It is my strong belief that the Married at First Sight experts may be falling short in their accessibility to participants, a sentiment that has gained traction following recent revelations from the cast. The series’ 18th season concluded in March 2025, and since then, a flurry of intriguing news, scandals, and questionable behavior has emerged. This season has been dubbed one of the most tumultuous in the show’s history, largely due to a scandal involving a couple’s swap and an affair that took center stage. Notably, one cast member, Emem Obot, entered into a new engagement merely a week after seeking a divorce from her MAFS husband.
Among other dramatic events, David Trimble and Madison Myers, who were previously married to Michelle Tomblin and Allen Slovick, became embroiled in controversy due to their affair. Their decision to pursue each other openly has led to a series of provocative social media displays of their relationship. Recently, they participated in an interview on YouTube, which appeared to be an attempt to maintain their relevance in the public eye. While their antics may be tiresome, I found some of David’s comments regarding the experts’ effectiveness resonant in the context of the MAFS process.
The MAFS Experts Face Significant Challenges
Experts Play a Central Role in MAFS
Since Season 15, a panel of experts—including Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Pastor Cal Roberson, and Dr. Pia Holec—has been responsible for matching couples and offering therapeutic support throughout their experiences. Unfortunately, their track record is less than stellar, with only 13 out of 69 couples successfully remaining together. This statistic highlights a concerning inefficacy in both matchmaking and providing adequate relationship guidance, as many couples opt to part ways shortly after the onset of the experiment.
While I recognize the challenges of monitoring five diverse couples simultaneously, it is increasingly evident that there is a disconnect negatively impacting the program’s success rate.
Though the experts are integral to the show’s premise, their diminishing visibility and influence paint them more as background players, unable to salvage the failing unions. This sentiment was echoed by David in Season 18, who raised questions regarding the experts’ accessibility during critical moments.
Experts’ Limited Accessibility to Cast Members
David Trimble & Historical Context of Outcomes
David & Madison Interview Summary by u/SparklesandSpice_ in MarriedAtFirstSight
In a recent interview conducted by Licensed Therapist Denise Brady on her YouTube channel, TheInnerchild.Whisperer, David and Madison discussed various topics including their initial impressions of each other and their experience during the reunion filming. However, one of the most revealing aspects was David’s critique of the experts’ engagement levels throughout the show’s eight-week duration.
David expressed a wish for greater accessibility to the experts during this process. This perspective is further validated by the show’s concerning history of poor outcomes; for instance, during a critical moment in Season 17, when Clare Kerr and Cameron Frazer faced a significant disagreement regarding their lifestyle choices, the experts were notably absent during an unresolved conflict. This situation reflects David’s views as well as my concerns about the overall lack of effective expert involvement.
Examining the Experts’ Limited Engagement
Is Their Involvement Level Beyond Their Control?
It appears that the experts may not be as actively involved as needed due to a lack of timely communication or direction from the production team, which could limit their effectiveness. Their engagement often seems contingent on prompts from the production team, rather than preemptive outreach to assist the couples.
However, considering that their professional reputations are at stake, one would assume the experts might strive to be more present and attuned to the needs of the participants. While the specifics surrounding their limited involvement remain ambiguous, it is clear that a lack of expert interaction during crucial therapeutic moments could be detrimental to the couples’ experiences.
Moving forward, there is speculation about introducing a new panel of experts, although no official announcements have been made regarding a timeline for such changes.
Source: TheInnerchild.Whisperer/YouTube, u/SparklesandSpice/Reddit