Married at First Sight expert Dr. Viviana Coles finds it very unfortunate Michael Watson felt the need to repeatedly lie to his wife Meka Jones, even about his job and salary.
|
ADVERTISEMENT
|
RELATED: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHAT COUPLES ARE STILL TOGETHER? WHO BROKE UP? (PHOTOS)
On the special hosted by Jamie Otis, Viviana and Season 10 stars Zach Justice and Jessica Studer watched back a Season 10 clip of Michael showing Meka an alleged offer letter from his new job that unconventionally listed two salaries -- one before and one after taxes.
Meka said the numbers didn't add up and Michael's salary kept getting lower, so she had reached "a breaking point" over her husband continuing to lie to her in their marriage.
Michael was billed by Lifetime as a 31-year-old education director from Washington, D.C.
"His profession is noble, and if he's struggling with getting the right position that will be a long-term position, I mean, these are things that are very normal and typical things that people live through," Viviana shared.
"And [Michael] was matched with someone who can handle it!"
"[Meka] is not saying, 'If you give me anything below this number, I won't like you,'" Viviana continued. "She just wants to know it so that they can plan their finances together, like a normal married couple!"
Jamie said she could appreciate Viviana thinking Michael's profession is noble, but she admitted, "I'm sitting here wondering, 'What is his profession?!' What exactly is his profession?"
"Well, the two or three that he has mentioned are all noble," Viviana joked, erupting laughter from everyone on the Unfiltered set.
RELATED LINK: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' STAR BRANDON CLAIMS TAYLOR COMMITTED ADULTERY DURING MARRIAGE, ONLY DID SHOW FOR PUBLICITY (EXCLUSIVE)
During the Married at First Sight season, Michael was supposedly offered a high-paying principal job at a Catholic high school, but he told Meka he turned down the opportunity after the terms of his contract changed for the worse at the last minute.
FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS!
Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!
Michael told Meka he taught yoga part-time and later told Pastor Calvin Roberson he had accepted a position as the director for an extended-day program at a school instead.
"They're all okay," Viviana said on Unfiltered in reference to all of Michael's possible positions, "but he needs to be honest with the finances so she can keep moving."
Jamie pointed out that although Zach wasn't an award-winning husband on Married at First Sight's tenth season, he at least didn't lie constantly to Mindy Shiben's face about little things.
"Zach, I know you talk in circles, but at least you're not lying blatantly to a girl. I'll give you that," Jamie said.
"Thanks, Jamie," Zach replied with a laugh.
"I'll give you something there!" Jamie joked. "We're going out on a limb."
"I don't know if it's a pride thing where you feel like you have to portray a certain number or a certain status with your salary," Zach shared. "It sounds like [Michael] was just not being honest about what he was making."
RELATED LINK: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' STAR MICHAEL SEEKING ANNULMENT FROM MEKA CLAIMING SHOW DEFRAUDED HIM INTO MARRIAGE (EXCLUSIVE)
ADVERTISEMENT
"His conversation with me during the honeymoon was he felt like [Meka] needed a certain type of guy and needed a certain type of security, which led me to believe that he felt uncomfortable saying, 'This is what I do,'" Zach reasoned.
"But that's not fair!" Jamie shouted.
"I agree," Zach noted.
And Viviana insisted, "We would not have matched them if that were the case."
"That's where I am connecting the dots," Zach said.
Michael had promised Meka to be honest and transparent with her after both spouses agreed to stay married on "Recommitment Day," but it didn't take long for Michael to settle back into his old ways.
Given Meka obtained a mathematics degree in college, she told the cameras that she didn't "miss a beat" and there was no doubt in her mind Michael was being dishonest about his job salary.
"Is this guy serious?!" Meka vented in a confessional.
"I don't think he's ever been held accountable the way that I hold him accountable. So him trying to change the offer letter to be, like, a higher number, honestly, the offer letter was forged. And it's not really going to slide with me... Weirdo!"
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY KNOW? (PHOTOS)
Meka determined that Michael was never going to stop lying to her and needed professional help.
However, during a joint counseling session with Viviana, Michael finally admitted there was some "embarrassment and fear" on his end because a previous job -- which would have paid much more money -- didn't work out.
ADVERTISEMENT
Meka explained there was a vicious cycle going on in that Michael wanted her to be vulnerable so he could tell the truth but she needed him to tell the truth in order for her to be vulnerable.
Michael then opened up about the effects of not having his mother around as a child.
Michael cried and explained, "When I was a kid and I found out I was adopted, there was a lot of, like, me creating my own narrative and creating this world for myself where I felt comfortable about who I was and what that meant for me."
"I didn't want to be teased for not having a dad or not knowing your mom, so there were stories I definitely made up. And it's something that, in some ways, have manifested itself into me as an adult... That is my fault and I accept that."
Meka was thankful Michael was finally being honest and accepting responsibility for his actions, so the pair took a giant leap forward in their relationship and Meka found herself feeling comfortable enough to continue on with the process.
However, Michael and Meka butted heads again during a couples' retreat in Wednesday night's episode, so their marriage remains in limbo on Season 10 with just over a week to go until "Decision Day."
Married at First Sight's tenth season also stars Jessica's husband Austin Hurd, Taylor Dunklin and Brandon Reid, and Katie Conrad and Derek Sherman.
RELATED: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHAT COUPLES ARE STILL TOGETHER? WHO BROKE UP? (PHOTOS)
Interested in more Married at First Sight news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group!
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
