Married at First Sight Australia 2023’s Josh White reached out to check on Melissa Sheppard after she received negative backlash and “bullying” for her “sex-fiend” portrayal, but she claims they haven’t spoken since filming wrapped.
As reported in episode 258 of the So Dramatic! podcast, the 40-year-old groom wanted to check in on his TV wife after she copped significant “bullying” from appalled MAFS viewers.
In a text message exclusively obtained by So Dramatic!, Josh admitted on Febuary 10 that he was “worried” about Melissa.
The text read: “Hey, I’m sorry. It’s taken so long to write to you since [filming] the reunion. I was going to before the wedding [aired], but I was dealing with some issues that now seem pretty obvious.
“I’m worried about you and what you must be going through. I’ve reached out to Channel Nine to ask to post a video on my Insta page addressing no bullying. This is not on.”
Married at First Sight’s Melissa Sheppard reached out to Josh White after the unprecedented Commitment Ceremony
In the text conversation obtained by So Dramatic!, Melissa reached out to Josh at 5:30 am on September 15, 2022, after the Commitment Ceremony was filmed.
“Hey Josh, I am so sorry that you had to go through that tonight,” Melissa wrote.
She continued: “I am sooooo sorry that my words were hurtful/damaging to you and that was never my intention to hurt you in any way, shape or form.
“I went into this experiment hoping to find our perfect matches and we didn’t. But I just wanted to let you know, even though we didn’t work out, you’re a great guy.”
Melissa wished him the best for his “future relationships” and hoped to reconnect when they “both healed”.
“[I] hope when you’re ready, you will find love and what it is that you need out of future relationships,” she said.
Melissa told Josh to “enjoy this time” with his “beautiful family” and admitted they both needed the time apart.
“Now we can put this chapter behind us and one day remember the good times and laughs we had in the experience. Take care and hope to smile with you one day when we have both healed. Take care Josh,” she finished before signing off with a love heart.
Married at First Sight’s Melissa Sheppard lied about her contact with Josh White on live radio
However, Melissa claimed on the Kyle and Jackie O Show – the day after Josh’s unprecedented departure was aired – that she hasn’t spoken to him since she reached out to him after his Commitment Ceremony “breakdown”.
“Have you spoken since [the show]?” Kyle Sandilands asked.
“No, we haven’t,” Melissa claimed.
She added: “So, I reached out to Josh obviously after he broke down on the couch. Like, that’s hard. My heart even broke for him. I was very compassionate and very caring, but I couldn’t say anything.
“I just sat there, I was shocked. But then I was like, ‘oh my god, is he okay?’.”
Melissa claimed that Josh had appeared “happy” just hours before the Commitment Ceremony and she believed he wasn’t always “100 per cent honest”.
She later told So Dramatic! that Josh was “crying wolf” and “couldn’t believe” that viewers were “falling for it”.
Josh White speaks out against MAFS fans “bullying” Melissa Sheppard despite not wanting to participate in media interviews
A production insider revealed to So Dramatic! that Josh had previously refused to comment on his MAFS stint.
“He said no. He doesn’t want to be involved or comment. He just wants it all to be over,” the source explained.
They added: “Josh is worried about everything that has come out post the show. He just hasn’t been coping.”
However, Josh changed his tune on February 20, appearing on Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa to defend his TV bride.
He used his first media appearance (excluding the numerous outings with his co-stars and paparazzi, that is) to urge viewers to stop “attacking and bullying” Melissa on social media.
“I don’t enjoy reading any of those comments. It doesn’t raise me up or make me feel good about myself in any way,” Josh said.
Sources confirmed to So Dramatic! that Josh has opted out of media because he was overwhelmed, as he was also going through a difficult separation with his ex-wife at the same time as Married at First Sight.
“Josh was still technically married when he went on MAFS. The divorce hasn’t been finalised yet. He’s going through a really bad separation,” the insider revealed.
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 258 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
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