Since she rocked up to her mystery wedding wearing bejewelled thongs, Married At First Sight bride Jo Mcpharlin has held a special place in the hearts of the show’s viewers.
She’s loud and brash, with a laugh you can’t miss. The kind of woman who would always be up for a wine (or beer) and a chat. She’s a devoted mum and romantic who wears her heart on her sleeve.
So it was with a glass shattering shriek that we saw Jo, OUR JO, dumped by “husband” Sean.
It was too much heartbreak for a Sunday night.
During the couples' first commitment ceremony, both Jo and Sean were honest to each other about their coupling falling short of what they hoped for. Just Sean was a bit too honest.
"It's been basically friendship. I've seen Jo's caring side, I've seen the way she is with her kids on the phone and you know that she loves them to bits. She is ridiculously funny, and, you know, she can drink, she can drink me under the table, so that's saying something. So, we've had a blast," Sean told the experts.
"We haven't even had one fight. So, other than the fact that there's no romantic spark and all that sort of stuff, she's been perfect."
SEAN. HOW COULD YOU.
Watch the moment Jo reacts as Sean decides to leave:
Jo said she had hoped they would progress past friendship.
"Everyone does, everyone is in this experiment for love. It's hard to explain why there is no spark. Like, we get along like a house on fire. We just can't ignite that fire."
Sean then shared his decision.
"Well, obviously, I was really, really keen to see if we can find something... but... I don't want to stuff her around. This wasn't a decision I really wanted to make. And I chose to leave. OK."
LISTEN: For the first time in MAFS history, we were genuinely left in tears. Clare and Jessie Stephens discuss the moment this reality show turned semi-serious. Post continues after.
Jo's face fell - and ours with her. She revealed she'd said 'Stay'.
The worst part? Jo is now forced to spend at least another seven days with a man who has made it plainly clear he does not want to be with her. She's been dumped and because of the bizarre MAFS universe rules, CANNOT LEAVE.
"Can I change my decision, because I'd love to go?" she asked the experts.
"If I knew that was his decision, I would have said the same thing and I would be home with my kids tomorrow. Now I've got to sit here for another week with someone that doesn't want to be here with me."
The people were not happy.
As usual, Jo didn't hold back about how she was feeling.
"Something in my gut said, if I just give it a chance, if I just hang in there, something might change. You know, I had the tiniest bit of hope," she said.
"Like, I had the fairytale wedding. I had all my dreams come true, all I wanted my Prince Charming at the end of the day. Made me feel this big. You're a douche bag."
LISTEN: Clare and Jessie Stephens discuss the biggest talking points from Jo and Sean’s uncomfortable wedding. Post continues after audio.
Crying on Sarah's shoulder after the ceremony, Jo berated herself for being "so stupid".
"I honestly didn't think that he would say 'leave'. I was 100 per cent blindsided by it," she said.
Australia is here for you and loves you (and your statement thongs) Jo.
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Top Comments
Jo is a great woman and she will meet someone else. I suspect she might benefit from some kind of counselling, Not because of the show, but because of something else. I don't know what it is, but Jo's reaction to "LEAVE' was really over the top. It was as if someone had just said "No" to a twenty year marriage! I know she went there for love, but she's a grown up and must have realised that the chances of finding love were slim. She'd only known him for a few days. Her tears can't possibly have been about him! She didn't even know him. There's something else going on. I really like her, but she needs to know that she will meet someone else and that she's fine being single in the meantime. When you watch her at home with her kids, it's clear that she's dealing with life as a single mum, which is why I found her reaction to "LEAVE" so strange. You can't make someone feel physically attracted to you. Even the most beautiful women get rejected. Sexually chemistry is based on a lot of things and if it's not there, it's not there. I think that if Jo was able to put the whole thing in perspective, she'd realise that it was all for the best. She said she wasn't attracted to him but thought that might grow. I kind of doubt that kind of chemistry occurs between people over a certain age. It sounds a bit adolescent to me.
"She's been dumped and because of the bizarre MAFS universe rules, CANNOT LEAVE."
Why not? John left last year, when he and Deb were in the same situation. He'd said 'leave' and she wanted to 'stay'. Lauren ran off before they even got to the honeymoon (and dodged a bullet, quite honestly). They supposedly had the same rule then but I don't see how they can enforce it if someone really wants to go.