The Married At First Sight (MAFS) producers introduced one of the most controversial tasks back in Season 8, and it’s caused chaos every single year. You’d think that the grooms and brides would learn to just keep the comments simple and place their partner at the top, but this literally never happens.
There’s always a rogue cast member who lets their mask slip or reveals what they really think — leading to excruciatingly painful moments. This year, Jake Luik’s comments about Jacqui Burfoot having “crazy eyes” made waves for weeks to come, and that wasn’t even the worst thing he said. Yikes.
2024 bride Lauren Dunn told Yahoo! Lifestyle that while the challenge ruffles a lot of feathers, there’s actually a reason it should stick around.
“It proves early on who the dickheads are,” she said. “[The cast] can make a clear assessment really early on.
“Also, saying it in front of a camera that you know is going to be aired to millions of people is wild and shows a lack of just anything. There’s not a lot going on up there.”
With that in mind, let’s take a stroll down memory lane to look into the worst MAFS photo ranking challenge moments over the years.
@pedestriantv Collins from MAFS out here casually changing our long-held opinions on the MAFS photo ranking challenge. Catch up on the full episode on PEDESTRIAN.TV’s YouTube with host @Chantelle Schmidt + Entertainment Reporter @mildspicepapi. #mafs #mafsaustralia #marriedatfirstsight #mafs2024 #mafscollins ♬ original sound – PEDESTRIAN.TV
Selina and Cody
In Season 9, Selina Chhaur and Cody Bromley were faced with the photo ranking challenge. While Selina placed Cody at the top of her list, he ranked her second behind Samantha Moitzi. Ouch.
When Selina — whose parents are Cambodian and Chinese — asked Cody if her ethnicity had anything to do with his choice, his answer left Selina in tears.
“I think [your ethnicity] did honestly have something to play at it initially,” he told her. “I’m not racist by any means, but it’s not something I’m familiar with. To be honest, yeah, the short answer is it probably did. It’s not something that bothers me or that I’m worried about, I’ve always been open to the idea it’s just not something I’ve normally gone for.”
Cody, my guy. If you are starting a sentence with “I’m not racist…”, just take the L and get outta there! It’s never going to end well for you.
Selina told Yahoo! Lifestyle at the time she was “grateful” this storyline wasn’t cut from the show.
“They could have just brushed this aside like every other thing under the banner of prejudice and racism, but they chose to air it and I think that’s great,” she said. “It’s going to cause conversation and build awareness around that matter.”
Tayla and Hugo
Tayla Winter and Hugo Armstrong’s photo ranking challenge during Season 10 was pretty hard to watch. Tayla never seemed that into Hugo, and she couldn’t actually find his picture among the other grooms.
“So little thought, you couldn’t even see me on the table?” Hugo asked, dumbfounded.
However, Tayla did place Hugo at the top of her list and told him it was because he was “funny 60 per cent of the time”. High praise from this ice queen!
When Hugo had his chance to rank the brides, he used it to get back at Tayla for their rocky relationship.
“I really want to put you first… [but] do you reckon you deserve to be put at the top with how you’ve been treating me?” he asked.
He placed Tayla firmly at the bottom before doing a bait and switch.
“There’s no way I’m gonna let you be last, woman,” he said before moving her to second-to-last place. Absolutely BRUTAL!
Tayla later told producers it was a “horrible” experience and she didn’t enjoy it at all.
Ashleigh and Jake
@tattedtrauma09 I thought they could’ve made it. I honestly did. But how do you fumble that bad in the ranking challenge #mafsaustralia #mafs2025 #mafsau #mafsjake ♬ original sound – My Nostalgia
This year’s wildest photo ranking challenge took place between Ashleigh Ackerman and Jake. For some reason, Jake decided to make some seriously cooked remarks about a bunch of the brides.
He described Sierah Swepstone as having a face that screams “I could stab you in your sleep”, said Morena Farina was “a little too old for my comfort range” and called Jacqui’s eyes “crazy”.
The real kicker came when he picked up Awhina Rutene’s photo, saying, “I’m not racist or nothing…”
JAKE! Did you learn NOTHING from Cody in Season 9?!
He followed it up with, “I like Caucasians mainly, mostly. Awhina, she’s not exactly like — she’s Maori, I think — probably why she’s a bit higher, the physical features.”
In the end, he didn’t even place his wife Ashleigh first, second or third. Yep, that’s right — she was placed fourth. Get. In. The. Bin.
When Ashleigh called him out for his “nasty” comments, the couple had a massive argument and left the experiment soon after.
