‘Married at First Sight Australia’ 2025 bride Jacqui Burfoot has responded to ex-husband Ryan Donnelly’s claims following his first court hearing, where he requested a restraining order against her.
Ryan made a statement outside the Sydney courtroom on April 23rd, accusing Jacqui of trying to “destroy” his life with public allegations shared on social media.
No one should have to suffer false allegations. An individual has tried to destroy my life, my potential for career options, collaborations, etc.
“At the end of the day, I’m representing myself and anyone else who’s ever experienced this.”
9News Australia reports that the requests Ryan has made are to order Jacqui not to approach or threaten him, and to stop posting anything about him or his friends on social media.
But Jacqui? She’s not having a bar of it.
Jumping on both TikTok and Instagram, Jacqui dropped her response to Ryan, claiming she failed to appear at the first hearing.
"I did it via email, and the registrar said I didn't need to show up. I said I would be opposing as it's a waste of resources, and he's made two false statements in his application form. It was a five-minute hearing by the way."
She also addressed Ryan’s statements that she claims aren’t true and alleges he fabricated.
“He’s making completely false statements that could get him into a lot of trouble,” she claimed in her video.
She says they haven’t had any contact since the ‘MAFS’ reunion wrapped back in November 2024. Jacqui has since begun a relationship and recently got engaged to fellow 2025 ‘MAFS’ participant Clint Rice.
In an Instagram story, Jacqui wrote: “One of Ryan's many false statements to get an application into the family court. We had a relationship for three months, not nine - so it’s not even a domestic relationship."
"This is not just a waste of court resources, it's an ACTUAL CRIME."
Ryan’s request comes after Jacqui was granted an interim restraining order against him earlier this month.
Magistrate Sharon Cure, who was handling the case, admitted she wasn’t up to speed on the latest season of 'MAFS', but was satisfied that Ryan’s social media posts had caused harm to Jacqui. The interim order prevented Ryan from “directly or indirectly threatening, harassing, abusing, or publishing denigrating material” about Jacqui on social media.
If Ryan is successful in obtaining the restraining order, reports say it would stop Jacqui from sharing anything about him or his friends and family on social media for two years.
It’d also mean she can’t contact him at all - unless it’s through a lawyer.
Court hearings will proceed in June as both Jacqui and Ryan prepare their cases.
