Iris Caldwell and Keith Manley have gone their separate ways and are now doing their best to enjoy life after their Married At First Sight split. Many fans were disappointed to find that the couple didn't make it. Both Iris and Keith have been active on social media, which is good news for fans who want to know where they are now and what they are up to.
The focal point of their relationship on Married at First Sight season 9 was Iris' virginity and her choice to wait until marriage for sex. Keith seemed kind in the beginning and the two had a nice relationship to start off with. They had similar beliefs, although Keith described himself as more spiritual than religious. Both are 27 and Keith serves as a mentor/coach in his community. He believes in the finality and commitment of marriage. Iris is more religious and is a non-profit program coordinator who believes in traditional gender roles within a relationship. The two clicked and for a while, this MAFS couple seemed like an ideal match.
There are troubles in any relationship that can make or break a couple. Sadly, intimacy troubles proved to be an insurmountable barrier for the two. According to The Cinemaholic, Keith didn't want to be Iris' "intimate foundation". He also admitted that he wasn't ready to be a husband and that Iris wasn't ready to be a wife. He found her immature at times. Even though their separation ended in radical honesty and closure, they don't keep in touch. Unfortunately, the state of North Carolina requires that couples are only allowed to divorce each other after a year of separation. For now, the Married At First Sight couple will remain married, although they continue to live separate lives.
Some of their conversations can be seen in the video below. Iris shot back quickly but politely, saying, "you can't speak for me, but thank you for that." This Married at First Sight couple just didn't mesh, which is clear from the clip.
Keith has been spending his free time traveling. From Arizona to California back to North Carolina, swinging around to Virginia, he's been traveling and spending time with family. He's like a college kid on spring break. Meanwhile, Iris has been posing with passion as she has started her modeling career, according to her Iris Caldwell Instagram. She's also been working with a few different brands to become a fashion influencer, using fame acquired through the show to grow her career and wealth. Just six days ago, she blasted a Beyoncé song on Instagram, #ringoff, finalizing her MAFS separation from Keith for fans. She has started rubbing elbows with organizations like Black Christian Influencers and has even teamed up with a Christian dating website called Date Upward. Clearly, she is teaming up with different brands to truly start her career and is not holding back.
Both Keith and Iris from Married at First Sight seem to be moving on, and although fans wanted to see them work out, not every couple can stay together. Having your relationship fleshed out in every detail onscreen can be a strain. While some can weather that storm, others crumble under the pressure. One unique thing about that is that personalities are exposed a lot quicker than in private. Could it be that Keith and Iris should be grateful for the experience, or are their solemn faces at the end of their journey together more appropriate? Either way, they seem to be doing better after Married at First Sight, even with the pandemic.
Source: The Cinemaholic, Iris Caldwell, Keith Manley