Controversial Married At First Sight star makes awkward return to TV in dating series Love Triangle

A controversial Married At First Sight star has returned to TV in another attempt to find love, but he is shut down in awkward scenes.

The Married At First Sight 2025 season may be coming to an end, but you can now get your reality TV dating show fix from Stan’s Original Series Love Triangle.

There is even a series crossover with controversial former MAFS star Mike Gunner appearing as one of the spicy singles on the show when Season 3 premiered on the platform on Sunday night.

You may recognise Mike from Season 6 of MAFS which aired on Nine in 2019. He was matched with curly-haired blonde Heidi Latcham, who ditched him shortly after final vows as their relationship continued to be overshadowed with his offensive and often sexist comments.

Mike Gunner first appeared on TV on MAFS in 2019 where he was matched with bride Heidi Latcham.

MORE: Gross reality of MAFS revealed

To freshen up your memory, he once told Heidi, “I’m not your therapist. This isn’t therapy,” when she was pouring her heart out during a beach picnic. And he sent shockwaves through one commitment ceremony when he told the cast, “I think groups of women under pressure don’t cope as well as groups of men under pressure.”

Now, six years later as he attempts to find love on another dating series, Mike admits he could have behaved better.

Mike was a controversial figure on MAFS before Heidi dumped him shortly after final vows. Picture: Nine

“I went on Married At First Sight to find love. But … people remember me as being a little bit brutally honest and maybe just a little bit brutal in general,” the 50-year-old says on the first episode of Love Triangle.

In his confessional, Mike says he’s ready to find love and do things differently this time around. Although, he hopes that his suitors won’t “prejudge” him for his past.

Well, he doesn’t have anything to worry about because one of his matches, Melinda from NSW, doesn’t even recognise him on their first date.

Mike was worried his match on Love Triangle would recognise him from MAFS … Picture: Stan

... but Melinda had no idea who he was as it was revealed in awkward scenes. Picture: Stan

In incredibly awkward scenes during a beach picnic reminiscent of his MAFS date with Heidi, Mike asks Melinda three times whether she recognises him from anywhere.

“It’s an odd question, do I remind you of anyone?” he asked, as she replied, ”Are you supposed to remind me of someone?”

Mike and Melinda’s beach date was similar to his one with Heidi on MAFS. Picture: Stan

The MAFS scene that birthed the infamous “I’m not your therapist” line. Picture: Nine

After she continues to draw a blank, Mike finally tells her that he was a former MAFS participant, but he doesn’t go into detail about his time on the show.

Upon his admission, Melinda promises to do a little stalking on her potential partner.

“I want to know more about him. So I think maybe I need to google him,” she tells producers. “I’m going to do a bit of a MAFS deep dive.”

Cut to episode two of the series and Melinda is now up to speed on Mike and his MAFS experience. But it’s actually another tense confrontation that threatens to derail their budding relationship…

Expect more drama and scandal on Love Triangle – a series created by the same producers as MAFS.

The former MAFS groom (left) joins four other singles on the Stan Original Series. Picture: Stan

The show follows five sexy singles, one of them being Mike, who are matched with two potential partners that they have three days to get to know via text messages.

Without knowing what they look like, the singles must choose one to go on a date with in real life before they move in together.

So when does two become three? Well, the other match they rejected then enters the house and they must learn to live as a trio.

Chrishell Stause will host Love Triangle’s reunion special.

Love Triangle Season 3 promises to be bigger and better with Stan announcing ahead of launch that US reality TV star Chrishell Stause is on board to host the show’s first ever reunion special.

Not only is Stause an Emmy-nominated actress and best-selling author, the 43-year-old also stars in the hit global real estate series Selling Sunset, so she’s no stranger to reality TV and is a veteran when it comes to reunion shows.

“It was fun to be in this role,” she told news.com.au. “First of all, I am such a reality TV dating junkie. I watch all the shows and I was instantly hooked when I watched this show.”

During our chat with Stause, she touched on Mike’s appearance on the show and how he may not be as reformed as he claims.

Chrishell Stause to host Aussie dating series Love Triangle’s reunion special.

“He is looking for love and he’s recognising that he’s going about it wrong and he’s trying to break these patterns that he’s gotten into,” she told us.

“It’s interesting to watch. You’re rooting for them to make the right choice and, unfortunately for him, he keeps picking the wrong choice. But maybe this will help him see in the future.”

The first two episodes of the Stan Original Series Love Triangle Season 3 is now streaming, followed by a brand new episode every Sunday, only on Stan.

Every episode of seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming.

Originally published as Controversial Married At First Sight star makes awkward return to TV in dating series Love Triangle