Married at First Sight star Ikechi Ojore has explained calling Emem Obot "aggressive" and if, looking back on the situation, he regrets his word choice.
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Ikechi listed "beautiful, very passionate, ambitious, and a little aggressive" in the footage, but Emem later explained how she didn't like or appreciate being called aggressive.
Ikechi explained to Afterparty host Keshia Knight Pulliam, "My answer of her being aggressive is a direct answer to the things that I'm feeling in that moment."
"I wanted to acknowledge, 'This sh-t is aggressive as hell!'" he added.
Keshia pointed out how Ikechi didn't seem to understand the "cultural dig and power" of the words that he chose to use in that moment.
"All Black women aren't aggressive. That's not what I was trying to say," Ikechi clarified. "I was saying that she can be overwhelming at times."
When asked to elaborate, Ikechi said, "I'm from the South, so I'm used to a little different. I'm used to just enjoying time together and not so much a series of questions or an interview process that needs to happen."
Ikechi claimed that Emem didn't make him feel "safe" in their marriage because she demanded a lot from him when he just wanted conversation to flow naturally and organically between them.
"The line of questioning, it's circus level. I'm giving my deepest thoughts and it doesn't seem it's enough for her," Ikechi complained.
"It was more along the lines of we were enjoying each other's presence, we're having a great time being wherever we are, and then she'll cut me off and be like, 'Tell me about this, that and the other thing.' And I'm just, like, 'Golly!'"
Ikechi said Emem's questions "felt very conspired," and he added, "It's not what you say, it's how you say it."
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Ikechi also accused Emem of "manipulating" the conversation at their housewarming party by having her family and friends ask hard questions for her.
Keshia, however, asked Ikechi to give Emem a little grace since she also identifies as an "interviewer" in relationships.
Keshia advised Ikechi to understand that's how Emem communicates rather than viewing her questions as an attack.
When asked how he'd describe Emem differently if he could go back to that moment and do it all over again, Ikechi shared, "I would definitely say, instead of aggressive, I would say 'assertive' or 'intentional.'
On Married at First Sight's latest episode, Emem admitted that she didn't appreciate Ikechi's "aggressive" comment.
"I think being called aggressive is a great misrepresentation of who I am, especially how I entered this marriage specifically," Emem complained in a confessional.
"I did a lot of self-work on my vulnerability, and I've never been considered aggressive. So I am very shocked to hear something like that."
Emem was admittedly a structured individual, but she didn't consider herself to be aggressive in conversations with Ikechi.
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"I think that Ikechi has a lot of excuses about time as a reason for not getting to know Emem better," Krissy told the cameras.
"That's honestly a red flag for me and I am concerned he's going to let more weeks go by and say, 'We still don't know each other.'"
But Ikechi told Keshia on Afterparty that he loved Emem's ambition and drive.
Ikechi also said that he could tell Emem wanted a partner with whom she could grow, and that he considered her vision for life to be "a beautiful thing."
RELATED: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS RE-MARRIED? (PHOTOS)
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
