Married At First Sight’s Bryce Ruthven has addressed his bombshell decision during Sunday’s commitment ceremony to ‘stay’ in the experiment, after choosing to ‘leave’.
The 30-year-old, who accused Rebecca Zemek of ‘bullying’ his wife Melissa Rawson during the episode, shared a post on Instagram after the dramatic scenes aired.
Bryce said that as someone who has been bullied in high school, he was ‘standing up’ for Melissa by voting to leave, and thus removing her from a toxic environment.
Speaking his mind: Married At First Sight’s Bryce Ruthven (pictured), 30, addressed his bombshell decision to ‘stay’ after choosing to ‘leave’ the experiment in an Instagram post, following Sunday’s commitment ceremony
The former radio host added however, that he was reminded of his goal in finding love, and decided to change his vote to ‘stay’.
‘As someone that was bullied during high school and now as an adult has been part of many anti-bullying campaigns through my work, I have always said I will stand up against someone, male or female, that bullies someone close to me,’ Bryce began.
‘People won’t agree with what I’ve done at the commitment ceremony, saying I didn’t put my partner’s feelings first, BUT I was raising the issue that bullying is not OK in any walk of life,’ he continued.
Bullying claims: Bryce, who accused Rebecca Zemek (right) of ‘bullying’ his wife Melissa Rawson, said that he was ‘standing up’ for Melissa by voting to leave, and thus removing her from a toxic environment
Bryce shared online: ‘People won’t agree with what I’ve done at the commitment ceremony, saying I didn’t put my partner’s feelings first, BUT I was raising the issue that bullying is not OK in any walk of life’
‘It was a tough decision to continue in the experiment given what we were going through, but in the end, the goal of finding love with someone will always win.’
After Melissa, 31, revealed her decision to ‘stay’, the whole room stood silent as Bryce looked disgruntled and awkward at the prospect of unveiling his decision.
He opened his card, saying: ‘I actually decided to leave. But then I crossed it out.’
Confident: During Sunday’s commitment ceremony, Melissa (pictured), 31, had written ‘stay’ on her card, appearing confident in her decision
Shock: Bryce opened his card, saying: ‘I actually decided to leave. But then I crossed it out’
‘It was tough,’ Bryce continued. ‘It was hurting me to write it down. But I got to a point that… I had to cross it out and put stay, because I’m not done with this relationship.’
Trying to explain his decision, Bryce blurted out: ‘Me writing leave was to get her out of a toxic environment. It was me looking after her best interests, and for once in my life not being selfish.’
‘Did you think Melissa was going to write leave this week? No.’ Patrick Dwyer responded.
Nightmare: As the room gasped at his shock decision, Melissa was left completely speechless after hearing his choice
Not impressed: ‘He doesn’t care about her, hey,’ Rebecca whispered under her breath, while Patrick Dwyer outwardly said he ‘didn’t get’ Bryce’s choice as he knew Melissa would have voted stay
‘Even if you wrote leave, you’re going to be here for another week. I don’t get it?’
‘The best thing about this experiment is that I don’t have to explain it to you, Patrick. I’m protecting her from bullying,’ Bryce snapped.
After hearing his decision, a visibly upset Melissa said to the camera: ‘I had no idea that leave would even be considered. I’m still a little confused.’
Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine
Sad: After hearing his decision, a visibly upset Melissa said to the camera: ‘I had no idea that leave would even be considered. I’m still a little confused’