As far as perfect matches go, it’s fair to say that Katie Johnston and Tim Gromie were not one. Restaurant CEO Katie, 37, was paired with the 38-year-old primary school teacher on Married At First Sight Australia by experts Mel Schilling, John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla but from the moment they met at the altar, it was clear that it was unlikely to be a happy ever after for the couple.
The pair got off to a rocky start when Tim failed to hide his disappointment with his new wife on the show. Minutes after their ‘wedding’, he told a producer, ‘What the f***? Totally not what I wanted. It’s not good. I normally go for short, blonde, petite. Katie is like nothing that I would normally go for.’ He added, ‘There’s no attraction, there’s nothing there and I can tell straight away.’
When a crew member pointed out, ‘You don’t even know her yet?’, Tim insisted that he would not even give Katie – who wanted a ‘kind’ husband – a chance. ‘I know but if there is just nothing there – what do you do? I’m shattered, as soon as I was up there I was like f***! It’s disappointing and I’m a bit embarrassed that I’ve come here now.’ He continued, ‘I don’t want to be here, this is f***ed. I just feel like I’ve wasted my time. I just want to run away!’
Tim refused to stay with Katie following their honeymoon, sealing the deal on the end of their very short-lived marriage.
Furthermore, Tim was dubbed ‘most hated’ groom after he was caught sending secret messages to MAFS 2024 bride Eden Harper – while on honeymoon with Katie. ‘He couldn’t even wait until he got home?’ one viewer commented, with another remarking, ‘If there’s one thing men have, it’s audacity.’
Unsurprisingly, the pairing didn’t last long, with Katie and Tim becoming the first couple to leave the series after the first commitment ceremony.
Where is Katie now?
Katie has no regrets about her decision to quit the experiment. ‘I left MAFS at the first commitment ceremony… and I’ve never been more sure of who I am,’ she said.
‘Sometimes life throws challenges at you that test your strength, your worth, and your boundaries. But here’s what I know: the faster you get back up, the harder it is to fall next time. Every time I’ve been knocked down, I’ve chosen to stand taller, stronger, and more in love with myself than before.’
She continued, ‘Some decisions can feel heavy, but the right ones always come easy. Saying no to what isn’t right isn’t loss; it’s freedom. It’s making space for something better, something true. Every step away from what doesn’t serve me is a step closer to the love I know I deserve. Here’s to growth and the beautiful things ahead.’
Since leaving the show, Katie has been helping women identify toxic traits in potential partners and in themselves through a free online course.
‘I am more than OK. I was strong before, frustrated during, and even better now. I really want to focus on finding stability, building the foundation, and filling up my self-love cup again and I’ll explore that possibility later,’ she said.
Katie said she ‘feels sorry’ for her ex-husband. ‘I hope he learns and I hope he heals, and I hope he can be better for the next woman, man, who enters his life,’ she added.
Where is Tim now?
After getting backlash for his behaviour on the show, Tim has refused to do any press interviews for MAFS Australia. It’s thought that he continues to look for his Mrs Right on dating apps. His profile reads, ‘Just because you watched it on TV, doesn’t mean it’s real…’