Exclusive: MAFS' Harrison reacts to being branded 'emotionally manipulative' and revisits the events of The Retreat on MAFS 2023
Married At First Sight's Harrison has had what can only be described as an explosive week in the experiment.
First his marriage to Bronte was branded "fake" by some of the participants at The Retreat, before it was revealed that Harrison had broken up with his wife by text prior to the fifth Dinner Party.
It was at the same Dinner Party that the controversial groom got into a blazing row with Claire and almost destroyed her marriage to Jesse, after she had branded him "emotionally manipulative" in his marriage to Bronte.
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In an exclusive interview with 9Entertainment, Harrison gave his perspective on what happened this week.
He claimed he was surprised the "emotionally manipulative" comment came from Claire, especially after she kissed another groom behind her husband Jesse's back earlier on in the experiment.
Harrison is pictured at the fifth Dinner Party. Nine
"I actually found that pretty reprehensible coming from Claire – it was definitely the pot calling the kettle black," he said of the clash.
Reflecting on The Retreat, he added: "It was everything I expected and more.
"It's the first time in my relationship with Bronte where we were in a really good place. I'd taken this huge step in introducing her to my son, and we pushed through all the drama and were finally in a good place with each other.
"But The Retreat was also tough, because there were a lot of accusations being thrown around about people being in fake relationships – people thought Melinda and Layton were fake, and they thought we were fake.
EPISODE 24 RECAP: A runaway bride and a text message dumping rock the Dinner Party
"And for the first time, cracks started to appear in whether or not I could trust Bronte."
During Boys' Night, Harrison had claimed that he asked Layton if he was in a "happy and healthy relationship" with Melinda. Harrison claimed he responded with a "no", although Layton vehemently denied doing so.
READ MORE: The biggest moments from The Retreat
Harrison then fed this information to Bronte, who in turn told Melinda during a heated discussion. Watch the moment happen in the video below.
Giving his perspective on what happened, Harrison doubled down on his claims that Layton said he wasn't happy in his marriage at the time.
"I asked Layton directly on the Boys' Night. I said, 'Would you say you and Melinda are in a happy, healthy relationship?' He said no.
"I told Bronte that, and Bronte [told Melinda], 'Oh everything isn't as it seems with Layton, he said you guys aren't in a good place and the relationship is not moving in a good direction.' Just all this stuff that I never said.
"Bronte really took what I said out of context, and made up her own context and then used it to attack Melinda's relationship – essentially to get her back, because Melinda had attacked her on the Girls' Night and embarrassed her."
Layton and Melinda were not impressed with Harrison's meddling. Nine
READ MORE: Harrison's comments leave Claire and Jesse's relationship on the brink of ruin
Harrison was reminded in the interview that Layton did defend his relationship with Melinda when questioned at Boys' Night, to which he replied: "No. No... Layton protected his relationship.
"He said, 'You thinking that we're putting up a façade offends me.' And I said, 'OK, if you're not putting on a façade then set the record straight.'
"He said there are parts of our relationship that are toxic, he said there's things that need to be fixed if we're going to have a chance on the outside but there are parts that I'm really happy with."
Harrison has given his side of the story. Nine
READ MORE: Everything we know about the cheating scandal involving Claire, Jesse and Adam
He continued: "Then, he and Melinda confronted us over drinks at the final night of The Retreat.
"Again, Bronte took what I said out of context and made out like I'd said a lot more than I really had. I was actually saying to Bronte, 'Don't go and confront Melinda. Melinda and Layton have their own s--t to work out, and Layton's not happy with Melinda.'"
When asked if he saw a future with Bronte at this stage in the experiment, he said: "I was trying to see a future, but this was the first real big one where I was like – again? You've done this again?
"I just went into the Dinner Party like... I don't think I can trust this person."
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Married At First Sight continues Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm and Sunday at 7.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Stream every episode of Married At First Sight for free on 9Now.
