Controversial Married At First Sight Australia couple Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson have shared a message to critics after they announced they're engaged in real life and expecting twins.
Ruthven was dubbed a 'narcissistic gaslighter', among other things, during his time on the show, prompting a wave of concern for Melissa's wellbeing and happiness in the experiment.
Despite the heavy backlash over their union, the pair have insisted they're "deeply in love" and "over the moon" to be welcoming twins at the end of the year.
Speaking to The Edge breakfast show with Dom, Meg and Randell, Ruthven said the negative comments online had been outweighed by the positive ones.
"Those people with a shit mindset like that are in the minority. I guess a lot of them are still just bitter to admit they're wrong," Ruthven said of his critics.
"The show was all fake, and people aren't smart enough and switched on enough to believe that."
Meanwhile, Rawson said she still saw the occasional comment that was "a bit triggering", but the criticism didn't get to her like it used to at the beginning.
"But this is my life, I'm a big girl. I am of sound mind - it's a television show, obviously we didn't come off looking the best, but we've moved past that and we're starting a family," she said.
"The majority of people were fantastic. We've got other priorities now, we're not here to prove anyone wrong, we're just here to make each other happy."
Ruthven, who popped the question for real during a helicopter flight above Melbourne's cricket ground, said he had "done the right thing" by giving up drinking in support of his pregnant fiancee.
Rawson said she was "elated" when she found out two weeks ago twins were on the way, even more so than when she first realised she was pregnant.
"The first time I found out I was like 'oooh this is a bit soon'," she admitted.
