Married at First Sight alum Bao Huoang Hoang has confirmed Zack Freeman cheated on her before they broke up in late 2021.

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'[So] according to social media, [Zack] cheated on you. Is that true? Is that what ended the relationship?" host Kevin Frazier asked Bao during an appearance on Married at First Sight's Season 16 Kickoff Special that aired Thursday night on Lifetime.

"That is true [Zack cheated on me]," Bao replied. "There is truth to that, yes."

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On "Decision Day" for Married at First Sight's thirteenth season that filmed in Houston, TX, Bao chose to divorce her husband Johnny Lam, and Zack also asked his wife Michaela Clark for a divorce. (Both Johnny and Michaela had been hoping to stay married).

On the Married at First Sight: Where Are They Now? special for Bao's season that aired in November 2021, Bao and Zack were shown going on a date and ultimately deciding to embark on a serious, exclusive relationship about four months after "Decision Day."

But in late November 2021, a 21-year-old, Houston-based woman named Elena Guevara claimed Zack had been cheating on Bao by dating them both at the same time, unbeknownst to either woman.

Elena claimed she and Zack had a sexual relationship for over a month -- from late October through late November -- during his relationship with Bao, who posted a photo with Zack and her family at Thanksgiving that year.

Earlier during her appearance on Married at First Sight's Season 16 Kickoff Special, Kevin had asked Bao to clarify the current status of her relationship with Zack.

"Work has been busy. I've been doing a lot of new things. [But] I'm here by myself!" Bao said. "I am no longer with Zack. That ended. And I have moved on."

Bao suggested that Zack was a rebound for her, and vice versa, following their televised divorces.

"Anyone that was witness to my marriage, it was pretty volatile, I didn't leave that marriage completely unscathed," Bao explained, seemingly referring to how Johnny had accused her of being fake and insincere all season long.

"It just happened, you know, that there was another cast member that also went through a difficult time. I don't want to say it, but there was probably a lot of trauma-bonding happening. At the time, it just made sense -- but then soon after, it didn't."
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When asked if she has any contact with Johnny now, Bao said, "No. None."

Bao also confirmed she hasn't spoken to Zack at all.

In terms of how her love life is going now, Bao shared, "The biggest love in my life right now is I got a puppy. She is my world!"

"But the funny thing about bringing her into my life is that so much happened," she continued. "So much good happened that I didn't anticipate. I meet people all the time walking this dog. It's great! I'm enjoying the dating world right now, and I'm not in a rush."

The woman Zack had allegedly cheated on Bao with, Elena, conducted a YouTube interview on India and Michelle's channel in late 2021, saying she had taken a friend's advice and DMed Zack on Instagram.

According to Elena, Zack replied with his phone number and then they quickly switched to iMessage. On the same day they exchanged messages, they reportedly hung out.

At the time, Episode 14 of Married at First Sight's thirteenth season had just aired, showing Zack and Michaela having their most explosive fight of the season while the cast was on a couples retreat weekend.

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However, rumors that Zack and Bao were involved in a post-show romance had also already begun circulating online in September, when the pair had been spotted enjoying a romantic dinner together followed by subsequent museum and club dates.

Elena claimed she wasn't a fan of Married at First Sight and had no idea he was dating Bao until she saw pictures of Bao and Zack together on Thanksgiving.

"I tried to have an adult conversation with him about everything... I asked him, 'Why did you not tell me that you were dating someone?' He said, 'I'm not,'" Elena claimed.

Elena said she then decided to take matters into her own hands by sending Bao a direct message on Instagram that same day.

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Bao allegedly replied to Elena's direct message on November 29 and things "blew up" from there.

According to Elena, Bao asked her for evidence of her alleged romance with Zack, which Elena happily provided.

"We had like a 20 minute [Instagram audio] call and I told her everything, and she was honestly in disbelief and clearly very hurt," Elena claimed.

Elena said once Zack was caught, he "played the pity card" and allegedly tried to get both Elena and Bao to feel sorry for him.

Elena, however, told India and Michelle that Zack bounced back very quickly and asked her not to post any of their messages on social media.

Bao then stopped following Zack on Instagram.

During the month they were dating, Elena said Zack had told her that he wasn't talking to or dating another girl. To make matters worse, Zack allegedly told Elena that he hadn't even dated anyone else after deciding to divorce Michaela.

"I assumed I was the only one he was talking to. He told me that he wanted to be serious with me, and he told me that I was perfect and I was his dream girl and I had everything he's ever looked for in a girl," Elena said.

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"And so, he was the only guy I was with, and so I assumed he was doing the same."

Amid backlash and skepticism from Married at First Sight fans, Elena released screenshots of her alleged texts with Zack on Reddit, one of which showed Zack telling her that he wasn't dating anyone else.

"I really just wanted everyone to see his honest, true colors. This is the kind of person he is. He manipulates women," Elena noted, adding that she believes Zack had used Michaela.

"This is a repetitive thing for him. He is constantly using women for sex, and it comes to my attention that I was not the only other woman."

While it appears Zack is still single on Instagram, Johnny has a new girlfriend, Kayla Fischer, a food blogger and avid traveler.

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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.