AMarried At First Sightgroom claims he was left fearful after his estranged on-screen bride tried to destroy his life by posting about him online.
Ryan Donnelly and Jacqui Burfoot were paired together in this year’s season of the hit Australian reality TV series but chose to separate during an insult-laden final vows ceremony.
Their bickering went from the small screen to the courtroom when Burfoot was granted an interim restraining order in Tasmania, preventing Donnelly from talking about her on social media.
Donnelly retaliated by applying for an apprehended domestic violence order against Burfoot, which came before Sydney’s Campbelltown local court on Wednesday.
He told reporters he had suffered “a lot of harm” and received menacing messages as a result of “vicious” and “malicious” claims Burfoot made about him online.
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“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. “At one point I was very afraid.”
The 37-year-old applied for a restraining order that would stop his TV wife publishing anything about him or his friends on social media for two years.
It would also bar Burfoot from assaulting, threatening, stalking, or intimidating Donnelly or damaging anything he owns – including harming his dog, Freya.
If the ADVO were granted, she would be prohibited from approaching him or trying to contact Donnelly, except through her lawyer.
Burfoot, who is living in Tasmania with another Mafs groom, was required to appear in court on Wednesday but instead sent an email opposing the restraining order.
The 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 returns to court on 24 June.
He said he thought the proceedings were a valuable use of the court’s time and opined he would “have an extremely strong case” for defamation action against his on-screen wife.
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The TV groom refused to comment on whether he would stop posting about Burfoot or withdraw from social media completely, noting that Mafs is a “program that can do wonderful things for people”.
Donnelly and Burfoot engaged in a tumultuous relationship on screen, which ended with them trading barbs at the final vow ceremony.
“Ryan, in a world of red flags, you are the red carpet,” Burfoot told Donnelly.
He responded: “Be gone with you, you horrible woman.”
Burfoot is now engaged to their Mafs co-star Clint Rice, who proposed to her at a viewing party for the show’s finale.
In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org