Married At First Sight 2023: Screenshots expose MAFS groom at wedding

A MAFS wedding has been rocked by text message screenshots, exposing the groom’s life on the outside.

MAFS pair Harrison and Bronte.

Just one episode into the new series of Married At First Sight and the first controversy is underway, with text message screenshots derailing a wedding and exposing an alleged secret relationship between the groom and a woman outside the experiment.

Harrison Boon, a 32-year-old builder from Sydney, married 28-year-old beauty educator Bronte Schofield in a loved-up ceremony that ended in disaster on Monday night when one of the bride’s friends recognised the groom.

Read about the rest of the scandal in James Weir’s recap of the premiere

“I have a friend who is from Sydney. She told me about this guy that is going on to MAFS that she has been dating for the last month and a half,” the bridesmaid, named Jessica, told Bronte during the reception.

“I spoke to her, she told me how he’s saying (he) wants to be with her when he finishes this experiment. … It’s Harrison. He’s pretty much been planning a future with this young girl. And he’s planning on being with her after this experience.”

Harrison and Bronte’s marriage is off to a rocky start.

Jessica then revealed a series of screenshots on her phone, showing photos of Harrison and text messages he sent the unknown woman in the lead up to the wedding.

But that wasn’t all Jessica shared.

“And then (he told her), ‘Imagine if I got you pregnant before I went on MAFS – what a scandal,” she added. “Oh, and he has a kid.”

In a confrontation with her new husband, Bronte interrogated Harrison, who denied the allegations.

“Who’s the 20-year-old that you have on the outside?” she asked.

“I was seeing a NUMBER of girls before I came on this,” he said. “I was seeing MULTIPLE women at a time.”

Jess presents her receipts.

Harrison signalled his role as the show’s villain early on in the episode, telling producers in an interview he “will polarise people”. And he made good on the promise. A steady stream of cocky comments divided viewers in the lead up to the wedding.

“I’m most worried that the experts would match me with someone who I wasn’t attracted to,” he said.

“I am a catch and I think any girl would be lucky to walk down the aisle to me.”

Married At First Sight continues Tuesday night on Nine

Originally published as Married At First Sight 2023: Screenshots expose MAFS groom at wedding