{"success":true,"data":{"title":"What's actually happening with Awhina and Billy from MAFS? This is what they told us.","author":{"id":"YSJHwyAm2s3tx9mkNukO","name":"Isabella Thompson","slug":"isabella-thompson","bio":null,"image":"https://new-cdn.mamamia.com.au/mamamia-pwa.appspot.com/production_images%2Fmamamia-logo.png","role":null,"social_links":null,"tagline":"","type":"external-author","seo_data":null,"favouriteAuthor":false,"created_at":1747629334329,"updated_at":1747629334329,"email":null},"slug":"awhina-billy-mafs","sellLine":"\"I'll keep this one.\"","featured":false,"category":null,"subcategory":null,"image":"https://new-cdn.mamamia.com.au/mamamia-pwa.appspot.com/mediaLibrary/TaraWatsonFeatureImage16_1752538782928png_1752538802649.png","signupWidget":{"id":"AJUCIQU9vni9IPE36JBx","name":"Sign up to the Spill","tagline":"Your daily pop-culture fix, in your inbox every weekday.","interest":"9c820f7be8"},"published_at":1752577140000,"updated_at":1755233939879,"popularity":0,"paid":false,"layoutComponent":"article-layout-default","tags":[{"id":"5m8Bzc4acRGzhuYeZBkH","name":"reality-tv","type":"standard"},{"id":"dKrXpr3HwnY7KW48PS4q","name":"married-at-first-sight","type":"standard"}],"blocks":[{"type":"TextMarkup","children":[{"text":"Two months after the "},{"italic":true,"text":"MAFS "},{"text":"reunion episodes aired, "},{"type":"a","children":[{"text":"Awhina "}],"id":"5p1io","url":"https://www.mamamia.com.au/mafs-awhina-adrian-why-split/"},{"text":"Rutene and Billy Belcher hard-launched their relationship."}],"id":"eeag4","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"children":[{"text":"Or did they? "}],"type":"TextMarkup","id":"bqr4k","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"id":"wtik1","type":"TextMarkup","children":[{"text":"The pair, who were originally matched with Adrian Araouzou and Sierah Swepstone respectively, seemingly hard-launched their relationship in a joint Instagram post back in June."}],"data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"children":[{"text":"\"I'll keep this one,\" Awhina captioned the post, showing her taking a mirror selfie of the two of them."}],"id":"zpq2f","type":"TextMarkup","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"type":"instagramEmbed","id":"prpkr","data":{"html":"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Awhina (@_awhinarutene)

","originalType":"instagramEmbed"},"children":[{"text":""}]},{"id":"2yska","children":[{"text":"Then, in a "},{"url":"https://www.nowtolove.com.au/entertainment/married-at-first-sight/mafs-exclusive-awhina-billy-date/","type":"a","children":[{"text":"spread for "},{"text":"Woman's Day","italic":true}],"id":"x99n4"},{"italic":true,"text":","},{"text":" Billy and Awhina were spotted holding hands on a date of sorts, with the mum-of-one holding a bouquet of roses. Subtle, huh?"}],"type":"TextMarkup","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"id":"rg503","type":"TextMarkup","children":[{"text":"\"They looked really happy and comfortable,\" a witness told "},{"italic":true,"text":"Woman's Day"},{"text":". "}],"data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"id":"825em","type":"TextMarkup","children":[{"text":"\"Their chemistry was insane.\" "}],"data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"children":[{"text":""}],"type":"instagramEmbed","id":"fdfxz","data":{"html":"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by New Idea Magazine (@newideamagazine)

","originalType":"instagramEmbed"}},{"children":[{"text":"In the following weeks, the two"},{"italic":true,"text":" MAFS "},{"text":"stars have frequented each other's Instagram pages, as they ventured off together on a trip to Bali. "}],"id":"ichq5","type":"TextMarkup","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"children":[{"text":"But this week, something new is happening. The "},{"italic":true,"text":"Daily Mail "},{"text":"shared footage of Billy kissing a woman — a woman who is not Awhina (although she really does look like her lol). "}],"id":"a8mw7","type":"TextMarkup","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"id":"7rmwz","data":{"html":"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Married At First Sight Gossip (@mafsgossip)

","originalType":"instagramEmbed"},"type":"instagramEmbed","children":[{"text":""}]},{"type":"TextMarkup","id":"0wphv","children":[{"text":"Cue: outrage. But did these two ever actually say the words \"we are dating\"? Apparently not, because they are not dating, okay?!"}],"data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"id":"27kka","children":[{"text":"\"I know everyone wants to see a romance between us but we're grateful to have built such a beautiful friendship from this experience,\" they shared in a joint Instagram post. "}],"type":"TextMarkup","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"type":"instagramEmbed","data":{"html":"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Awhina (@_awhinarutene)

