Ikechi Ojoré and Emem Obot fromMarried At First Sightseason 18 seemed like a perfect couple, but a few things have come to light since the season premiered, leaving many curious if the couple is still together.MAFSseason 18premiered on June 30, 2025, with 10 singles from the city. Ikechi and Emem were singleswho didn’t know each other before the experiment but took a leap of faith, hoping to find their soulmates. Unlike everyone else on the show,Ikechi knew what the process entailed.
He’d applied forMAFSseason 10, filmed in Houston. The fact that Ikechi’s career led him to Chicago,where season 18 was taking place, felt like destiny.Despite his claims he was looking for a life partner, Ikcehi’s reasons for being on the show are still unclear. His words and actions are indifferent, whereas Emem has been consistent with what she wanted from the experiment since day one.
Emem’s & Ikechi’s Journey On MAFS
It Was Messy
Emem, a 34-year-old Nurse Practitioner,asked the experts to match her with a man who liked black women and had natural leadership qualities. TheMAFSstar wanted someonewho would appreciate her cultural background.When she was matched with Ikechi, a 41-year-old College Counselor, it seemed like a match made in heaven. Ikechi was searching for his black queen and had expressed his desire to get matched to a black woman only, as Ikechi has Nigerian roots.
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His parents gave him a name from one of Nigeria’s ethnic groups -Igbo. In Nigeria, Ikechi means strength.
The Nigerian connection solidified Ikechi and Emem’s connection. Ikechi even joked that their names werea perfect foundation for their union—strength and peace (Emem means peace in Nigeria).
However, that notion became far from the truth. Even though they shared a nice connective honeymoon, moving in together presented challenges. Ikechi didn’t like Emem’s direct way of questioning him. He wanted Emem to get to know in a more organic, less interrogative way, and that’s not who Emem was. This led Ikechi to call Emem"aggressive"and an"a*****e.“He even asserted that she made unwanted sexual advances towards him. Tension built and the pair ended their marriage after Ikechi made a public display of verbal bashing against Emem in front of the other couples.
Ikechi Is Disingenuous
He Friendzoned His Wife
Ikechi presented himself as genuine, ready to go through theMAFSprocess to find his match. In his own words, he had prepared for this moment his entire life. That’swhy he started writing letters to his future and compiled them into a poetry bookpublished in 2018. Even so, it didn’t take long for viewers to start picking up onIkechi’s red flags despite presenting himselfas a great guy searching for his black queen. In one glaring moment, Ikechi told his wife he’d referred to her as “da homie” when talking with his friends, leaving Emem utterly shocked.
“You called me a homie? Did you say that out there?”
Seeing nothing wrong with that statement, Ikechi responded:
“I did say that to these people that you’re da homie. I think it’s a good thing that we have a friendship. "
However, Emem doubled down in a confessional, saying the conversation made it look like she was just “a friend to him.” While Emem seemed ready to learn and grow with Ikechi, it didn’t look like he wanted the same. With every episode,Ikechi appears to have rehearsed for his role onMAFS. He knows what to say and when to say it. After returning from their honeymoon, Emem and Ikechi seemed to be struggling with physical intimacy. Emem noted it is difficult to “know someone until you live with them” (viaMontre Burton).
The move back to Chicago has started showing the lack of chemistry between them.MAFSexperts, Pastor Carl Roberson and Dr. Pepper Schwartz, stopped by to discuss the couple’s lack of physical connection. Emem told the experts thatIkechi falls asleep at 9 p.m. so he can be at the gym by 5 a.m.The experts advised Ikechi to compromise so he’d have time to form a physical connection.
If Ikechi wereMAFSfor the right reasons, it would be easy for him to compromise to create a bond with Emem.However, Ikechi comes off like an infomercial for himself,promoting his work as an author. UnlessIkechi is aMAFSseason 18 producer plant, his actions don’t reflect those of a married man. Emem initially ignored red flags, hoping their relationship would work, but she got played in the end.
Are Emem & Ikechi Still Together?
Probably Not
Ikechi didn’t make it close to decision day to decide on the fate of their marriage. They ended things within weeks of living together. Emem went on to reconnect with a man she had met in elementary school, Brandon Williams.
The pair went on only a few dates before Brandon proposed to Emem and she accepted.
Emem describes herself a wife on Instagram, and Brandon a husband, so Emem moved on quickly.
Emem’s instant relationship proved Ikechi’s point about Emem right.He said she wanted a"plug and play husband,“meaning someone, anyone, who wanted to jump into marriage with her. While theMarried at First Sightprocess did damage to Ikechi’s perception, it ended up leading Emem to her husband. More will be revealed about Emem and Ikechi’s animosity at the reunion.
Married At First Sightseason 18airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on Lifetime.
Married At First Sight
Cast
Based on the Danish version of the series, Married at First Sight is a reality show/social experiment that gives singles a chance to find a lifelong partnership with one particular caveat: they must agree to marry a stranger arranged the moment they meet. Experts provide counseling and guidance as they help couples navigate their new marriage with their unknown partner and highlight the journey of the newlyweds from wedding to honeymoon to beginning their new lives together. At the end of eight weeks, couples will decide to stay married or divorce.
