Married At First Sight fans applauded Ivan Sarakula and Aleks Markovic for refusing to answer relationship expert Dr Trisha Stratford’s questions about intimacy.
During Sunday night’s commitment ceremony, the couple felt they were being grilled on their sex life, and had no issue in leaving the social experiment.
‘Proud of Ivan and Aleks for setting boundaries,’ one viewer shared on Twitter.
Support: Married At First Sight fans praised Ivan Sarakula (right), 30, and Aleks Markovic (left), 26, for refusing to answer relationship expert Dr Trisha Stratford’s questions about their sex life during Sunday night’s commitment ceremony
Another post read: ‘I fully support Ivan and Aleks not talking about their sex life on national TV! If they say their intimacy is going good, then that’s all the experts need to know.’
Others said ‘nothing is sacred anymore’ particularly when it comes to reality dating shows.
‘So Ivan and Aleks don’t want to talk about their sex life on national TV. Obviously nothing is sacred anymore as perpetuated by shows like MAFS,’ one wrote.
Online: Viewers said they were ‘proud’ of the couple for ‘setting boundaries’ and said ‘nothing is sacred anymore’ – particularly when it comes to reality dating shows
Another added: ‘Props to Aleks and Ivan, they shouldn’t be made to talk about something they’re not comfortable with just for the sake of entertainment.’
While another simply said: ‘Trish won’t let this ‘sex’ thing go.’
In previous weeks, Ivan, 30, and Aleks, 26, have both expressed their discomfort with questions relating to intimacy, but faced even more in Sunday night’s episode.
‘We’re not after sexual therapy’: On Sunday’s episode, the couple said they would have no problem walking away from the experiment if they are continually quizzed about their sex life by Mel Schilling, Dr Trisha Stratford and John Aiken (pictured)
Dr Trisha asked: ‘How is intimacy progressing for you two? Because remember, it’s Married At First Sight – not friends.’
As Ivan stuttered, the couple agreed that intimacy is a ‘sacred subject’ for them.
Aleks said: ‘We obviously have the mental connection there, I am getting uptight and awkward talking about intimacy. I’ve not been raised that way.’
Real estate agent Ivan elaborated: ‘With our family lives, it’s generally not a topic that we discuss. We are of the opinion that as those things progress, we will hold it quite private. We’re not after sexual therapy, that’s not why we’re here.
‘It’s sacred to us’: In previous weeks, the pair have both expressed their discomfort with questions relating to intimacy, but faced even more on Sunday night
‘It’s just not a topic that we’re comfortable discussing.’
Pushing them further, Trisha responded: ‘This experiment is not meant to be comfortable, and it puts you under pressure. We ask that you do speak about this.’
Ivan hit back: ‘You can ask all you like, but I’m not going to respond publicly. I don’t know that’s anyone’s business…’
Trisha then interrupted, saying: ‘It is our business, because you’re in the experiment.’
‘It is our business, because you’re in the experiment’: Despite their obvious discomfort, Trisha said it is the experts’ ‘business’ to ask about their intimacy
Ivan went on to compare the expert’s line of questioning to being in an ‘adult film’.
Mel then interjected, saying: ‘Ivan, it’s feeling a little hostile. You use the term “adult film” when talking about sex within an intimate relationship. I’m concerned about what that means with building this final block in your relationship.’
Keeping calm, Ivan responded: ‘I’m not trying to be hostile, Mel. I’d like to make that very clear. I’m of the opinion that my sex life is no one’s business but mine.’
‘I’m of the opinion that my sex life is no one’s business but mine’: Ivan compared their line of questioning to being in an ‘adult film’ and was accused of becoming ‘hostile’ by the experts
Mel continued: ‘This is having an open discussion. If you’re not going to talk to us about it, are you talking to each other about your sexual feelings and desires?’
Becoming impatient, Aleks sternly stated: ‘Yeah, we do and we’re very open with each other. In front of our peers and in an open forum, I don’t feel comfortable.’
Aleks continued: ‘The pressure is getting to me a little bit and I feel like I can’t be myself. I think that it’s getting to the point where I’d be happy to pursue Ivan outside of this experiment, if I’m getting pushed about that subject.’
‘We’re facilitating the relationship’: As the situation became tense, Mel clarified: ‘There is no pressure here from us for you guys to engage in sexual activity, and I want you to hear that’
Clarifying their roles on the show, Mel responded: ‘There is no pressure here from us for you guys to engage in sexual activity, and I really want you to hear that.
‘That is not what we’re on about. What we’re interested in is how your relationship is progressing, we’re not interested in the gory details of your sex life.
‘We’re not passively sitting here waiting for you to ask us for advice. We’re facilitating the relationship and trying to move things as quickly as we can because of the short period of the experiment that we’re working within.’
Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine
Will they last much longer? Aleks and Ivan have stated that they’re happy to quit together
