Don’t you know who I am? MAFS star’s return to reality TV as his match fails to recognise him in Stan Original series Love Triangle

Former Married At First Sight star Mike Gunner has taken another shot at love following his controversial stint on the series in 2019, but it seems the ex-groom can’t leave his own past behind him. 

The 50-year-old, who is part of the season three cast of Stan’s Love Triangle, returned to reality TV to clear his name and find a better match in Melinda after Aussies slammed him for making ‘misogynistic’ comments on MAFS.

But during his first date with Melinda, in which he recreated his disastrous beach date with ex-bride Heidi Latcham, Mike was left humiliated when he brought up his MAFS stint, only for Melinda to say she didn’t know who he was.

‘I’m feeling nervous. I don’t know that Melinda recognised me from MAFS,’ Mike told producers when Melinda didn’t appear to recognise him upon their first greeting at the beach.

‘She didn’t seem startled. I’m just going to have to let the cat out of the bag because eventually she’ll find out.’

The scene then cuts to the moment in which Mike attempted to ask Melinda if she recognised him from TV.

Former Married At First Sight star Mike Gunner, 50, has taken another shot at love following his controversial stint on the series in 2019, but it seems the ex-groom can’t leave his own past behind him. Pictured with Love Triangle’s Melinda

‘I was going to ask you something but it’s an odd question. Do I remind you of anyone?’ he said as they enjoyed ice cream cones while looking out over the water.

‘No,’ Melinda said with a confused expression. 

‘No? Really?’ Mike pushed.

‘Are you supposed to remind me of someone? Do I know you?’ Melinda responded.

‘No, I just thought I’d ask,’ Mike said with a chuckle.

‘No, you don’t,’ Melinda reiterated, to which Mike said, ‘That’s good,’ though he later expressed to producers he was shocked to learn she had no idea who he was.

‘Maybe she is keeping it to herself. Hard to know,’ he said. ‘Maybe it’s because I’ve got a hat on. Maybe when I take the hat off she’ll be like, “Oh, there it is.”‘ 

Mike failed to impress Australian viewers and his bride Heidi, 42, during his time on season six of MAFS.

But during his first date with Melinda, in which he recreated his disastrous beach date with ex-bride Heidi Latcham, 42, (pictured) Mike was left humiliated when he brought up his MAFS stint, only for Melinda to say she didn’t know who he was

After displaying palpable sexual chemistry during their nuptials on the Nine experiment six years ago, Mike and Heidi appeared destined for forever love.

However, those hopes were dashed after the couple were involved in an explosive bust-up during their honeymoon.

The episode saw Heidi pour her heart out to Mike on the beach, but the groom was less-than impressed with his bride’s personal revelations. 

Mike appeared to have no time for his bride’s story about living in foster care and government housing.

He became visibly impatient and told her: ‘Find a conclusion at some point.’

After Heidi was upset by Mike’s lack of sympathy, the Gold Coast tradesman responded: ‘Look, I’m not your therapist. This isn’t therapy.’

‘Mike you are such a f***ing hypocrite,’ Heidi snapped back. ‘If we weren’t on an island I would run.’

Mike was widely criticised on social media following the tense exchange, with viewers claiming he was ‘insensitive’, ‘hard to watch’ and lacked social skills.

‘I’m feeling nervous. I don’t know that Melinda recognised me from MAFS,’ Mike told producers when Melinda didn’t appear to recognise him upon their first greeting at the beach

Meanwhile, Heidi told 9Honey she has since forgiven Mike but acknowledged his uncaring attitude on their honeymoon was a ‘slap in the face’.

Also speaking to 9Honey after his infamous MAFS beach date aired, Mike admitted he regretted his actions.

‘In that particular moment for some reason I just lost it and I don’t really have a good answer for that,’ he said.

He said several factors influenced his behaviour, including seasickness, dehydration and the fact he had consumed several glasses of champagne. 

‘I just became a bit overwhelmed with the subject that we were speaking about and it just wasn’t for me—the time or the place—and I was a bit impatient and I don’t know why,’ he said. 

Mike and Heidi’s passionate yet chequered romance saw the couple lock horns on a number of occasions, with Heidi frequently left hurt by his words. 

A prevalent accusation from Australian and UK MAFS fans was that Mike ‘gaslit’ Heidi with his words and made ‘misogynistic’ comments to other brides.

Brides Martha Kalifatidis and Cyrell Paule famously came to verbal blows on the show, but when the experts asked them if they had learned anything from their many bust ups, Mike cut them off with shocking remarks.

‘There’s a few things I’d like to point out. I think groups of women under pressure don’t cope as well as groups of men under pressure,’ he said.

‘We’re seeing these girls have fallen apart, and the men haven’t. Any group of women that are put in this same type of situation just doesn’t speak to their biology… there is actually some merit in that.’

The blatantly sexist remark received massive backlash from viewers at home, and Heidi and Mark eventually decided to go their separate ways. 

The first two episodes of the Stan Original Series Love Triangle season three are now streaming, followed by a brand new episode every Sunday, only on Stan.