Married At First Sight's Michael Brunelli gives shock update about relationship with Martha Kalifatidis: 'Things have been heavy lately'
The fan-favourite MAFS couple, who met on the sixth season in 2019 and have been together ever since, are regularly transparent about their life on social media, however Michael's recent post shed a raw light on the pair's reality post-show.
The fitness trainer shared a clip to Instagram on Monday showing his and Martha's recent trip to Byron Bay for her birthday, along with their two-year-old son Lucius.
In the voiceover for the video, the dad gushed about how much his fiancée does for their family-of-three.
'Martha carries a lot, for me, for Looch, for everyone around her. She doesn't complain, she just keeps going even when she probably shouldn't have to,' he said.
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He went on to highlight some of the couple's 'heavy' moments that have weighed on him recently, leading to their decision to take a break from their day-to-day.
'The truth is things have been heavy lately. We've been juggling work, parenting, pressure like everyone else.'
'Some days feel like we're running in opposite directions. Snapping more, laughing less. So for her birthday we decided to stop, not run away, just step out of the noise.'
Michael then shared details about their trip on the Eastern Coast and how it reminded the couple about 'what matters'.
'We cooked, we swam, we talked about everything and nothing at all.
'It didn't fix all the stress but it reminded us of what matters. We made a memory that will outlast any present. So happy birthday babe, I love you always and thank you for everything.'
It comes after Michael shared an emotional update with fans, opening up about the personal toll that parenthood and pressure have taken on his mental and physical well-being.
The former MAFS groom revealed in a raw Instagram post that despite loving life as a dad to two-year-old son Lucius, he no longer recognises the person he's become.
'As cliché as it sounds, I looked in the mirror today and barely recognised the guy looking back,' he began in his vulnerable message, adding, 'Not because there's anything seriously wrong with me, but I finally accepted that I'm not where I should be… physically and mentally.'
Michael admitted that he's been stuck in survival mode and has neglected his own health and happiness while focusing on being a parent.
'My gym bag has dust on it, the veggies in the fridge are untouched, and the steps haven't cracked 10,000 in months,' he said. 'It's like I'm physically here, but in a thousand other places mentally.'
While he's struggling behind the scenes, Michael made it clear that fatherhood remains his proudest role.
'Being a dad is a massive part of my purpose,' he said. 'But somewhere in the life noise, the pressure, the lack of sleep, the negative thoughts… I stopped being much else.'
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