‘Married at First Sight’: Derek Sherman Reflects On His Marriage to Katie Conrad On Instagram
Derek Sherman and Katie Conrad quickly became one of the most talked-about couples on Lifetime’s Married at First Sight Season 10.
Despite their early chemistry and passion, the young pair started fighting almost immediately when they returned to Washington, D.C., after their honeymoon. Katie’s treatment of Derek baffled many fans, who thought she was overly harsh and demeaning towards him. On Decision Day, they decided to stay together—but they ultimately decided to divorce just a few weeks later.
Recently, Derek has opened up about his time on Married at First Sight on Instagram. Fans flooded the comments with messages of support for his future in life and relationships.
Katie and Derek had an acrimonious meeting at the ‘Married at First Sight’ reunion
Derek and Katie’s relationship quickly fell apart after their honeymoon. What had looked like a promising beginning appeared to have just been early-stage lust and infatuation, as the couple took off their rose-colored glasses and realized that they weren’t quite as compatible as they’d hoped.
Katie worried that Derek was too closed off emotionally to give her what she needed in a relationship—especially because he said he’d never truly been in love before. Meanwhile, Katie’s jealousy and explosive nature sometimes seemed to turn Derek off, making him wonder if they would ever be able to make it.
At the Married at First Sight reunion, Katie admitted that she’d slept with a former fling—who nearly led her to call off her wedding to Derek in the first place after unexpectedly declaring his love—shortly after she and Derek decided to separate. The details were murky, but Derek insisted that he believed Katie had been having an affair with that ex all along. Katie denied it, but the damage was done, and it was clear the couple no longer trusted or respected each other.
When asked if he’d had his heart broken during the experiment, Derek had some blunt words for his ex-wife: “Fortunately, Katie made it really easy not to fall in love with her.”
Derek seemed to hint at the difficulty of his time on ‘Married at First Sight’ in several Instagram posts
Married at First Sight cast members usually make their Instagram accounts private while their seasons air. Derek made his public after the reunion episode, and some of his posts reflected on his difficult marriage to Katie.
After New Year’s 2020, Derek seemed to hint at the difficult of his separation from Katie (and possibly her affair) just a few months earlier. “Better late than never. But this was by far the greatest New Year’s Party I have ever had with the greatest people I know on earth,” he captioned a photo of himself with several friends. He continued, “And as some of [you] may already know I’ve started this year on quite the note, but to be honest, I’m even more looking forward to everything that’s to come.”
In keeping with his optimistic nature, however, Derek seems to have learned from the experience and made something positive out of a difficult situation. “This has definitely been a crazy experience, and while it may not have worked out, I’ve still made some amazing friends,” he captioned a photo of himself with his Married at First Sight castmates Taylor Dunklin, Jessica Studer, and Mindy Shiben.
Under another photo, in which he posed with Katie, the Married at First Sight experts, and Lifetime crew members, Derek added another positive spin to his marriage, no matter how it ultimately turned out. “This has definitely been one of the craziest experiences of my life,” the 26-year-old wrote. “But I couldn’t imagine doing it without this amazing group of people.”
‘Married at First Sight’ fans sent Derek well wishes and advice after the season ended
Most Married at First Sight fans supported Derek throughout Season 10. Some viewers were surprised that he chose to stay with Katie on Decision Day, but ultimately, most fans supported their choice to divorce in the end.
Fans took to Derek’s Instagram as soon as he made it public to express their support and offer reassurance. “You seem like a genuinely nice guy and the right girl for you is out there,” one Instagram user wrote. “Don’t ever let anyone crush your dreams. You dodged a very big bullet with that one. I wish you health, happiness, and the best life has to offer.”
Another agreed, writing to Derek, “I was hoping you would end things. The moment she laughed at your bucket list, it was game over. She called you childish but in reality you made more sense and grown up decisions. I wish her well but you my friend deserve so much better.”
Several Married at First Sight fans also encouraged Derek to keep looking for true love, promising he’d find it eventually. “You probably don’t read all these comments BUT Katie definitely did not deserve you!” a viewer assured him. “You tried many times, even when she didn’t deserve it. Wishing you the best of luck. I’m sure you will find love.”
