MAFS star arrives at court with bodyguard as ex-groom takes legal action
Married At First Sight's Jacqui Burfoot was seen at Sydney Court House today after her former onscreen husband filed for a protection order against her. Ryan Donnelly, who married Jacqui on the Australian version of the reality show last year - before they chose to separate during the Final Vows ceremony - applied for an Apprehended Domestic Violence order against the 29-year-old after his ex was granted an interim restraining order, preventing Ryan from talking about her on social media.
Jacqui sent an email opposing the restraining order, but Magistrate Shane McAnulty told the court he was unwilling to grant the order in her absence and asked the parties to prepare submissions before the matter returned to court on June 24.
Seen arriving at court today, under an umbrella with her new fiancé, Clint Rice, and burly bodyguard, Jacqui smiled for the cameras, sporting a trench coat, cream dress, Longchamp bag and brown ankle boots.
This was the first time the reality star has come face-to-face with Ryan since filming for MAFS wrapped in November last year.
She did not say anything to reporters about the allegations outside court after the matter was adjourned.
Her barrister, Marcia Edwards, said it would be prejudicial for her to speak.
Later, Ryan's lawyer, Daniel Wakim, said his client still wanted protection and he would talk with Jacqui's lawyers about resolving the matter.
"We're yet to see what the respondent has to put on in relation to my client's fears,'" he said.
Ryan told reporters he was struggling emotionally, claiming his ex onscreen wife had posted about him "almost incessantly".
Claiming he never thought his on-screen marriage would turn out this way, he said: "It wasn't the adventure I had planned I wanted to have this amazing chapter of my life and have a comfortable circle, and leave amicably and as friends."
The matter will return to court on July 29.
Back in April, Ryan told reporters, along with his representative Shirin Razi from Azadi Lawyers, that he suffered "a lot of harm" and was targeted by trolls as a result of 'malicious' claims Jacqui made about him online.
"An individual has tried to destroy my life, my potential for career options, collaborations... with false allegations, so men can be victims as well," he said outside the courthouse, adding that he "was very afraid" at one point.
Ryan also said he thought the proceedings were a valuable use of the court's time and believed he would "have an extremely strong case" for defamation action against his on-screen wife.
However, the reality star refused to comment on whether he would stop posting about Jacqui while insisting MAFS is a "programme that can do wonderful things for people".
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