Jay Smith, former 90 Day Fiancé star and current ex-husband of Ashley Martson, is reflecting on his reality TV stint — a gig he seems to regret ever taking.
In a new interview, Jay revealed to In Touch Weekly that it was Ashley’s idea to appear on the show and that he believes “life would be different” had he not agreed to have his story documented for TLC.
“I had no part of it,” he said. “I feel like the show portrayed my relationship as a very toxic relationship, like I’m the bad person but [no] it wasn’t [accurate].”
While Jay did admit that his marriage was struggling behind closed doors, he said some of the story lines on the show were manufactured in an effort to boost ratings, including the scandal involving his alleged Tinder account that supposedly led Ashley to file for divorce (the first time).
“The Tinder incident that happened, that was staged because without drama you don’t have a show,” he said. “The Tinder scandal, it was just an act so it was easy to move [past it] because you know, we just act on the TV and after … that was it.”
Jay also talked about his infamous barbershop bathroom hookup that happened on 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? According to Jay, the owners of the shop appeared on-camera to break the news to Ashley (and provided security footage following the bathroom “event” to backup their story) only because they were paid to do so.
“To my knowledge, they got paid to do that,” Jay said. “They got paid $500 each to do that and the reason why that was happening in the bathroom is because there was a lot that Ash and I was going through … and I just couldn’t take it anymore so I decided to do my own thing.”
This, of course, is what led Ashley to file for divorce from Jay for the second time. Jay said the aftermath of her finding out about the bathroom booty call was actually a “relief” for him.
“I didn’t want to bring that on my shoulders for the rest of my life,” he said. “The next thing is, payback is a b*tch.”
During last season’s Tell-All, Jay opted not to go into detail about why he cheated, which he says now was in order to protect Ashley’s two children.
“Not everything you want to just put out there like, knowing that it can ruin someone’s future,” he said. “So I made the decision to take the blame myself because I don’t got kids. She got kids. I can take the blame. I’m just a young kid I got my life ahead of me. So I keep that stuff to myself.”
Jay said he was only speaking out now because he’s “off probation” and could finally speak freely. Last summer he was freed from an ICE detention center after nearly a month behind bars. Jay reportedly turned himself in to authorities after learning there was a warrant out for his arrest due to him allegedly violating a Protection of Abuse (PFA) order filed against him by Ashley.
In response to Jay’s latest comment, Ashley said she “wishes him the best” and hopes “he moves on with his life to more productive things, instead of finding new ways to justify his past transgressions.”
Jay recently made some efforts to be “more productive,” making his debut at New York Fashion Week walking for the brand Grungy Gentleman.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8PZdqBFqm9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
RELATED STORY: Shocking “90 Day Fiancé” Split! ‘The Other Way’ Stars Tiffany Franco & Ronald Smith Announce They’re Divorcing
(Photos: TLC; Instagram)
12 Responses
Can someone please explain to me how these people remain in the US? Muhammad, Larrisa, Jay ? I’m sure there is more but these 3 should have been sent back to their own country asap.
I have never seen this show, I have no idea what it is about, but I totally believe this bro. It wasn’t him.
Bro code
stay lit
The children will find out eventually.. .I assume they have eyes and ears and can READ.
Everyone already knew these 2’s story lines were fabricated for views. Ashley was hamming up those short little 15 minutes of fame, especially when they came back for another season…always making posts about her in the hospital and crying…And Jay was right there playing along with the photo ops and drama. I don’t think the show was the problem, I think the 2 fame whores were the problem.
Urgh! If a lupus patient is in the hospital as much as she claims to be they are in serious trouble. And as someone with lupus, where is the puffy face that comes with the steroids used to treat the severe symptoms she claims to have? I wish I looked that good and could travel like she does with such a weakened immune system. Oh, wait. I actually have lupus. She’s just another asshole claiming she has it for attention. I want to see ONE copy of a blood test showing her white blood cell count. Just one. Hollywood assholes really like running with lupus being an invisible disease. It’s hard to spot when you haven’t been diagnosed but if you’re in treatment and it’s as severe as Ashley claims, it’s NOT INVISIBLE!
As someone who doesn’t have lupus, I honestly didn’t even think twice that she could be faking it, because what kind of person would pretend to have such a debilitating illness just for TV? The answer- someone who is so desperate for attention that she’d do pretty much anything, which Ashley had already proven time and again, even before she claimed she had lupus. It’s enlightening to hear your point of view, and it really upsets me that she could be faking it for ratings. Thank you for sharing your experience.
He took the blame for Ashley’s kids…um, what?
Jay please listen. Your 15 minutes of fame has been up for a while now, bro. So has Ashley’s.
Bye.
Poor me, I had to fuck a random girl in a barber shop bathroom because Ashley forced me on the show.
Wonder what kind of a couple he would make with Jenelle LOL!
Is she still responsible for 10 years?
He’s still talking about this???! Please, Ashley’s permanent scowl says it all. Jay was unloyal and everyone knows it. Let’s not talk about it anymore
OK, so the reactions and reveals may have been manufactured drama, but you still cheated and had the Tinder, etc. How is that the show’s fault other than the show displayed your bad actions and poor life decisions? GTFO, man. You only got about 3 minutes of your 15 minutes of fame left – use it wisely.
sure jan