Michelle and her twin sister Sharon have been good friends with fellow Married At First Sight contestant Andrew for many years. The sisters were quick to come to Andrew’s defence during the social experiment.
Speaking with TV WEEK, Michelle admits that she fully supported Andrew’s decision to leave his partner Cheryl.
What was it like watching Andrew and Cheyl break up at the final commitment ceremony?
I think it was the right outcome. If you’re in separate bedrooms after the first week of your relationship, I think that’s a good indication that things aren’t going well. If you’re feeling the worst that you’ve ever felt in your life after the first week or two, that is also a very good indication that things are not quite right.
Did he actually tell you that this was ‘the worst he’d ever felt in his life’?
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Yeah, absolutely. The way he was treated by individuals, he’s never been so harshly judged, so harshly ignored in his life. He was at a very low point during the experiment. It was really sad to see.
You’ve been friends with Andrew previously; was it hard to watch him go through this experience?
It was devastating. It’s the same when any of my good friends back home go through a break up or a death in the family or a hard time – it’s hard to see a friend hurting. All you want to do is be there for them because you know them best.
Since the recent episodes went to air, he’s copped some backlash for his behaviour, how have you been supporting him?
Jonesy and myself – we talk regularly like we always have, nothing has changed. We have the same friendship we had before, if not stronger. We’re hanging out, talking on the phone regularly.
At the end of the day, it does not matter what strangers think. People don’t know me; people don’t know any of us from the experiment. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, so long as you’ve got good friends and family, it doesn’t matter. Your loved ones are all that matter. So my sister and I are there for Jonesy as much as he is there for us.
How do you think has he been coping?
He’s a good guy – anyone who knows him well knows he’s a good guy and a great friend. He’s very respectful. I think he’s doing fine but at the same time, it’s not easy seeing yourself on TV and the way – again, the editing can hone in on certain things for probably longer than they should.
