himself….I can’t see this working any other way,’ one more remarked.
Married At First Sight groom Eliot Donovan has become the show’s villain even before the Channel Nine reality program has properly kicked off.
Several said Eliot perfectly fit the mould of a ‘finance bro’.
‘Co-owner is a number of small businesses. Say no more crypto boi,’ one said.
‘ELIOT: Hi, my name is Eliot. I’m 35 and I live on the Gold Coast. My main hobby is running my fingers through my hair,’ another joked.
Eliot’s time on the show has been nothing short of controversial.
He became a runaway groom when he famously walked out mere hours after his wedding to Lauren and then made a sensational comeback that left both his estranged bride and fellow contestants reeling.
The bombshell development came after his former bride, Lauren, was paired with a new partner, professional golfer Clint Rice.
Insiders revealed that the cast and crew were left in a state of disbelief when Eliot suddenly reappeared on set, arriving late for the dinner party.
‘It was like the ultimate plot twist,’ a source close to the show dished.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Eliot, who infamously walked out mere hours after his wedding to Lauren Hall, (pictured) is making a sensational comeback that has left both his estranged bride and fellow contestants reeling
‘Lauren and Clint had just started to get comfortable with each other when Eliot showed up out of the blue. The look on Lauren’s face was priceless – she was completely gobsmacked. And Clint? He was not impressed at all.’
‘Lauren’s new groom Clint let him absolutely have it.’
Eliot’s abrupt exit made headlines when he walked out just hours after his wedding to Lauren, citing a lack of connection.
His return, however, seems to suggest that he had unfinished business, not only with Lauren but with the other participants as well.
According to a well-placed insider, Eliot’s return wasn’t just about mending fences with Lauren.
‘Eliot feels like he was misunderstood,’ the source said.
‘He’s back to clear his name, but isn’t apologetic about his behaviour. Him and Lauren were a complete mis-match, and hasn’t changed his mind about wanting out of their romance.’
Lauren, who was left heartbroken by Eliot’s abrupt departure, has been navigating her new relationship with professional golfer Clint, a charismatic and successful golfer known for his cool demeanour under pressure.
‘Lauren and Clint were really starting to hit it off,’ the insider continued.
‘Clint’s been a rock for her, and she’s been enjoying the fresh start. Eliot’s return has definitely thrown a wrench in the works.’
But that’s not all – his former bride, Lauren, has also returned to the series, now paired with a new partner, professional golfer Clint Rice (Lauren and Clint pictured)
Eliot’s reappearance sent ripples of tension throughout the cast.
‘There’s a lot of anxiety now,’ the source added. ‘Everyone has no clear what the f**k is going on.’
‘Eliot’s comeback has put everyone on edge, especially Lauren.’
According to the insider, many of the grooms didn’t get along with Eliot when meeting him at the buck’s party.
Lauren, who was left heartbroken by Eliot’s abrupt departure, has been navigating her new relationship with professional golfer Clint, a charismatic and successful golfer known for his cool demeanour under pressure
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‘It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out’.
Producers are reportedly thrilled with the unexpected drama, describing Eliot’s return as a ‘game-changer’ for the season.
‘This is the kind of twist that makes MAFS must-watch TV,’ another insider shared.
‘The love triangle between Eliot, Lauren, and Clint is going to keep viewers glued to their screens.’
According to insiders, Donovan struggled with the pressures of the show and felt overwhelmed by the rapid pace of the experiment.
‘Eliot just wasn’t ready for the intensity of it all,’ a source close to the groom revealed.
‘He thought he was, but once they were on the honeymoon, it all became too much, and he decided to walk away.’
Photos taken by Daily Mail Australia on August 6 showed the MAFS crew frantically trying to shield Lauren as she arrived solo at the first dinner party.
The first commitment ceremony also saw a shocking mass exodus, with three couples calling it quits within the first two weeks of filming in an ‘unheard of’ twist.
‘We’re already down six people, and it’s only been two weeks. The pressure on the remaining cast is enormous, and it’s creating a lot of tension,’ an insider shared.
Joining newbie Clint and Lauren as fellow intruders to spice things up are couple Teejay Halkias and Bethy Kelly, who have already tied the knot in scenes filmed on Tuesday.
Amid the casting chaos, Daily Mail Australia recently revealed that the new batch of intruders have been brought in with one strict condition – to bring the drama.
After three couples quit filming, Daily Mail Australia revealed that the new batch of intruders have been brought in to bring the drama (pictured: Intruder couple Teejay Halkias and Bethy Kelly)
Each has been handpicked for their potential to cause a stir among the existing couples after six contestants abruptly quit, an insider revealed.
‘They were told from the get-go that they need to create tension and keep the drama flowing,’ they shared.
Last season, two of three intruders couples failed to last the distance, staying on the experiment for a few days before sensationally quitting.
