Viewers of Married at First Sight UK were left confused and asking the "same thing" after the final reunion episodes aired, as the turbulent couple Grace and Ashley were noticeably absent from both the reunion dinner party and the commitment ceremony (OK! Magazine, Wales Online).

Their absence was not addressed by the remaining cast members, leading fans to question why the storyline was "abandoned" despite the couple being a major part of the series.

The Couple's Tumultuous Journey and Exit

Grace and Ashley's marriage was one of the most controversial of the series, marked by numerous arguments and discomfort that led to hundreds of complaints to Ofcom (The Tab, Wales Online).

• The Split: The pair ultimately decided to part ways before final vows. In a departure from the usual format, they had separate, private meetings with the experts to explain their reasons for leaving (Wales Online, Bristol Live).

• The Controversy: Their relationship was highly scrutinised, particularly after an incident where Ashley attempted to open the bathroom door while Grace was inside, which he defended as a playful gesture. Grace later claimed that the show's production had "sanitised" her account of events during their solo interview, leading her to question the honesty of the editing (Bristol Live, OK! Magazine). She took to Instagram to express her frustration with the editing and the subsequent online backlash (Bristol Live).

• Expert's Statement: Grace and Ashley also missed the final commitment ceremony. Expert Mel Schilling had briefly addressed their non-attendance at the time, stating they had a "rocky couple of weeks and as a result, felt they needed more time to reflect" (Bristol Live, Daily Star).

Their non-appearance at the final reunions, coupled with the lack of any further mention, suggests they chose to completely detach from the production following the backlash and their controversial exit.

😲 Other Notable Absence and Post-Show Drama: Joe, Maeve, and Julia-Ruth

Another participant who did not attend the reunion was fitness instructor Joe, who was matched with Maeve.

• The Original Split: Joe and Maeve connected and even said they loved each other, but the relationship soured after Joe had to leave filming following the death of his grandfather. They ended things after several heated rows (Wales Online, Yahoo!).

• The Holiday Fling: Post-experiment, Joe became the centre of major drama when it was revealed he went on a holiday with another former bride, Julia-Ruth, and they got matching tattoos (OK! Magazine, National World).

• The Revelation: Julia-Ruth revealed the fling to Maeve and the other brides at a meet-up, causing major uproar. Joe's decision to skip both the grooms' meet-up and the final reunion led expert Paul C Brunson to reportedly call him a "coward" for not being held accountable (National World, Yahoo!).

• Joe's Defense: Joe later defended his actions, stating that both he and Julia-Ruth were single when they went away and that he never intended to return to the show. He also claimed that he and Julia-Ruth had planned to keep their brief connection a secret, but production "actually stirred the pot" by informing Maeve after they discovered the two were in Lanzarote (National World, The Tab).

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