Married At First Sight’s Jake Luik looks downcast as he prepares for a brutal commitment ceremony – as insider reveals the truth behind his controversial comments
Married At First Sight’s Jake Luik was spotted looking visibly downcast as he stepped out ahead of what is expected to be a brutal commitment ceremony this coming Sunday.
The Perth-based wellbeing coordinator, 30, who has been matched with Ashleigh Ackerman, has been at the centre of a major backlash following the show’s infamous photo ranking challenge.
On Wednesday night Jake shocked viewers when he made a string of controversial remarks while ranking the brides, including calling Jacqueline Burfoot’s eyes ‘crazy’ and suggesting that Sierah Swepstone had an aura that screamed, ‘I could stab you in your sleep.’
But it was his remarks about Awhina Rutene which caused the biggest reaction.
As he picked up her photo, he said, ‘I’m not racist or nothing,’ before adding, ‘I like Caucasians mostly.’
‘Awhina, she’s not exactly like — she’s Māori I think — probably why she’s a bit higher, the physical features.’
Married At First Sight’s Jake Luik was spotted looking visibly downcast as he stepped out ahead of what is expected to be a brutal commitment ceremony this coming Sunday
The Perth-based wellbeing coordinator, 30, who has been matched with Ashleigh Ackerman, has been at the centre of a major backlash following the show’s infamous photo ranking challenge
The comments did not sit well with his bride Ashleigh, who immediately called him out for what she described as ‘vile words’.
However, Jake tried to play off the situation as ‘banter’ before later admitting he was ‘pi**ed off’ by the confrontation.
As the fallout continues, an insider has come forward with shocking new claims about what went down behind the scenes – revealing that Jake was allegedly pressured into repeating the challenge multiple times by producers.
‘Anything Jake said about the girls, he did not say in the first four to five times they made him redo it,’ a source close to Jake told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.
‘They really pushed Jake and pressured him. It does not reflect who he is in any way, and anyone who knows him knows that.’
The insider also claimed that Jake’s infamous ‘crazy eyes’ comment about Jacqueline was actually something that Ashleigh had previously said off-camera.
‘Ash herself said to him earlier in the day, “Oh, Jacqui, she has crazy eyes.” When Jake said it he was looking at her for a reaction because it was a callback to what she had said before.’
Regarding his comments about Awhina, the insider insisted Jake’s words were taken out of context and that he actually placed her fourth because he found her attractive.
On Wednesday night Jake shocked viewers when he made a string of controversial remarks while ranking the brides, including calling Jacqueline Burfoot’s eyes ‘crazy’ and suggesting that Sierah Swepstone had an aura that screamed, ‘I could stab you in your sleep’
As the fallout continues, an insider has come forward with shocking new claims about what went down behind the scenes – revealing that Jake was allegedly pressured into repeating the challenge multiple times by producers.
‘Jake didn’t want Australia to think he was racist by putting her lower than he thought the other men would. Jake actually get along with her quite well,’ the insider explained.
The source added he was devastated when producers left in footage he was assured would be cut.
Meanwhile, the fallout between Jake and Ashleigh appears to have intensified off-camera.
The insider alleged that Ash deliberately threw him ‘under the bus’ by sharing details of the ranking challenge with other contestants before the commitment ceremony.
Jake cut a casual figure while running errands dressed in a vintage-style Nike windbreaker in a dark checkered pattern, paired with black athletic shorts
Jake accessorised his look include a black beanie, clear-framed glasses and wireless earbuds
‘Ash snuck into Sierah’s room, got really drunk and told Sierah and everyone else what he said,’ the source claimed. ‘It completely broke his trust.’
Jake is now preparing to face the music at the upcoming commitment ceremony, where he is expected to apologise to the brides – but whether that will be enough to save his place in the experiment remains to be seen.
As for his relationship with Ashleigh, things seem to have reached breaking point, with Jake allegedly feeling like he has been portrayed as ‘something he is not’.
‘His whole career he has worked within a multicultural community and schools.
It’s what he loves doing, and he’s not letting the show make him out to be something he is not,’ the source added.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Jake and Ashleigh for comment.
