MasterChef Australia fans are still reeling from the news that Melissa Leong has separated from her husband, Joe Jones, after almost four years of marriage.
And while the exact reason behind the split remains a mystery, several telling clues suggest the pair’s picture-perfect marriage was actually in trouble for some time.
Perhaps the most obvious sign was the fact Joe hasn’t been featured on Melissa’s Instagram feed for several months.
What went wrong? The telling signs Melissa Leong’s (left) romance with husband Joe Jones (right) was in trouble, as she confirms their separation after almost four years of marriage
Joe was last featured on Melissa’s account in late June, when she uploaded a photo of the tattooed bar owner posing with their cat Ghost.
‘My fancy boys,’ the 38-year-old food critic captioned the post.
It was about this time when Melbourne began imposing strict Covid-19 restrictions on residents, forcing Melissa and Joe to bunker down at home for over four months.
No-show: Perhaps the most obvious clue is the fact that Joe hasn’t been featured on Melissa’s Instagram feed for months. Pictured together in August 2018
‘My fancy boys’: Joe was last pictured in late June, when the brunette uploaded a photo of the tattooed bar owner posing with their cat Ghost (pictured)
The lockdown was lifted in November, just weeks before Melissa and Joe confirmed their separation.
Interestingly, the exes still follow each other on Instagram, which is perhaps an indication the break-up was somewhat amicable.
In February, Joe wrote an unusual tribute to his wife on their third wedding anniversary, hinting that her busy filming schedule had taken a toll on their relationship.
Stressful time: It was around the time of this post when Melbourne began imposing strict COVID-19 lockdown on residents – forcing Melissa and Joe to bunker down at home for over four months
Still friends? Interestingly, Melissa and Joe still follow each other on Instagram – perhaps an indication that the breakup was somewhat amicable
‘Mel is in the depths of one of the most challenging, defining career moves of her life,’ he began.
He then admitted things ‘aren’t always easy’ in marriage, and that her MasterChef commitments meant the pair were unlikely to ‘see a lot of each other today’.
‘The sentiment behind my feelings is that most things worth doing aren’t always easy and have the capacity to be dramatic and really stressful at certain times,’ he added.
Struggles: In February, Joe wrote a telling tribute to his wife on their third wedding anniversary, hinting that her busy filming schedule may have taken a toll on their relationship. Pictured: Melissa with MasterChef co-hosts Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo
‘But I sort of believe the hard parts of your life overlapping and trying to dissolve your comfort is what living really is, and even if it gets heaps harder – I’m still happy to do it with you.’
Melissa had also shared a post on their anniversary, describing their marriage as ‘a non-stop blockbuster of action’ and ‘drama’.
The former couple eloped at Joshua Tree National Park in California in February 2017, after dating for only five months.
Hmm: Melissa had also posted about the pair’s marriage on her own Instagram page, describing it as ‘a non-stop blockbuster of action’ and ‘drama’
‘When you know, you know,’ she said of her whirlwind romance in an interview with TV Week magazine in June.
‘I first met him briefly at his bar in Melbourne, Romeo Lane. Then we met again properly about 18 months later at a function,’ she recalled.
‘We started talking there and we’ve just not ever ceased since really. It’s pretty cool.’
Happier times: In June, Melissa revealed she married the tattooed bar owner hunk in February 2017 after dating for only five months, because ‘when you know, you know’
The pair dated for just three months when they decided to get engaged.
On Sunday night, however, their fairytale came to an end when Melissa announced her separation from Joe on Instagram.
‘It has brought us such happiness to walk together, but the time has come for Joe and I to part ways and walk on, apart,’ she wrote.
‘We ask for your kindness and consideration for our privacy, we will not be making any further comment as our private lives have, and will always remain exactly that.
‘We wish you peace at the end of such a challenging year for all.’
Whirlwind romance: The pair dated for just three months when they decided to get engaged
‘The time has come for Joe and I to part ways’: On Sunday night, however, their fairytale came to an end when Melissa announced her separation from Joe on Instagram