As the controversial “Is the Grass Greener?” challenge returns to our screens tonight, one surprising insider detail has emerged: Steven Danyluk was unexpectedly one of the most engaged grooms when meeting his back-up bride, Queensland-based nurse Stephanie.

According to sources, once the boys realised they’d been tricked into the alternative match meetings, only David, Scott and Filip refused to participate and left as quickly as possible. Danny (who was initially very vocal about his unease) and Steven ended up staying and “getting cosy” with their respective matches.

The insider noted: “I believe the edit will only show Steven speaking about Rachel and being respectful of her because the show needs them to remain one of the last couples standing, but he definitely got into it all and loved the attention.”

Current Status Spoiler (Post-Filming – As of Now):

Rachel and Steven appear to still be together and going stronger than many expected. They follow each other on Instagram, and there have been sightings of them holding hands in Sydney. While not 100% officially confirmed (they’re bound by NDAs until Final Vows air), the signs are positive for this wholesome couple surviving the experiment.

What to Expect Tonight

Steven’s keen interest in Stephanie could be a surprising moment, especially given how respectful he’s usually portrayed with Rachel.

Danny’s shift from unease to getting cosy adds another layer to his already dramatic arc.

Scott’s continued refusal (consistent with calling it an “editing trap”) reinforces his “stay in my own lane” stance.

This challenge has already been labelled “beyond evil” and the “sickest” in MAFS history for the way producers secretly recorded and then replayed every flirtatious moment, destroying trust right before Final Vows.

MAFS fans, are you ready for tonight’s episode?

How surprised are you that Steven got cosy with Stephanie?Do you think the edit will protect Steven & Rachel’s image?Is “Is the Grass Greener?” too cruel, or just good (brutal) TV?

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MAFS’ Steven reveals how he REALLY feels following brutal split from Rachel as he discusses backlash – and one thing that happened off-camera that would change everything

Married At First Sight groom Steven Danyluk has broken his silence in a no-holds-barred interview, lifting the lid on his failed relationship with bride Rachel and the controversy that followed.

Sitting down with Daily Mail Australia, the Sydney-based mechanic, 35, insists he was ‘genuine’ in the experiment and has slammed claims he ghosted his on-screen wife after filming wrapped.

‘I did not f***ing ghost Rachel,’ he said bluntly.

‘We stayed in contact. I flew to Melbourne to see her. There’s a lot of bulls**t online that just isn’t true.’

Steven entered the experiment as a self-confessed ‘hopeless romantic’, admitting he signed up on a whim after a late night at the pub.

‘I say dumb things, do dumb things – I thought maybe the experts could teach me something,’ he said.

Check out Steven’s insights in this video (from minute 17 onwards)👇🏻

Before the show, his life was ‘mundane’ – working as a mechanic, fishing on weekends and watching friends settle down.

‘I’m in my mid-thirties… everyone around me is having kids and moving on. You start thinking, I want that too.’

Steven was matched with Rachel in one of the season’s more grounded pairings, but their connection got off to an unusual start.

He recalled their wedding day nerves, a prank moment where he briefly thought a male guest was his match, and Rachel’s now-infamous giggle.

‘There was a lot of laughing… but it actually helped me. The nerves went away,’ he said.

While their early days showed promise – including sharing a bed on their wedding night and a relatively smooth honeymoon – cracks quickly began to appear.

A turning point came during intimacy week, when Steven refused to kiss Rachel during a key task.

Looking back, he admits it was a mistake.

‘I should’ve just kissed her,’ he said.

‘But I didn’t want to be performative or fake it. There was so much going through my head.’

The moment left Rachel visibly upset – and marked the beginning of growing emotional imbalance in the relationship.

‘That’s when I realised she was more invested than I was,’ he admitted.

One of the biggest controversies came during the couples’ retreat, when a crude comment about their sex life was exposed in front of the group.

Steven has since apologised, calling it a ‘bad choice of words’, but insists the situation was blown out of proportion.

‘I said something dumb in private. That doesn’t give someone the right to stand up and announce it to everyone,’ he said.

The fallout deeply affected Rachel and put further strain on their relationship.

Despite their ups and downs, Steven insists their connection was real – and claims he did develop genuine feelings for Rachel.

He pinpointed homestays as the moment everything shifted.

‘I started thinking – I could do life with this woman,’ he said.

‘She had my back, even with my family. That meant everything to me.’

By Final Vows, both chose to continue their relationship – a decision Steven stands by.

‘I needed to see what it was like in the real world,’ he said.

Off-camera, however, reality quickly set in.

With Steven based in Sydney and Rachel in Melbourne, distance proved to be their biggest challenge.

‘MAFS isn’t real life,’ he said.

‘There’s no bills, no work, no responsibilities. Then suddenly you’re back in it and it hits hard.’

While the pair remained in contact and spoke regularly, Steven admits communication wasn’t perfect.

‘I could’ve done things differently. I regret that,’ he said.

When he eventually flew to Melbourne to see Rachel, the reunion didn’t go as planned.

‘The energy just felt off,’ he revealed.

After hours of emotional conversations, the pair mutually decided to end things.

‘She said, ‘Are we just delaying the inevitable?’… and she was right.’

Their breakup made the reunion even more complicated, with the pair initially planning to enter together before a last-minute change.

‘It was confusing. We weren’t together, but we still had each other’s backs,’ he said.

Since leaving the show, Steven has been subjected to intense online trolling – including speculation about his sexuality and mental health.

‘People calling me gay as an insult – that’s what upset me,’ he said.

‘Even if I was gay, why is that funny? Why are people laughing?’

He also pushed back against claims he was ‘awkward’ or ‘on the spectrum’, blaming editing for shaping a misleading narrative.

‘I’m not as much of a dork as they made me out to be,’ he said.

Steven claims key moments of his relationship with Rachel were left out – including their growth as a couple and emotional scenes.

‘We both f***ed up at times. We worked on it. That development wasn’t shown,’ he said.

He also revealed tensions with the experts, particularly during the final commitment ceremony.

‘I felt like I was being forced into an answer,’ he said.

‘They put me in a position where I felt like the asshole.’

Despite their breakup, Steven insists there is no bad blood between him and Rachel.

‘We’re cordial. We still talk quite often,’ he said.

‘I’ve got nothing but respect for her.’

But he admits one question still lingers.

‘What if… what if I did things differently? Would we still be together today?’

Now focusing on personal growth, Steven says the experience has changed him.

‘I’ve learned I’m my own worst enemy,’ he said.

‘I was too worried about being liked instead of just being myself.’

And for future contestants, his advice is simple:

‘Speak your mind and be yourself – otherwise you’ll regret it.’

Rachel and Steven’s relationship timeline: What went wrong