MAFS Intruder Joel Moses Breaks Silence on Chaotic Wedding
Married At First Sight intruder Joel Moses has publicly addressed the fallout from his notoriously awkward wedding to Juliette Fava, defiantly stating he harbours "no regrets" about his much-criticised performance. The 31-year-old groom's joke-laden vows and reception speech left many viewers cringing, with co-stars and fans alike branding him insufferable. However, in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Moses stood firm, refusing to apologise for a single word.
"I Wouldn't Change a Word" - Joel's Unapologetic Stance
Joel revealed that watching the episode back actually brought him relief. "I was a bit concerned watching my wedding back," he admitted. "I remembered the big moments, but everything in between I sort of forgot. It was like experiencing it for the first time again. But honestly, I thought it was a pretty positive screening. I was happy with it at the end." He married receptionist Juliette in what has been described as one of the season's most painfully awkward ceremonies yet.
The groom defended his over-the-top humour as a deliberate choice, criticising the show's typically serious tone. "It's a fake wedding. Who cares about the speeches?" he said bluntly. "Everyone is always so serious, copy and paste, cookie cutter, same nonsense. How about let's just have some fun? Why does it have to be 90 per cent serious and 10 per cent funny? Why can't it be the opposite?"
While some felt he overdid it, Joel claimed the edit removed the softer, more heartfelt elements of his speech. "They cut out most of the heartfelt stuff, obviously. But look, I wouldn't change a word. I thought it was hilarious," he asserted.
Addressing Motives and Personal Speculation
The flamboyant groom also tackled speculation about his reasons for joining the show, insisting fame was not his goal. "I've been hiding from the world for a long time. I've been afraid of being seen. Afraid of being heard," he confessed. He described MAFS as arriving at the "apex" of his personal transformation, calling the opportunity "destiny." "As soon as I had the first call with casting, I felt something happen. It felt like magic in the room. I thought, this is mine if I want it," he explained.
Furthermore, Joel firmly addressed online rumours regarding his sexuality. "I've heard that since I was 12. I always liked to dress well, I was flamboyant. But I've always liked women, end of," he stated. "I am a mama's boy, that's true. And mama's born proud." He also clarified that production had no involvement in his mother's now-viral wedding speech, confirming she wrote it herself and he had not seen it beforehand.
Joel believes he has been widely misjudged by the public. "People judged and got it wrong, as they normally do with me," he said. "Humans are like layers. The first layer can be deceiving."
Tensions with Juliette and Predictions of Drama
Despite feeling misunderstood by viewers, Joel revealed the real tension began almost immediately after the ceremony. He claimed there was genuine chemistry and banter during the vows, but the mood shifted dramatically by the reception's end. "Towards the end of the wedding, she absolutely flipped. She started scowling at my mother, giving her these evil death stares - bone chilling," he alleged about Juliette. "That's giving supervillain vibes."
The cracks reportedly widened in the post-ceremony limo ride, where Juliette confronted him about his speeches. "If you misunderstand me that much, it really throws me off," he said. "A wise woman would see through the humour and see the true person underneath that." He also hit back at Juliette's suggestion he was on the show for the wrong reasons, stating: "I've never had a social media following. I've never applied to go on a TV show. I live a low-key life. I think celebrities are twats, to be honest. I don't want to be famous."
However, conflict wasn't limited to his bride. Joel explained he had predicted drama with two cast members before even entering the experiment. "I looked up the cast and I pointed out two people that I thought were gonna be trouble. I texted my mum and said, 'These two are gonna be trouble.' Those two were Gia and Bec," he disclosed. He claimed that at the wedding, it was "90 per cent Gia" coming for him. "Gia didn't like me from the first moment she laid eyes on me," he said. "She thinks the show is called Gia At First Sight. She tries to make everything about her. It's not about her."
Heading into the dinner party, Joel anticipated "nuclear war," expecting to be "absolutely hammered by everyone in the room." However, he admitted he "actually flew under the radar a bit." He also conceded to a social misstep at the wedding, failing to properly greet Juliette's family at the altar. "I should have gone up to her mum and dad and shaken their hands. Instead I did this weird air handshake thing. I don't know what I was thinking," he said, noting he later had a "lovely chat" with them after the reception.
Married At First Sight continues Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine.
