MAFS star Duncan James has spoken of his ‘traumatic’ last month with wife Alyssa Barmonde before he broke up with her at Sunday’s final vows.
The sales director, 36, brutally dumped the single mum, 35, after she blamed him for their marital issues and said he needed to ‘change’ to make things work.
Speaking on Today Extra the morning after the episode aired, Duncan explained his reasons for ending the relationship and admitted it wasn’t an easy decision to make.
‘We didn’t look at relationships in the same way, in my eyes,’ he told co-hosts David Campbell and Sylvia Jeffreys.
‘I don’t think we resolve conflict the same way and I don’t think we communicated in the same way.’
MAFS star Duncan James has spoken of his ‘traumatic’ last month with wife Alyssa Barmonde before he broke up with her at Sunday’s final vows. (Pictured on Today Extra on Monday)
The sales director, 36, brutally dumped the single mum, 35, after she blamed him for their marital issues and said he needed to ‘change’ to make things work
‘But it was a really hard decision. There was lots of good times as well,’ he added.
The cyber security specialist also said Alyssa’s vows and her desire to stay with him after the experiment came as a shock after what had been a difficult few weeks.
‘We had a really traumatic month before that,’ he said.
‘In our final dates, I asked a few times “Do you think the last month has been good or bad? Because if you think it’s been bad – but it’s because of the experiment – I could understand that.
‘”But if you think it’s been great, then we are in different places in terms of what we think a healthy relationship looks like.”‘
Speaking on Today Extra the morning after the episode aired, Duncan explained his reasons for ending the relationship and admitted it wasn’t an easy decision to make
Despite leaving Alyssa heartbroken on national television, Duncan still has a lot of respect for the ex-Mormon from Utah.
‘Alyssa is a great woman. We’re just not the right people for each other,’ he said.
During their final vows, Alyssa told Duncan she ‘wanted to fight for their relationship’, but was left in tears when he said the feeling was not mutual.
During their final vows, Alyssa told Duncan she ‘wanted to fight for their relationship’, but was left in tears when he said the feeling was not mutual
‘I know what love and a great relationship is and we both deserve that. But our views on what a healthy relationship is seem to be apart,’ Duncan told her.
‘Maybe it’s our personalities or differing mindsets. Either way, the gap seems too big to bridge. I don’t want to hurt you or continue getting hurt so I have to say goodbye.’
‘F**k, I was not expecting that,’ a shocked Alyssa responded, before walking away from her husband in tears.
‘I know what love and a great relationship is and we both deserve that. But our views on what a healthy relationship is seem to be apart,’ Duncan told her
‘Maybe it’s our personalities or differing mindsets. Either way, the gap seems too big to bridge. I don’t want to hurt you or continue getting hurt so I have to say goodbye,’ he added
Alyssa admitted hearing Duncan say he didn’t want to be with her was soul-crushing.
‘Walking away absolutely devastated me. I feel sick and betrayed,’ she said.
Daily Mail Australia understands the pair have only exchanged texts ‘once or twice’ since filming wrapped.
‘They’re not even on speaking terms at the moment,’ a source revealed.
‘F**k, I was not expecting that,’ a shocked Alyssa responded, before walking away in tears
‘They both agreed it was for the best not to do any joint interviews and aren’t even pretending to be together.
‘Alyssa knew things were never going to work out with Duncan, as much as she wanted them to. They both live different lives.’
The source added Alyssa was pressured to say ‘yes’ by producers, when they ‘clearly knew Duncan would be dumping her… It wasn’t fair.’
Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine and 9Now
Alyssa collapsed in the woods and cried that she wanted to go home
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