Married at First Sight alum Steve Moy has responded to Noi Phommasak's recent interview claims about their split and admitted that "a lot of damage has been done."
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Noi claimed Steve had an "aversion" to getting a job and opening a joint savings account, and she suggested that the former sales engineer's savings -- a speculated "pile of money" he was "sitting on" -- ran out.
Noi also said while their split was "initially a mutual decision," she had a change of heart and told Steve that she still loved him and wanted to be with him -- only to get brutally rebuffed, allegedly. Noi suggested that Steve enjoyed attention from other women and wanted to explore those options.
Steve took to Instagram after the special aired and wrote, "When I heard you were going to be appearing back on TV, I was concerned that I'd have to respond to what you might say, and tell my side of the story."
"At this point, I've decided to mostly just let it be, but I did want to say a few things," he continued.
"Although I don't like to see you say these things and make these claims, I'm going to continue to try and release its power to make me feel negatively about you or our relationship."
Steve wrote that although he and Noi weren't able to make their marriage "last forever," he believes they still "beat the odds."
"So many struggle with attraction, chemistry, trust, and getting along," Steve noted. "We managed to make things work for just about a year, with a person we'd never met, and share a lot of positive and fun experiences through it all."
During the Kicking Off Nashville special, Noi told host Kevin Frazier that she and Steve "don't talk" and "are not cordial" as they're navigating through divorce proceedings.
Noi also revealed that she's currently seeing somebody, adding, "I feel strong enough to know what I really want in a partner and what I'm no longer willing to make excuses for, for someone."
Steve touched upon Noi's comment by writing, "You've made it clear you prefer not to be cordial, but if ever you change your mind, and want to try to be on better terms, I'm open to that conversation."
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"A lot damage has been done," he explained, "but I will continue to believe that with willingness and growth, there's always the potential for forgiveness and repair. It would take a lot of effort, and it's probably less than likely, but it's still possible."
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Steve said he's been "reflecting on this past year" but also "looking forward to the coming one."
Steve called his romance with Noi "something worth celebrating" heading into the New Year, adding that their relationship made a big impression on people.
One day later, Steve posted a video of footage of a trip he had taken with Noi to Joshua Tree in San Diego, CA.
"Even though we had an unfortunate ending, I'm deciding to take this moment to look back and remember some of the better times," Steve shared in the caption.
"This is how I choose to close this chapter, to express myself, and to honor our very public marriage and this significant time in my life. I'm not sure how long I'll keep it posted, but after this I'll be continuing to move forward in the new year, excited for new possibilities."
Steve said this trip represented "a really good point" in his relationship with Noi.
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Steve noted that while they got married on a television show, "the pain of the breakup is real."
"It's disorienting at times to look back at our own season, depicting parts of our real lives in television format, while knowing that the experience was our reality. People often recognize how much harder it can make building a relationship, but not many really know what the experience is like entirely," Steve wrote.
"Anyone who's gone through divorce or a serious break up knows how much loss comes with it. All of the time, effort, hope, captured moments, and energy you poured into the relationship can feel like it's all wasted when it ends. This video, to me symbolizes that feeling, and turning the idea of that loss around."
Steve told his followers that there is "value in making the effort" and in "learning what it takes to try to make a relationship work," even if there's ultimately a falling out.
"We can learn so much, and carry the lessons and experiences with us into a new future. We can also choose to cherish the best moments and memories if we'd like," Steve concluded.
"This is part of my process. I don't expect everyone to agree with it or understand, and that's ok. Criticize if you must, I'm getting used to it by now."
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Steve then asked for only positive comments about Noi.
Back in June 2022, Steve hinted at there being trouble in paradise, and he let fans know that he and Noi would essentially be taking a break from social media.
The pair then announced their breakup in separate July 9 statements.
Noi wrote on Instagram first that "divorce feels good," which appeared to be a spontaneous and reactionary move. Steve confirmed the news hours later in a very lengthy Instagram post, admitting that Noi's post blindsided him.
"I was not expecting this announcement to happen today, but I am prepared to handle it," Steve wrote on Instagram at the time.
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Steve claimed he and Noi had actually "been apart for a little while" prior to Noi's public split announcement "to the point of moving on" and with "hope pretty much fading for any chance we could recover."
"Although I had made a decision," he noted, "I was still holding out for the potential for true change... This surprise announcement [on Noi's part] is a signal that it's definitely time to let go."
A major point of contention between the spouses appeared to be Noi's dog Sushi's cancer diagnosis.
"I hope that Sushi stays healthy for as long as possible so that you can enjoy your time with him, and he can be there for you through this next chapter... I hope that we can remain cordial, and at some point, we can remain in touch... I've given so much of myself to this marriage," Steve wrote in his breakup statement.
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Noi commented on Steve's Instagram post alleging he had asked for the divorce against her will and didn't care about Sushi at all -- or her own well-being.
"You asked for the divorce... I BEGGED you to stay and you said -- you don't OWE me anything. What. You also have never checked in on sushi since he got cancer... you've never offered to help," Noi wrote in the comments.
"And during this time you knew I was vulnerable and my heart was breaking outside of this and this is when you said we should divorce. You are not heartbroken, so stop acting like this for everyone else. You made this choice before involving me in the final decision and you said I was not allowed to talk about it, even though you said you were already seeing other people."
Noi concluded, "Just be honest about your truths and we can both move on peacefully."
The sparring on social media continued, with back-and-forth accusations in July.
Noi and Steve tied the knot on Married at First Sight's Spring 2022 edition on Lifetime.
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Noi, who was born in a refugee camp and longs to be a mother with a stable life, said she never envisioned herself being her family's breadwinner or having to worry about a steady flow of income.
Noi sometimes questioned on the show if Steve was enough for her and if she deserved better -- and she'd post about her feelings on social media, which Steve found to be immature and disrespectful to their relationship.
On the Married at First Sight: Where Are They Now? special for Season 14 -- which filmed five months after Decision Day and aired on June 1 -- Noi finally determined that she was going to move in with Steve in a couple of months, and she came around to the idea of having just two children instead of three.
But on the Married at First Sight: Kickoff Special for Season 15, which filmed in San Diego and aired in late June 2022, Steve and Noi revealed they still hadn't moved in together yet. Steve also admitted he had yet to secure a steady job.
"I have a plan and I have a timetable when me and Noi are going to reconnect and talk about where things stand and if she's happy with where it's at or if she wants me to get a job or if things are going well in the other creative outlets that I'm doing," Steve shared.
Noi confessed that while she wanted Steve to be able to pursue creative outlets, she found it "unnerving" he was still technically unemployed.
Last month, Steve announced he's releasing a book, which he will likely self-publish, titled Dedication: Life, Love, and Following Your Dreams. The book is currently available for pre-order on Steve's official website.
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski