Brennan Shoykhet did not identify Emily Balch’s appearance as the reason he was not attracted to her. In a December 2023 account of his comments on Married at First Sight: Afterparty, he connected his doubts to things he said Emily had shared about being ghosted, having one-night stands and enjoying partying. At the Season 17 reunion, he also described lifestyle differences and said he had lost trust in the matchmaking process. Those are Brennan’s explanations, not independently established facts about Emily or the private reasons for the couple’s split.
What Brennan said was behind his doubts
In a counseling clip shown on the December 20, 2023 episode of Married at First Sight: Afterparty, Dr. Pia Holec asked Brennan what was holding back the physical attraction. He struggled to explain it, answering, “Umm, I don’t know. It’s just not there.” Holec suggested individual therapy to help him identify his emotions.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Married at First Sight Season 1 | $32.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Meet the Sight Words Level 1 DVD | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Love at First Sighting | $8.53 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Mamma Mia! | Buy on Amazon | |
| 5 |
|
Being Julia | $3.99 | Buy on Amazon |
When host Keshia Knight Pulliam asked what he had been afraid to share, Brennan said Emily had told him about being ghosted, having one-night stands and liking partying. He said those comments left him wondering, “Are you ready for marriage?” This was his recollection of their conversations; the report does not independently verify what Emily said or what she meant.
Brennan also said, “If I’m just not feeling a spark with someone, I think that’s okay.” Knight Pulliam challenged him that he had not communicated that so clearly at the time. Reality TV World reported these comments on December 22, 2023, following the Afterparty episode.
#1 Best Overall
Did Brennan say he was not attracted to Emily because of her looks?
The reports do not establish that Brennan specifically said Emily’s looks caused his lack of attraction. In the counseling clip, he initially said only that the attraction was “just not there”; his later explanation focused on what he said were concerns about her dating history and partying.
A separate interpretation came from Pastor Cal Roberson in a Decision Day recap. As quoted by Denver Westword, Roberson said Brennan had a certain type in mind and Emily did not fit it. That is the pastor’s interpretation, not a direct statement from Brennan that Emily’s appearance was the reason. Westword’s March 2024 recap should therefore not be treated as proof of Brennan’s private motive.
Rank #2
- Ages - 1,2,3,4,5,6
- Weight - 0.1875
- Depth - 7.50
- Width - 0.50
- Height - 5.25
How Brennan described the problem at the reunion
By the Season 17 reunion, Brennan was also talking about broader compatibility and his confidence in the experiment. In reunion coverage published in April 2024, he cited differences in their lifestyles and what they wanted. He also said he felt the experts had not matched him correctly, which led him to stop trusting the process.
Emily, meanwhile, said she wished Brennan had told her why he was not attracted to her. The reunion account also describes conflicting versions of how the two communicated and behaved during the experiment. Those disagreements remain each person’s account; the recap does not establish one version as the definitive record. Reality TV World’s April 2024 reunion recap reports their comments.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
How the marriage ended
Emily and Brennan both chose divorce on Decision Day. That outcome is established in the reunion and Decision Day coverage, but it does not settle the dispute over what caused the loss of attraction or resolve their conflicting accounts of the relationship. The available reports document what each person said on the show; they do not establish private motives beyond those statements.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
