Married At First Sight’s Josh White has broken his silence after his ex-‘wife’ Melissa Sheppard was slammed for her appalling behavior towards him.
The 40-year-old advertiser director took to Instagram on Monday and asked viewers to be “kind” to Melissa – even after she made shocking and insensitive comments about the couple’s sex life at Sunday’s engagement ceremony.
‘Hello everybody. The events of Married at First Sight happened a few months ago and Mel and I had a chance to heal from our experiences,” he said in a video.
“What you saw in the experiment is no different from real life, where two strangers from different backgrounds come together to try to learn more about each other and themselves in the process.
“I think we had some really beautiful moments, but we also had some moments of reflection and I think both will last quite a long time.
Married At First Sight’s Josh White has broken his silence after his ex-‘wife’ Melissa Sheppard was slammed for her appalling behavior towards him
“I have always maintained that the pressures of experimentation affect people in different ways. But let me be very clear: what happened in the experiment happened between Mel and me.’
Josh explained that targeting Melissa doesn’t make him feel any better about what happened on the show.
“Please don’t attack Mel. It doesn’t make me happy. It gives me no satisfaction. It doesn’t uplift me at all,” he said.
“We are real people. We have real feelings. And we all got into the experiment looking for something.”
Josh added in the video’s caption, “I beg of you as an audience, please be respectful and kind to Melissa.
“There’s no need to attack them at all. I understand people will want it, but it doesn’t make me feel any better and it just continues a cycle that we should all think about.
He also told fans he’s been “fine” since leaving the experiment.
Earlier Monday, Melissa doubled down on her criticism of Josh during an interview on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, accusing him of being a “different person” in one-on-one interviews with producers and revealing unflattering details about her sex life.
Earlier Monday, Melissa doubled down on her criticism of Josh during an interview on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, accusing him of being a “different person” in one-on-one interviews with producers and revealing unflattering details about her sex life
Listeners were left stunned when Melissa – who is in damage control after being portrayed as callous and sex-obsessed on the show – claimed Josh is “not the same person in front of the cameras” as behind closed doors.
She also told radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson that the pair never actually kissed — despite having “sloppy” sex on a number of occasions in the experiment — and also claimed they never engaged in oral sex.
“It was really sloppy and messy… I wouldn’t say it was hot and heavy and intimate. That’s not how I imagined having a great sex life with someone,” she said.
Listeners were left stunned when Melissa – who is in damage control after being portrayed as callous and sex-obsessed on the show – claimed Josh is “not the same person in front of the cameras” as behind closed doors
“There was no kissing. It was very transactional. It was just physical – that was pretty awful.’
The single mum also said her portrayal as an overly demanding lover was unfair and all she wanted was sex “two to three times” a week.
Melissa explained that while things started off great with Josh on their honeymoon, their relationship went downhill when they moved in together.
“Josh is a very different person to me and he would leave [film] those vox pops. I felt like I was sleeping with a stealthy assassin,” the hairstylist added.
Melissa told radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson that the pair never actually kissed — despite having “sloppy” sex on a number of occasions in the experiment — and also claimed they never engaged in oral sex. (Left: Melissa in the studio; Right: radio host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson)
The single mum also said her portrayal as an overly demanding lover was unfair and all she wanted was sex “two to three times” a week
‘He just ran away. He would be kind enough to my face and then behind closed doors [would] collapse and I had no idea.
“I don’t feel like he’s 100 percent honest.”
Melissa’s radio interview comes after she explained on Instagram that “it’s impossible to salvage a relationship unless both people are equally invested” and that her cold-hearted demeanor at MAFS was a reaction to Josh’s lack of dedication.
Melissa’s radio interview comes after she explained on Instagram that “it’s impossible to salvage a relationship unless both people are equally invested” and that her cold-hearted demeanor at MAFS was a reaction to Josh’s lack of dedication
“It takes a collaborative effort to make it work. One person trying will never be enough. Remember that the sun always shines after it rains,” she said.
Despite being called out by viewers for her “disgraceful” treatment of her TV husband, Melissa refused to back down, sharing another cryptic quote which read, “You don’t always have to tell your side of the story. time will come.’
Many fans were stunned by Melissa’s statement, with some accusing her of blaming Josh when she was clearly at fault.
MAFS viewers were horrified during Sunday’s commitment ceremony after Melissa belittled Josh in front of the pundits and other couples.
When one of the pundits asked why their romance was going downhill, Melissa said, “Josh is really conservative and I respect that. But then it’s just like it’s kind of oppressive to me and then I feel like I’m the alpha in a relationship.
The experts were visibly shocked by Melissa’s emasculating remark and wanted to know why physical intimacy is so important to her.
“I just feel like he’s not a big man,” she told them.
“I don’t feel protected by Josh and I feel like I’m protecting him and I don’t feel any protection or love or support or anything from him.”
‘It’s something I’m not used to. I’m used to a man, you know, I want a manly man…” she continued.
MAFS viewers were horrified during Sunday’s commitment ceremony after Melissa made shocking and insensitive claims about the couple’s sex life. When one of the experts asked why their romance was going downhill, she said, “Josh is really conservative and I respect that. But then it’s just like it’s kind of oppressive to me and then I feel like I’m the alpha in a relationship.
The experts were visibly shocked by Melissa’s emasculating remark and wanted to know why physical intimacy is so important to her
Melissa went on to reveal having sex with Josh “felt like a transaction” — a bombshell that sent shockwaves through the cast.
“I have to say that now, during intimacy week, intimacy was just sex,” Melissa began. “It was just a transaction. I didn’t feel like it was a real thing.
“It wasn’t kissing, love, as I envisioned having an amazing sex life with someone. It was only physical. We were really drunk and it was just really embarrassing.’
Melissa’s behavior has also been questioned, with allegations of “controlling” actions towards Josh.
“I want to speak my truth now and talk about some of that,” Josh explained.
“I think there’s a significant issue in this relationship in terms of control.
Melissa’s behavior has also been questioned, with allegations of “controlling” actions towards Josh. A heartbroken Josh was then seen wiping tears from his face during the chat
“In that regard, Melissa has tried to limit my access to television.
“She tried to restrict my access to my phone. She tries to limit the times I can read my books.
“She’s trying to tell me when to go out, where to go out, who to talk to, when to talk to them.
“And last week you heard her talk about the fact that she will limit intimacy.”
In a dramatic turn of events, John Aiken allowed Josh to leave the show, citing his mental and emotional well-being as the reason for his departure.
Melissa has been left to her own devices, and the consequences of her actions have led the other contestants to question her motives.
Josh decided to write “Leave” after returning to the couch. In a bizarre turn of events, Melissa wrote “stay” after crossing out “leave.”