Woman’s Day (New Zealand)

MAFS bombshells

Shock make-ups and break-ups

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When it came to public backlash, controvers­ial Marriedat First SightAustr­alia couple Jessika Power and Dan Webb were always going to be a hard act to beat. But after last week’s

explosive finale, Martha Kalifatidi­s unexpected­ly went from being the wholesome girl next door to one of the series’ biggest-ever villains.

Thanks to her stone-cold commentary and cattiness, viewers branded her “Mean Girl Martha” and her shocking attack on Cyrell Jiminez-Paule – in which she threw a glass of red wine over her head – seems to have been the last straw for her patient TV groom Michael Brunelli.

A source close to the Sydney make-up artist, 30, claims she and Michael, 27,

are at breaking point, with the backlash from the Three series becoming too much for the couple.

“They were both looking forward to the show wrapping up and moving on, but things have gone from bad to worse,” our source alleges. “Martha’s in a bad place emotionall­y and has struggled with all the criticism.”

We’re told Martha has been especially upset by trolls calling her the “Kmart Kardashian” and branding her as “cheap and trashy”.

In photos exclusivel­y obtained by Woman’sDay, Martha was snapped breaking down at a café in Sydney’s Chatswood a day after the explosive reunion finale episodes were aired.

“They were having a really tense conversati­on and then she just started crying as she was waiting for her food,” one diner alleges. “They both looked really uncomforta­ble and stressed. The chemistry you see on TV wasn’t there.”

According to our source, Martha has struggled financiall­y since filming ended and despite her claims she’s been funded by her parents, the constant concern over money has put serious strain on her relationsh­ip with Michael.

“She’s not been able to return to work and it’s left her depending on Michael,” claims the source. “Their relationsh­ip has taken a major hit with the pressures from the show. I don’t think they’ll be able to sustain this at all.”

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 ??  ?? A call for help? Martha hangs her head in shame.
A call for help? Martha hangs her head in shame.

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