","originalType":"instagramEmbed"},"children":[{"text":""}],"id":"0xeva"},{"id":"njohj","children":[{"text":"Are y'all keeping up? The swings and roundabouts of this relationship led us to feel the need to set the record straight. No more confusion! Enough!"}],"type":"TextMarkup","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"id":"x1sdf","type":"TextMarkup","children":[{"text":"\"We have always said we are just friends and we get on extremely well and are very close, we also have lots of fun together,\" Billy exclusively told "},{"text":"Mamamia.","italic":true},{"text":" "}],"data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"type":"TextMarkup","id":"5e97u","children":[{"text":"\"People have to understand that we watched each other go through a bad time with our partners and we just want to be there for each other.\" "}],"data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"children":[{"text":"Awhina agreed with Billy's sentiments, going as far as to say that the two were never actually a romantic pair."}],"type":"TextMarkup","id":"agomm","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"type":"TextMarkup","id":"0fi12","children":[{"text":"\"Billy and I have never had a romantic relationship. There's been a lot of speculation, especially with some of the photos that were published,\" she told "},{"italic":true,"text":"Mamamia."}],"data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"id":"vogr6","type":"TextMarkup","children":[{"text":"\"Those photos came at a time when there was so much interest in our relationship. Billy and I do hold hands all the time, but it's more about comfort and support than anything romantic. "}],"data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"children":[{"text":"\"There was also interest around his bond with my son, which is very real and special. They've had a connection since before the show even aired, and that friendship means a lot to both of us. So why not get photos published together?\" "}],"id":"475xs","type":"TextMarkup","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"id":"znsuj","children":[{"text":"As far as their relationship status, they are just friends — period. "}],"type":"TextMarkup","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"type":"TextMarkup","id":"ucjjg","children":[{"text":"\"The truth is we're just incredibly close friends. That doesn't make the connection any less real, it's just not romantic,\" she said. "}],"data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"children":[{"text":"\"We do get VERY close but we haven't crossed any lines, I don't think either one of us want to jeopardise our friendship.\""}],"type":"TextMarkup","id":"iacqw","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"children":[{"text":"Awhina has other priorities in need of her attention — away from speculation around her dating life. "}],"id":"ayxyz","type":"TextMarkup","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"children":[{"text":"\r"}],"id":"o9suu","type":"TextMarkup","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"type":"TextMarkup","children":[{"text":"\"I'm currently single. Right now, I'm focusing on myself, my son, and the people in my life who bring me peace and support — including Billy.\""}],"id":"c3n4h","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"type":"TextMarkup","children":[{"text":"Awhina credits Billy's friendship for his support since "},{"text":"MAFS ","italic":true},{"text":"aired. "}],"id":"tk4bf","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"type":"TextMarkup","id":"gr467","children":[{"text":"\"Billy has been such a huge support for me over the past few months. We check in with each other constantly, we've spent a lot of time together, and he's really been a grounding presence for me,\" she said."}],"data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"id":"ydg7w","type":"TextMarkup","children":[{"text":"\"The friendship we share is genuine, it just doesn't fall into a romantic category, and that's okay."}],"data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"id":"h3uzi","children":[{"text":"This development follows both "},{"text":"MAFS ","italic":true},{"text":"participants having endured challenging relationships on the show. "}],"type":"TextMarkup","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"type":"TextMarkup","id":"4bxm4","children":[{"text":"Awhina famously delivered the line of the season at the reunion when she told Adrian: \"I can be the bad guy in his story because he's the devil in mine.\""}],"data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"type":"TextMarkup","id":"zgqnv","children":[{"text":"Meanwhile, Billy faced criticism for his \"wife swap\" comment during the experiment, which led to his and Sierah's eventual departure."}],"data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"id":"oskvx","type":"TextMarkup","children":[{"text":"Fans have been speculating that the former contestants have been dating for some time, as they have regularly featured on each other's Instagram and TikTok accounts."}],"data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"id":"cjjj1","children":[{"text":"Speaking to "},{"italic":true,"text":"Mamamia "},{"text":"back in April, Awhina shared the one thing she would have changed about her "},{"italic":true,"text":"MAFS "},{"text":"experience."}],"type":"TextMarkup","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"align":"start","children":[{"text":"\"My husband,\" she replied with a laugh."}],"type":"TextMarkup","id":"z63hh","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"type":"TextMarkup","id":"xxy11","children":[{"text":"Well, it looks like Awhina didn't find her a new husband, but she did find a new bestie. "}],"align":"start","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"id":"i1jr7","children":[{"italic":true,"text":"This article was originally published on June 5, 2025 and has since been updated with new information. "}],"type":"TextMarkup","align":"start","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"align":"start","children":[{"italic":true,"text":"Image: Instagram/@_awhinarutene"}],"type":"TextMarkup","id":"nl9xe","data":{"originalType":"p"}},{"children":[{"text":""}],"type":"Html","data":{"html":" Calling all Australians aged 18+, got 5 minutes to spare? We want to hear what you think! Complete our survey for a chance to win a $50 gift voucher.\r\n
\r\n
TAKE SURVEY ➤
\r\n
\r\n \r\n","originalType":"insertHtml"},"id":"77l4f"},{"children":[{"text":""}],"type":"TextMarkup","id":"ppyhy","data":{"originalType":"p"}}],"layoutBlocks":[{"type":"ArticleHeroSelector","data":{},"props":{"hasYPadding":false,"hasBottomBorder":false}},{"type":"MainContentArea","data":{},"props":{"hasYPadding":true,"cssClass":"mx-auto px-4"}},{"type":"AuthorHeader","data":{"isCompact":true},"props":{"hasYPadding":true,"hasBottomBorder":false,"cssClass":" main-content-area px-3 md:px-0","padding":"","maxWidth":"","isMarginAuto":false}},{"type":"CommentSection","data":{"commentsContext":"article"},"props":{"showViewAll":true,"isSendIcon":false,"headerContainerClass":"","contentContainerClass":"","listClass":"px-2 lg:px-0","footerClass":"px-3 lg:px-0","cssClass":""}},{"type":"RelatedArticles","data":{"categoryField":"category_id","limit":3},"props":{"hasYPadding":true,"hasBottomBorder":false,"cssClass":"container mx-auto px-4"}}],"id":"G1qskp8ux5TULO65Ms5h"},"meta":{}}