Married at First Sight’s (MAFS) Gia and Scott‘s relationship appears to have fallen apart after she discovered old photos of Scott’s ex on his phone, which he refused to delete. Now, a relationship expert has weighed in on whether it’s ever appropriate to keep old photos of an ex.
Gottman-trained couples therapist Michelle Janssen told Chattr that the old photos themselves were less of a red flag than the way Gia and Scott have handled the situation.
“What matters far more than the photo itself is how a couple navigates the conversation when it comes up, because it will come up. One person might scroll past an old photo without a second thought. The other might feel a sting of discomfort, disappointment, or even betrayal. Neither reaction is wrong. What we often forget is that we bring different assumptions into relationships about what is okay and what isn’t and we rarely spell those out until something like this surfaces,” she told Chattr.
However, an insider told Chattr that the photos Scott kept of his ex were explicit, and claimed there were multiple photos of her naked and dressed in lingerie. Michelle added that when the photos are sexual in nature, it can feel like a betrayal for the partner who discovers them.
“Basically, I would be questioning why someone feels the need to keep lingerie photos of an ex. What is the purpose? I think an honest exploration into that would be helpful and potentially illuminating. It would feel like a betrayal for the current partner, and I think unless both parties are comfortable with them on the phone, then it’s a reasonable request to ask them to be deleted.”
How a relationship expert thinks MAFS’ Gia and Scott should handle the photo drama
Michelle told Chattr that while there’s “no universal right or wrong answer” when it comes to deleting photos of an ex, it’s important for the person holding onto them to reflect on why they feel the need to keep them.
“I would also encourage the person who wants to keep the photo to understand why and what it represents for them,” she said.
“Is it nostalgia for a place or a time in your life? Or is there something unresolved? Being honest with yourself first makes the conversation with your partner far more productive. This is also a natural opening to a broader conversation about what you each think is okay when it comes to contact with exes, what your boundaries are and what you each need to feel secure. Couples often avoid these conversations until something forces them into it. Having them proactively is one of the hallmarks of a genuinely connected relationship.”
She added that while “asking for the photo to be deleted is ok”, the way the issue is approached is just as important.
“Stay away from blame, criticism, and defensiveness. Instead of leading with what your partner did wrong, lead with what you felt. There is a significant difference between “why do you still have that?” and “I noticed that photo and it brought up some feelings I wasn’t expecting, can we talk about it?” From there, really listen. Not to formulate your response, but to understand what is true for the other person.”
As for whether Gia and Scott will take that advice? We’re not holding our breath.
Married at First Sight (MAFS) 2026 airs Sunday – Wednesday on Channel 9 and 9Now.
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