The Married At First Sight Australia reunion aired with a bang, featuring heated confrontations between various cast members. Amidst the chaos, one notable absence went largely unnoticed: Madeleine Maxwell, who was paired with Ash Galati by the experts Alessandra Rampolla, Mel Schilling, and John Aiken.
Maxwell’s absence was conspicuous, especially considering her on-screen husband’s presence at the reunion. Their marriage, one of the shortest in the show’s history, ended abruptly just one week into the experiment, despite entering as intruders halfway through. Given the brevity of their union, some fans didn’t anticipate either of them attending the reunion.
But while Ash made an appearance, Madeleine was notably absent. So why didn’t Madeleine attend the MAFS reunion? Here’s what we know.
According to statements made to the Daily Mail Australia, Madeleine asserted that her decision not to attend was a personal one, stating, “I chose not to go to the reunion because I did not feel in alignment with the production itself.” Since her departure from the show, Madeleine has expressed feeling misrepresented due to editing choices.
However, questions arise regarding whether Madeleine truly opted out or if she was strongly discouraged from attending. Speculation about her mental health and stability circulated, with sources suggesting that producers deemed her unfit to participate.
The So Dramatic! podcast reported that Madeleine allegedly sought permission to attend the reunion but was met with conditions she couldn’t agree to. A source for the podcast claimed, “They had a conversation around her attending the Reunion under certain conditions, but Madeleine wouldn’t agree to their terms, so they told her she wasn’t allowed to go.”
The podcast’s insider further alleged that the show had portrayed Madeleine negatively, painting her as “bat sh** crazy” to discredit her potential claims against the production.
Another source, cited by Yahoo! Lifestyle, suggested that producers wanted to avoid Madeleine due to her perceived unpredictability, fearing it could disrupt the reunion’s dynamics.
While conflicting accounts circulate, friends of Madeleine maintain that she was indeed invited but unable to attend due to unspecified reasons. Ash, her on-screen husband, referred to her absence as a “blessing in disguise” and revealed no contact had been made since filming, with him even blocking her number. He claimed that no other cast members had been in touch with her either.
