MAFS 'adventure' sours as screen couple face court
Ryan Donnelly and Jacqui Burfoot were paired together in the most recent season of the hit Australian reality TV series but chose to separate during an insult-laden final vows ceremony.
Burfoot has already been granted an interim restraining order in Tasmania preventing Donnelly from talking about her on social media.
In response, Donnelly applied for an apprehended domestic violence order against his former TV bride.
His matter came before Campbelltown Local Court in southwest Sydney on Tuesday, when it was adjourned for one month to give Burfoot time to respond.
Appearing at court with a bodyguard, she did not say anything to reporters about the allegations after the matter was adjourned.
Her barrister, Marcia Edwards, said it would be prejudicial for her to speak.
A MAFS fan who had attended court yelled at Burfoot while she was walking to her parked 4WD.
Later, Donnelly's lawyer Daniel Wakim said his client still sought protection and he would talk with Burfoot's lawyers about resolving the matter.
"We're yet to see what the respondent has to put on in relation to my client's fears," he said.
Donnelly told reporters he had found it very difficult emotionally, claiming his former screen wife posted about him "almost incessantly".
He said he had never thought his on-screen marriage would turn out this way.
"It wasn't the adventure I had planned," he told reporters.
"I wanted to have this amazing chapter of my life and have a comfortable circle, and leave amicably and as friends."
The 37-year-old applied for a restraining order that would stop his TV wife from publishing anything about him or his friends on social media for two years.
It would also bar Burfoot from assaulting, threatening, stalking, or intimidating Donnelly or damaging anything he owns.
Burfoot is now engaged to her MAFS co-star Clint Rice, who proposed to her at a viewing party for the finale of the show and also accompanied her to court on Tuesday.
The matter will return to court on July 29.
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