Married At First Sight groom Jack reveals truth about controversial ‘whale’ comment

This year’s most controversial MAFS groom has issued a bizarre defence of his “whale” comment, completely turning the saga on its head.

Married At First Sight groom Jack has defended his “whale” comment, claiming it was instead aimed at two women in the experiment.

The controversial Australian reality star came under fire for allegedly describing fellow grooms Tristan and Timothy as “whales” while the cast was lying by the pool at their Byron Bay retreat. The comment aired on Tuesday’s episode of the Nine dating show.

While Jack apologised to Tristan on Wednesday’s episode – by giving him a supplements voucher and a key chain that said ‘you are enough’ – he’s since revealed he had actually directed the insult as a joke at “fit” brides Jade and Sara.

“I walked into the pool one day, and I think it was Jade and Lauren, or Jade and Sara, two very attractive, fit girls that are very happy with their bodies,” Jack told Channel 9.

Jack has defended his controversial "whale" comment on MAFS.

“I did a bit of a walk and said, ‘the whales are out today’. It was a joke – not a joke I would make to anyone and everyone.”

Despite scenes that aired on Wednesday, in which Tristan was left distressed and hurt over the comment stemming from childhood body image issues, Jack insisted he wasn’t referring to him.

“I’m really tight with Tristan, I love the guy,” Jack said.

“Not in a million years would I make a joke like that to someone like Tristan, I’m not that stupid.

“As far as I know, I didn’t think he was at the pool. He got wind of the joke as Timothy brought it up when everyone’s around the fire pit having drinks and it was horrible.”

Tristan was left hurt by the comment.

Timothy, however, saw things differently.

He claimed he heard Jack make an off-camera remark about himself and Tristan, who were also sitting with Timothy’s ‘wife’ Lucinda at the time the comment was made.

“You’re a s**t person,” Timothy said to Jack on Tuesday’s episode.

“When we were at the pool, and you had the audacity to say, ‘What, are the whales here today?’”

Jack quickly emerged as this season’s MAFS ‘villain’ following the show’s debut in late January.

In the latest saga, he’s been accused of sleeping with his ex-girlfriend during filming, despite being committed to ‘wife’ Tori.

The pair have raised eyebrows for claiming to be the “strongest” couple this season despite having not slept together yet.

Tori and Jack are paired on this year's MAFS.

While Jack – a self-described sexual person – has said it’s because he wants to focus on building a deeper connection with his onscreen ‘wife’, a claim from his Brisbane-based ex Courtney Jade which came to light on Monday told a very different story.

An Instagram story shared to Courtney’s page, which is being circulated widely on social media, read:

“When he says he’s into his wife but he comes home and sleeps with me and proceeds to break my heart again,” Courtney wrote.

“I shouldn’t have done it but I did not know the disrespect or outcome of this show.

“Lessons were learnt … Tori knows and doesn’t care so enjoy my seconds.”

Originally published as Married At First Sight groom Jack reveals truth about controversial ‘whale’ comment