‘Married at First Sight’: Some Fans Call Erik Out For His Ultimatums With Virginia

Erik Lake and Virginia Coombs seemed like a great match at first on Lifetime’s Married at First Sight Season 12 in Atlanta. Despite their eight-year age difference and very different personalities, Erik and Virginia had plenty of chemistry to go around.

But Virginia and Erik quickly hit several snags in their marriage. Erik saw Virginia as immature and didn’t like the fact that she still partied with guy friends. