MAFS Australia's Paul Antoine breaks silence on door punching scandal and edit (2025)

Married At First Sight Australia groom Paul Antoine has spoken out about his 'door punch' scandal and the 'destroyed' edit he received on the show.

Married At First Sight Australia's Paul Antoine has opened up about his experience on the show, which left him feeling "broken, ashamed, and vilified" after a notorious 'door punch' incident.

Paul, 30, has now candidly broken his silence about the mental strain of being on the show, his relationship with Carina Mirabile, his regrets, and aspects of his story that he claims were not shown to viewers.

"It's been overwhelming. Watching the show brought back so many emotions. That's why I just stayed quiet. I couldn't be bothered with the post-show drama," Paul confessed during an interview with Daily Mail Australia.

He also addressed the moment when he punched a door off-camera, causing viewer outrage and a stern warning from production. "I was mentally drained. We were filming 12 to 14 hours a day, and I was running on five hours of sleep. I just snapped," he admitted.

The incident occurred following a disagreement with his on-screen wife Carina after a night out with co-stars Jeff and Rhi. During a taxi ride, Carina mentioned she had previously slept with a rapper - information Paul was aware of but was taken aback by her decision to discuss it in front of others.

"It felt like she was bragging. It confused me. In her confession letter, she was ashamed of her past, and now it seemed like she was owning it proudly in front of everyone."

He recounted falling silent, simmering with frustration, and feeling her apologies were 'deflective', leading to a breakdown that culminated in Paul punching a door in exasperation.

He explained: "It was unacceptable. I walked out of the room, and I lost control. The moment it happened, I instantly felt shame. I felt disgusted."

The show's producers had to intervene, separating the couple for the evening and debating whether to remove him from the series. "They brought me into a private room the next day. I couldn't stop crying. I told them, "If you need to kick me off, I understand."

He continued, "But they gave me another chance. I was so grateful - I wanted to make things right and show that wasn't who I am."

Paul also insisted such behaviour was completely out of character for him. "My friends, my family - they know me. That's not who I am. I've never lashed out like that."

Meanwhile, Paul also claims he shared profound and vulnerable moments that were entirely omitted from the show. "They didn't show me opening up about my grandpa. They didn't show the beautiful conversations with my groomsmen."

He added, "They didn't show my confession letter where I spoke about my heartbreaks and my hopes. It felt like they didn't want people to like me."

Despite this, Paul credits the show's offer of therapy as a pivotal point in his recovery. "I took up their counselling offer. It saved me," he said. "I was struggling to forgive myself. That therapist helped me find peace."

He continues to see the same counsellor to this day. "We built a real connection. He knows everything about me - my background, my family. He never judged me."

For Paul, distancing himself from the show - and social media - was crucial. "I unfollowed everything. I stopped watching. I started feeling normal again. The show can be so toxic. The hate was intense."

Discussing his current relationship with Carina, Paul revealed that despite their rocky journey, they are now on friendly terms. "We're amicable. She came over to my place in Sydney after the show. I made us lunch, we sat by the pool, and we laughed about it all," he said.

He also expressed his continued respect for her, describing her as "stunning" and having a "good heart."

Reflecting on the Final Vows, Paul admitted he had little hope but clung onto a glimmer of optimism. "I thought maybe she had forgiven me. But deep down, I knew I'd messed up," he confessed.

He also regretted asking for her forgiveness again, acknowledging his repeated mistakes.

Offering advice to future cast members, Paul warned: "You need thick skin to do this show. They will test you. You have to be honest - but maybe not too honest."

Despite the challenges, Paul maintains that the experience was life-changing. "It broke me. But it also taught me who I am - and who I want to be."

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