This 2026 season of MAFS has given us, not one, but two runaway brides and grooms, and both dramatic exists went down at a Commitment Ceremony. While we all thought it would be intruder bride Stephanie who would throw in the towel after having to deal with Tyson’s polarising behaviour, it turns out Tyson was even worse at receiving feedback than we thought.
On Sunday night, March 8, Stephanie entered the Commitment Ceremony ready to share her honest opinions about the problems she was facing with Tyson, something she felt she couldn’t do at the Dinner Party.
“Tyson doesn’t like to be challenged,” the bride said to producers.
This statement was made blaringly true after Tyson stormed out of the experiment after been “challenged” – nay asked to have a constructive conversation – about his communication style with Steph.
While we all may be sighing with relief after seeing the back of his head march out those sliding doors, WHO spoke to other contestants on the show about what they thought of the couple’s relationship and what is next for the stood-up bride.
Why did Tyson storm out?
Tyson’s final words on the show were “I’m not a bad guy.” For someone who admitted to seeing things in “black and white”, that feels like a lot of nuance and understanding to be asking people for…
Nevertheless, the straw that finally broke this ex-army man’s back was the negative feedback he was receiving from expert John and his bride.
Steph expressed her concerns about Tyson to the experts, discussing how difficult it is for them to have “constructive conversation” and how Tyson needed to be “more aware of the impact of his words.” The latter point referred to Tyson’s audition video, where he wished the gay community could be themselves “behind closed doors.”
Instead, the groom himself somehow took offence?!
After intruder groom Sam challenged Tyson on this, arguing that “having awareness is not pushing it on you” and that he needs more “empathy”, Tyson merely shrugged and noted that he had a “black and white” communication approach.
It was only after receiving backlash from his favourite expert John (but wait he did say Alessandra was looking beautiful, so all is redeemed!!), that the groom started to crack, saying he has “gay friends” (okay…and?) and that Steph is “putting words in [his] mouth.”
Rather than engaging in the “chill conversation” that Steph wanted to air out their issues, the groom said he doesn’t “see a future” with Steph and left the room, and the experiment.
What do the other contestants think of Tyson?
However, this behaviour was not a shock to the other contestants.
Speaking to WHO, intruder groom Joel called out Tyson for being a hypocrite and “too stiff.”
“Tyson claims that woke people aren’t the sharpest tool in the shed,” he said. “But look, you know, pot, kettle, black…glasses and stones.”
The groom also spoke up about Tyson being a “walking contradiction”, particularly when it comes to his views on “masculinity”, a sore spot for Joel in particularly after facing Juliette’s wrath at the dinner party.
Joel said to WHO that Tyson has this “warped idea of what masculinity is.”
“This bloke wouldn’t even spell masculinity, you know?” he admitted. “Tyson needs to open his heart and soften.”
Bride Alissa also spoke to WHO about Tyson, saying that he is “very particular in his values.”
“He’s a very strong character and very stubborn,” Alissa said.
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What’s next for Stephanie?
On the couch, Tyson clarified that he meant “the whole topic can really be pushed on us.” Who is this ‘us’ you speak of Tyson? Surely, he could see how reducing gay pride and the gay community’s struggle to a mere “topic” that he isn’t fond of would be taken badly…right? Apparently not.
While her future on the show still remains to be seen, the Commitment Ceremony did not end with Tyson leaving Steph alone on the couch. Instead, the other contestants rallied around the bride with a series of group hugs as Steph wiped away her tears.
As Stella pointed out to the bride, hopefully there is a “more mature man” out there for Steph who won’t make her feel like she can’t express an opinion.
A girl can only dream!
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