Olympic College administrator departs after controversial behavior on ‘Married at First Sight’

With the season finale of the reality show “Married at First Sight,” based in Seattle this year, set to air Thursday night, new developments have surfaced involving now-former Olympic College administrator Shawn Best.

Best has departed from his role as vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion, according to an email sent to Olympic College employees Friday, reported by The Kitsap Sun.

While the college did not confirm the reason for Best leaving, the move comes just weeks after an episode aired revealing Best made controversial comments toward his trial wife, Nikki Jefferson.

In response to Jefferson being hesitant about having sex, Best said during the episode that it is “part of showing up as a wife, noticing your husband has a need and filling that need at some point.”

When Jefferson confronted Best about the comment, he tried to reframe what was said. The clip circulated on social media and can be viewed below.

 

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A post shared by BRIII (@mrsbriromerox)

Before that conversation, Best asked Jefferson if she would be open to mutual masturbation. Best added that he was “in a fast for months” and said, “I need a release.” The conversation was screenshotted and posted on Reddit, with the caption “Congratulations Shawn & Nikki for winning MAFS Most Awkward Conversation award!!”

Best also sparked criticism when he walked out of his bedroom naked, with viewers arguing he wanted the public to know he and Jefferson were intimate.

Shawn Best releases apology regarding ‘Married at First Sight’ comments, deletes it

After the show aired, Best posted an apology on Instagram for his behavior toward Jefferson, but has since deleted it. In the apology, Best said he was “truly sorry to my wife,” according to Reality Shrine. He also admitted that he “gaslit” Jefferson, saying, “I said words, tried to backtrack, and did not own up to what I said. I was BIG wrong. This kind of behavior can be triggering for many people who have been put in a pressured position to ‘please’ their partner.”

While Best removed the apology, he made another post on Instagram Tuesday about moving on from Seattle.

“I’m incredibly proud of what this chapter allowed me to do: bring people together, champion belonging, build partnerships, create new experiences, challenge old ways of thinking, celebrate community, and hopefully leave a few spaces better than I found them,” he stated. “But perhaps the greatest gift was realizing that sometimes the end of a job is simply the beginning of a much bigger assignment. So I’m closing this chapter with gratitude, not grief.”

 

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A post shared by Shawn Best (@bestmannyc)

Before working at Olympic College, Best served as University Director of City University of New York for three years, according to The Kitsap Sun. He also worked as a senior consultant for Chanel for four years and Meta for nine.

In his post, Best said he will spark new conversations on his YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

He ended the statement with, “…and three 3 words: To be continued.”

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