Earlier this week, 90 Day Fiancé alum Ashley Martson revealed that she filed for divorce from Jay Smith for the third time. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for this reality TV couple, but it looks like their tumultuous relationship is now over for good.
It appears that Jay Smith and Ashley Martson's marriage is completely finished. The duo originally met in 2018 and their romance moved at warp speed. The three months of their relationship leading up to their marriage were shown during 90 Day Fiancé season 6. After tying the knot, Ashley and Jay had numerous issues with the law and infidelity. Over the course of their marriage, Martson has filed for divorce repeatedly.
May 2018
Before appearing on 90 Day Fiancé, Ashley attended a wedding in Jamaica. While she was there, she met Jay, who was an aspiring tattoo artist. After only eight days together, Smith proposed to Martson and she said yes.
Their relationship brought some challenges, as there is a big age gap between them. Today, Ashley is 34 and Jay is 22. The age gap may have played a role in their relationship issues, but infidelity arguably played a bigger role.
Ashley and Jay’s relationship moved very quickly, but they had problems from the start. Shortly after they met, Jay moved to America and they got married in May. Just three days after their wedding, Martson caught Jay on a dating app.
October 2018
Ashley and Jay appear on 90 Day Fiancé season 6. The series covers the three month period before the couple tied the knot on May 16, 2018.
January 2019
After eight months of marriage, Ashley filed for divorce from Jay Smith. Allegedly, she filed over yet another cheating scandal. Around this time, Jay was linked to Kayla O’Brien, who was labeled a side piece. “For everyone coming at me. I wasn’t the only one who was ‘talking’ aka cheating; with other people during our relationship/marriage,” Jay wrote on Instagram at the time.
Weeks later, Martson withdrew the paperwork, according to the Pennsylvania court. Martson had a change of heart when she was rushed to the hospital due to Lupus complications. Smith was by her side when she was hospitalized. “I may have hurt you. I may have not been a good husband,” Smith wrote on Instagram. “We have our differences but as long as I have life I will never let you sit alone and suffer. I love you and nothing will ever change that.”
April 2019
Ashley files for divorce from Jay a second time. “Cheating is not okay… We’re not on good terms. We don’t live together anymore, but he lives in my hotel,” Ashley revealed at the time. This incident came just days before the premiere of 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?
July 2019
Martson had put a restraining order in place against Jay Smith, which he violated. He was arrested and placed in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center. “It’s all fun and games until your a** gets deported,” Martson wrote on social media. “Have fun at the strip club with MY money and MY car you’re driving around without a license.”
Jay’s “friend” Kayla launched a GoFundMe campaign on his behalf to raise funds for an attorney, and to get him out of the detention center. Ashley didn’t help with the funding, or with getting Jay out.
March 2020
As the international coronavirus pandemic struck the world, the reality TV duo reconciled. Reportedly, Ashley and Jay “ripped all divorce papers up” in honor of their rekindled romance.
“I feel like if you have trouble in your marriage or relationship and you choose to try it again, you have to tell yourself before you get back into that relationship ‘the past is the past’ and you choose to forgive what they did,” Martson said at the time. Jay Smith also commented on their reconciliation, “We are stronger than ever, this time it’s not gonna go like last time, we’re going to stay together. This has to work.”
May 2020
Jay and Ashley celebrate their three year anniversary. “It’s been a wild 3 years but here we are celebrating. I love you so much! Happy anniversary,” Martson wrote on social media.
October 2020
Ashley files for divorce a third time on October 3 in York, Pennsylvania. “[It] should be finalized in February 2021 if Jay signs,” Martson said. “I just want a divorce and him out of my life forever. Biggest mistake of my life that I’ll regret forever.”
A source said, “Jay cheated on Ashley again with Kayla,” which is why she left him for good. The source added, “That was the final straw that made Ashley kick him out and file for divorce again. Jay and Kayla have been together since September.”
December 2020
Now, Ashley Martson appears to be single and “is focused on her kids and is trying to heal from the messy divorce.” Jay is in a committed relationship with Kayla. Recently, they moved in together in Pennsylvania. “Jay is still working out of Ashley’s tattoo shop,” an insider said. “She’s currently trying to get the property transferred under his name because she lost a ton of money from it.”
Kayla also had something to say about the 90 Day Fiancé love triangle: “Ashley is very toxic and was clearly not a match for Jay, he tried with her, but she was really draining his spirit… Jay is a sweetheart, she is always trying to make him out to be a bad guy. She didn’t leave him, he left her, and he was so gentle about it.”
Sources: Heavy, Reality Tea, E Online, In Touch Weekly, Us Magazine, Extra TV, In Touch Weekly, Ashley Martson/Instagram, Jay Smith/Instagram