A Heartbreaking Separation
Fans of Married At First Sight (MAFS) were left heartbroken when Rhi Disljenkovic and Jeff Gobbels confirmed their separation. Their journey, which began with a second chance at love on the show, seemed to be a fairytale that was destined to last. However, after a brief but intense relationship, they have now decided to part ways.
The couple had met for the first time on MAFS, where they quickly developed a strong connection. They dated for 10 months before reuniting on the show, much to their surprise. Their story captured the hearts of many, and it appeared as though they had found true love. But, as with any relationship, challenges arose, and eventually, they reached a point where they could no longer continue together.
The Public Nature of Their Relationship
The public nature of their relationship has made this break-up particularly difficult for Rhi and Jeff. Their therapist, Biannka Brannigan, has shared insights into how the media attention and public scrutiny may have contributed to their decision to separate.
“The most unique layer for couples like Rhi and Jeff is that their relationship was never entirely their own,” she explains. 
“When a love story unfolds in the living rooms of millions of Australians, it carries something beyond the two people in it. It becomes a kind of shared hope. People invest emotionally; they see their own longing reflected back, they root for it.”
This emotional investment from fans can create pressure on the couple, making it harder for them to process their feelings and move forward. “So when it ends, there’s a communal grief and sadness that can also get placed on the couple to explain or soothe when all they really want to do is have a sense of spaciousness to reorient themselves.”
Biannka also highlights the challenges of navigating a break-up in the public eye. “One of the things that often gets missed in how we talk about break-ups is that it’s not just about losing someone, it’s about having to reorganise ourselves in the world without them.” 
She continues, “Our routines, our sense of who we are day to day, even the small things like who we text when something funny happens… all need to find a new shape. This process takes time, and it tends to require a lot of quiet, inward attention.”
The Impact of Public Scrutiny
The pressure of being in the spotlight can significantly slow down the healing process. “When you’re fielding commentary, speculation, and the eyes of thousands of people, it’s very hard to turn inward,” Biannka says. “Every question, every comment, every tagged photo can restimulate the grief before it’s had time to settle and that can significantly slow the healing process.”
She also addresses the possibility of one of them moving on with someone new. “There’s also the question of what happens when one person is seen moving on,” she explains. 
“In a private break-up, taking a tentative step toward someone new is something you get to explore quietly, on your own terms. In public, it immediately becomes a story which can create real pressure, either to stay still longer than is healthy, or to defend a new connection before you’ve even had time to understand it yourself.”
While neither Rhi nor Jeff has confirmed moving on with anyone new, fans are aware that this could be a fresh heartbreak for both of them in the future.
The Final Confirmation
Rhi and Jeff finally confirmed their separation on June 2 after raising concerns when fans noticed they were no longer following each other on social media. Rhi’s post about “choosing relationships that feel calm and safe” over confusing “inconsistency” for love also raised eyebrows, with fans wondering if there was trouble in paradise. 
Just days later, the couple then confirmed their break-up in two separate posts on Instagram. “With a heavy heart, I want to share that Jeff and I have decided to part ways,” Rhi shared. “This has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. I’m incredibly grateful for the love we shared and all of the memories we created.”
Jeff also shared a statement, admitting that it has been an “incredibly difficult” time. “After a lot of thought, unfortunately my relationship has ended,” he wrote. “This has been an incredibly difficult time, and I’m trying to navigate this as best I can.” 
A New Chapter
Their separation has come as a shock to fans, given they had been discussing wedding plans since falling in love on MAFS. They previously said they were in no rush to get married, but wouldn’t rule out tying the knot in a televised event on Channel Nine. 
They appeared to have been going strong since leaving MAFS together, with the couple saying “I love you” for the first time at the show reunion. Shortly after filming wrapped, Jeff gave Rhi the key to his apartment as things became serious between them. “We got along so well living with each other [in the experiment], so I knew I wanted that to continue,” Jeff told New Idea at the time. “So I thought, ‘Why not give her a key?’ And then she can just come over whenever she wants.”
A Second Chance at Love
While the couple fell in love on MAFS, it wasn’t the first time that they had met. In a twist of fate, they had actually dated for 10 months before they met again at the altar, giving them both a second chance at love. Their slow-burning connection quickly became romantic again, and they were fan favourites from the 2025 series of MAFS. 
They were the only original couple from the 2025 series still together. Now, Jacqui and Clint are the only couple still together, though they weren’t matched up on the show, with sparks flying between them after filming. Jacqui and Clint got married on April 20 at Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand. 
