Married At First Sight’s Gia Fleur breaks her silence and reveals the REAL reason she changed her name – as she takes a brutal swipe at co-stars

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Gia Fleur, a bride from Married At First Sight, has finally spoken out after her co-star, Danny Hewitt, tried to reveal her birth name during a heated moment on the Stan series, MAFS: After The Dinner Party.

The 35-year-old mother told Daily Mail she was very upset after her co-stars shared her birth name – Gianna Fleur Symonds – on the show’s spin-off. She feels they did it to embarrass her.

‘It’s a very sensitive topic,’ Gia said.

‘I actually changed my name because of a domestic violence situation I was in,’ she continued. 

Honestly, it really gets to me when people bring up stuff from my past, especially considering how tough things have been for me. It wasn’t just a bad time, it was genuinely dangerous, and to see them treat it like a joke… it’s just not okay. It feels like they don’t understand, and it really hurts.

Gia explained that her decision to change her name was rooted in safety and privacy, not image.

‘I never tried to hide that Gia wasn’t my birth name,’ she said.

‘I didn’t change it to be cool and have a stage name.

My brother, like me, has changed his name to protect his privacy. It’s a family matter, and it’s upsetting that people are digging into our personal lives like this.

The bride, known for speaking her mind, has acknowledged past bullying and now says she’s prioritizing taking responsibility and learning from her mistakes, instead of seeking revenge.

Gia knows Danny and his fiancée, Bec Zacharia, have been talking about her publicly, but she says she won’t retaliate or respond to their comments.

‘I’m not stooping to that level,’ she said.

I’m working on changing my behavior and not being a bully. I realized that what I did on the show wasn’t right, and I don’t want to repeat that mistake by bullying anyone now.

Gia explained that becoming a mother has changed how she sees things. Now, when she faces public criticism, her first thought is always about her daughter.

She explained she wants to set a good example for her daughter, demonstrating that past actions were wrong and hoping no one would ever treat her daughter that way.

I’d rather not discuss Bec and Danny any further. They’re living their own lives, and I’m focused on mine. What they do isn’t my concern.

This follows Bec’s recent criticism of Gia in an interview with Daily Mail, where she used Gia’s given name instead of her preferred name.

‘The moment I met Gia – actually, I’m going to say Cassandra because that’s her real name,’ she began.

I immediately disliked Cassandra when we first met. I wish I’d listened to my instincts and avoided getting involved with her.

Okay, so everyone was saying Gia bailed on her Stan series appearance, like she got cold feet! But she just posted online and totally set the record straight – she didn’t chicken out, and I’m so relieved! It was driving me crazy hearing those rumours, honestly. I knew she wouldn’t just disappear!

‘Last week I was invited to appear and flew to Sydney with every intention of attending,’ she said.

I had to cancel my plans because I was sick and needed to be hospitalized. It wasn’t a matter of losing my nerve; my health simply had to come first.

‘I’ve since been invited back to comment on others’ behaviour.’

After thinking about how I acted at the dinner party, I realized it wouldn’t be right for me to criticize others. It would feel hypocritical to point out their mistakes when I’m still aware of my own.

The Daily Mail has confirmed that Gia arrived in Sydney on February 14th, before being taken to St Vincent’s Hospital.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic, family, or sexual violence, please reach out for help at 1800RESPECT.

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2026-02-23 09:20