Married At First Sight: The REAL reason Aleks and Ivan quit the experiment

Married At First Sight‘s Aleks Markovic and Ivan Sarakula abruptly quit the show before the commitment ceremony on Sunday’s episode.

The couple didn’t explain their departure at the time, but Aleks has since revealed there was a specific reason why she couldn’t wait to get home.

The 26-year-old real estate agent told 9Entertainment she wasn’t so much tired of Ivan as she was tired of the experiment itself.

‘I did self-sabotage the relationship and in a way friend-zoned Ivan just to get home,’ she said. 

‘Being in the experiment under that much pressure and stress, you just want to leave at some points. It got to a point for me that I just had enough.

‘I knew I was never going to leave Ivan, I knew I was always going to have him in my life. But at that time it just wasn’t in a romantic way, because I’d built up my walls, self-sabotaged and just left.’

Aleks revealed that she and Ivan reunited in Perth after leaving the experiment.

She added that her parents – who had refused to attend her wedding – really liked Ivan when they finally got to meet him. 

Despite living on opposite sides of the country, Ivan said in his exit interview that he and Aleks were still speaking every day.

However, he did not confirm whether they were in a romantic relationship. 

Meanwhile, photos published by Daily Mail Australia on Monday show the pair kissing at Sydney Airport on January 14.

Ivan had picked up Aleks from the airport after she’d flown in to film the MAFS reunion episodes. 

Before their reunion in Sydney, Ivan had spent New Year’s Eve with his girlfriend in her home city of Perth.

Daily Mail Australia understands the couple spent several weeks apart after splitting on MAFS in November, before reconciling during Ivan’s make-or-break trip to Perth.

Following their exit on Sunday’s episode, Aleks shared a statement to Instagram.

She wrote: ‘The pressures and expectations of the experiment got the better of us. Ivan and I stayed together the evening of our exit and he even saw me off at the airport to be with my family. It was an emotional moment for the both of us. 

‘Let’s see if being outside does our relationship any more justice without the pressure and judgements of our peers. That being said, regardless of what pans out over the next few days and weeks, we are forever grateful for all of the wonderful people we have met along the way.’ 

Aleks and Ivan quit the experiment after they found themselves facing multiple accusations from their fellow cast members at last week’s dinner party. 

Michael Goonan and Josh Pihlak accused Aleks of telling them she had slept with Ivan, but she denied saying anything of the sort. 

Aleks then accused Ivan of encouraging the other grooms to discuss their sex life, which he also denied.

In yet another bombshell, Michael claimed he’d seen Aleks with another man in the lobby of their apartment building – which she strongly denied.

During her final scenes, Aleks said: ‘I’m feeling a little bit betrayed by some of the other couples in this experiment. I thought they were friends, nobody had my back. 

‘At this point I need to leave. I know my worth, I know who I am and I know that I don’t have to justify myself to anybody in this experiment. 

‘I didn’t come here for friends. I came in here to find love and to find a soulmate.’

Ivan said: ‘I came here for an experience, I got that, and it’s time for me to check out. I need to look after myself and Aleks, and I’m getting the f**k out of here.’