Is there hope for Juliette and Joel?
Honestly, this season of Married at First Sight Australia might just make us swear off dating apps entirely. From women-led bullying that rivals the manosphere, to Brook and Chris' shocking post-show revelations and beyond, is anyone actually safe on this show? Maybe Alissa and David or Gia and Scott… but even that feels optimistic at this point.
The latest couple to face the chopping block are Joel Moses and Juliette Chae. As one of the intruder couples — those who join the experiment later in the season — they entered alongside Chris and Sam, hoping to shake things up and maybe, just maybe, find something real in the chaos.
Receptionist Juliette and model Joel seemed promising on paper. She was looking for a “goofball,” while he described himself as someone who “laughs at everything.” A perfect match, right? So where did it all go wrong, and why did things unravel so quickly? Let’s get into it.
Did Joel and Juliette hit it off from the start?
Things didn’t exactly get off to a smooth start, despite their apparent similarities. Juliette wanted someone who could genuinely make her laugh, but Joel’s attempt at humour during the wedding missed the mark entirely. In fact, it left fellow MAFS cast members questioning his intentions. Gia Fleur told cameras, “I don't even know [the bride] and I feel sorry for her.”
Joel’s constant stream of one-liners quickly had Juliette feeling like he was treating their wedding as more of a “joke” or a theatrical performance than a serious romantic commitment.
Unfortunately, things didn’t improve on the honeymoon. The pair struggled to connect and even ended up sleeping in separate beds. By the first commitment ceremony, the experts had already picked up on the lack of chemistry. Juliette admitted, “If I wasn't part of this experiment, and I just met Joel out, I wouldn't be proceeding.”
Then came the ick. Shortly after moving into their apartment, Juliette received a clip from a friend showing Joel playing the drums using sex toys instead of drumsticks. “I woke up this morning to my friend sending me a link to Joel’s YouTube channel. It was him playing the drums with two sex toys. I can’t help but feel embarrassed,” she said.
When Juliette confronted Joel about the video, he said it was just “harmless humour” and a “bit of fun,” but Juliette didn’t see the funny side. “That’s kind of pushed me over the edge on whether or not I find Joel attractive. It was so theatrical and performative. That’s also what I saw at our wedding. I think I was right about him all along, and now I’m icked out,” she said.
Are Juliette and Joel still together?
On the April 8 episode, the drama between Joel and Juliette escalated during an intimacy challenge. Speaking to the cameras, Juliette admitted, “I've been fighting the ick all week and it’s doing my head in.”
We did not see this update coming.
When asked to look into each other’s eyes for an extended period, Juliette flat-out refused. “No — I think it’s inappropriate for sure,” she snapped, before storming off and adding, “You’re p*ssing me off, I’ll leave actually.” She then hid in another room, forcing Joel to talk to her through the door, while fuming, “You aggravate me, darl.”
During the next task, a hug, Juliette was just as fierce. “I’m not going to stare into your devil eyes,” she said. When Joel mentioned the hug, she shot back, “You don’t get the privilege to touch me right now… Just don’t come near me anymore, you p*ss me off.”
Aussie spoilers for Juliette and Joel
As you know, MAFS Australia is released earlier in Australia, so they're ahead of us in the drama. Warning spoilers ahead that haven't aired in the UK.
Things worsened when Juliette also became embroiled in ongoing drama with fellow bride Bec Zacharia. At the sixth commitment ceremony, she voiced frustration that Joel hadn’t defended her during the fallout. When expert Alessandra Rampolla reminded her that Bec’s behaviour didn’t justify her own use of bad language, Juliette stormed out, calling Joel a “dog and a pig” as she left.
Joel returned to the sofa alone, earning praise from the experts for his level-headedness and patience.
Unsurprisingly, they decided to leave the experiment. Joel has since confirmed on social media during TikTok lives that he's no longer with Juliette. Which MAFS Australia couples are still together at this point?
Watch Married at First Sight Australia on Channel 4.
