Ashleigh Ackerman discusses Jake Luik's controversial photo ranking challenge on Married At First Sight
Married At First Sight's Ashleigh Ackerman has shared her thoughts about her partner Jake Luik's photo ranking challenge during Wednesday night's episode. The 30-year-old groom faced backlash for his harsh remarks while ranking the brides and grooms based on attractiveness.
Jake made comments about the appearance of his female co-stars, criticizing their age, facial features, and race. For instance, he described Jacqui Burfoot as having "crazy eyes," Rhi Disljenkovic with "a little lazy eye," and Sierah Swepstone as having a face that portrayed aggression. Additionally, he placed Ashleigh in fifth position but later confided to producers that he might have ranked her lower because she didn't conform to his conventional standards.
In an interview with Yahoo Lifestyle, Ashleigh expressed more shock at Jake's comments about the other brides rather than her own ranking. She stated, "I didn't have any issue with where I was placed. I think the other women are drop-dead gorgeous."
Ashleigh felt conflicted during the episode. While she considered speaking out against Jake's remarks, she also wanted to maintain her relationship. "I was still trying to get to know him and build a connection," she recounted.
Reflecting on the experience, she said, "I'm actually really proud of myself for how I handled that," noting that she wanted to stand up for her co-stars. She mentioned that her ranking was based on personal feelings rather than negative comments.
Despite the drama, Ashleigh was disappointed that viewers didn't see her rendition of the challenge, where she managed to rank without being rude. "I explained my rationale for placing Adrian towards the bottom, my personal preferences, and assured Jake he placed similarly to me," she explained.
After the challenge, Jake acknowledged Ashleigh's approach was more thoughtful, leading to a productive conversation about the importance of sensitivity when discussing appearances.