Caitlin and Shannon
@maddimayeriko Yeahhh this dude is officially done #mafsaustralia #mafs #fyp #viral #trending #australia ♬ original sound – Maddi Mayeriko
Season 10 saw Caitlin McConville’s life flash before her eyes when her husband Shannon Adams tackled the photo ranking challenge.
Not only did he compare it to “real life Tinder”, but he also declared that he “eats with his eyes.” YUCK.
While he originally places Caitlin second, he then changes his mind and pushes her down to third place.
“I’m just getting the honesty out because I think that’s the logic of the task. It’s just because I know more about you,” Shady Shannon said. “You know, I haven’t seen these girls without makeup on either and I’ve seen you without makeup. You had the potential to be over here. The potential to level up.”
Thank goodness this isn’t a couple that went the distance.
Lauren and Clint
@harleydash2 #mafs #jacqui #clint #photochallenge #marriedatfirstsight ♬ original sound – HarleyDash 🇦🇺
2025 intruder couple Lauren Hall and Clint Rice lovingly ranked each other as number one, but Lauren’s rogue commentary about the brides and grooms was pretty brutal.
Lauren described Jacqui as “scruffy” and questioned Clint’s decision to place Jacqui higher than Morena Farina.
“I’ve learned that he likes scruffy women who have a strong drive in career,” she told producers.
When it was her turn to rank the grooms, she called Eliot Donovan a “dirty, stinky rat” and folded up his photo. “Worst character, worst smell, hasn’t washed his hair in five years,” she added.
She declared that Tony Mojanovski made her “feel nothing” and warned Clint not to get throat tattoos like Dave Hand.
If there’s one thing that you can count on Lauren doing, it’s being blunt and honest!
Andrea and Richard
@michellelelman This is creating a good show at the detriment of the couples and real people involved #mafsaustralia #mafsau #mafsaustralia2024 #mafsseason11 #mafsaus #mafs2024 #marriedatfirstsight #marriedatfirstsightaus #marriedatfirstsightaustralia #dejavu ♬ original sound – Michelle Elman
While Season 11’s Timothy Smith opted not to rank the brides because of how much older he was, the oldest groom Richard Sauerman had no issues going for it. The 62-year-old ended up ranking two brides above his wife Andrea Thompson, which “crushed” her.
At the time, he actually thought he had done her a favour. Make it make sense?!
“She was quite flattered to be ranked third with some of the other girls,” he said gleefully.
However, Andrea made her disappointment known later that evening.
“Everyone wishes their partner would put them first and only have eyes for them,” she told producers. “It hurt a lot and I don’t know how to come back from that.”
Selin and Anthony
Selin Makoni and Anthony Cincotta were already struggling with their marriage when the photo ranking challenge put them on edge.
The Season 9 bride used the task as a way of explaining how some of Anthony’s behaviour wasn’t acceptable, ranking him fifth because it was based on who was being a “gentleman”.
Anthony was furious, saying that it was just Selin’s way of calling him an “asshole”.
The couple had an argument with Anthony leaving the apartment. A really great way of showing your gentlemanly side!
Jacqui and Ryan
@mama.cherry8 #ryan #jacqui #mafsau #marriedatfirstsightaustrailia #mafsau2025 #s12 #e7 #rank #honesty #3rd #preference #wife #order #commitmentweek #commitment #task ♬ original sound – Mama Cherry 🍒 original
Jacqui and Ryan Donnelly didn’t make it out of the photo ranking challenge unscathed this year. While Jacqui popped Ryan at the top of her list, he didn’t return the favour.
After placing Jacqui third on his list, the bride was horrified. Then, Ryan reconsidered… and moved her down to fourth.
“Sierah, to me, has a much more attractive face,” he declared.
Jacqui burst into tears when talking to producers, and the fact that Ryan didn’t make her feel like “the most beautiful girl in the world” became a big sticking point in their relationship going forward.
Holly and Andrew
Holly Greenstein used the photo ranking challenge to go off at Andrew Davis, and TBH, he deserved it.
She originally said that he deserved to be placed first, but she wasn’t pleased with his recent behaviour and moved him to second place.
“You’re giving me no attention, you’re giving me no warmth, and you do not make me feel good enough or attractive enough,” she said.
The couple had a massive argument, with Andrew storming off and saying he was “going home”.
And there you have it! The MAFS photo ranking challenge exists purely to create chaos and drama, and boy, does it work. Let’s just hope we can stop with any “I’m not racist…” comments going forward, okay?!
The post The Worst MAFS Photo Ranking Challenges This Show Has Ever Forced Upon Us appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
