Married At First Sight Australia couple Layton and Melinda announce shock split

Just weeks after gushing over one another on their one-year anniversary, this year’s MAFS success story Layton and Melinda have announced they’ve broken up.

Married At First Sight glamour couple Layton Mills and Melinda Willis have announced their split.

The successful CEOs, who starred on this year’s season of the Nine dating series, were one of only two couples to stay together following the show’s finale, which aired in March.

Taking to Instagram with a joint statement, the pair said they initially hoped to keep the news “private”, but felt they owed their fans transparency on the status of their relationship.

“After a lot of thought and considering, we have sadly decided to both take time apart,” the note read.

Melinda and Layton have announced their shock split one year after meeting on MAFS.

They continued: “We still care very deeply for each other and this doesn’t mean our lives can’t come back together, but as of now, we think this decision is for the best.

“We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for all your support throughout our journey, it has meant the world to us. We hope you can understand and ask for your kindness and respect during this time.”

The pair appeared to be going strong just weeks ago.

Melinda and Layton’s joint statement.

They were one of only two couples to stay together following the 2023 season of MAFS.

It comes just a month after Melinda and Layton celebrated their one-year anniversary, in which Layton presented Melinda with an “eternity ring”.

Melinda gushed over her then-boyfriend in a social media post, uploaded on August 31.

“On Sunday night we celebrated [our] 12 month anniversary,” she began. “Who would have thought! What an absolute crazy ride it’s been and you guys have been there with us through it all.

“The beautiful eternity ring Layton gave me on the night #sweetheart,” she added, sharing a photo of the diamond band.

Melinda showed off the eternity ring Layton gave her in late August.

News of their split comes as a surprise to fans, after Layton recently moved from Sydney, where he works in the healthcare industry, to Brisbane, where Melinda lives and runs a successful beauty business.

In early September, Melinda confirmed in an Instagram clip that Layton had relocated to be closer to her.

“Layton has officially moved from Sydney and is drivable distance now,” she said.

The only other couple to stay together following the 2023 season of the Channel 9 experiment were Tahnee Cook and Ollie Skelton, who appear to still be together.

Meanwhile, fellow 2023 MAFS stars Duncan James and Evelyn Ellis recently moved in with each other after forming a relationship upon leaving the show.

Originally published as Married At First Sight Australia couple Layton and Melinda announce shock split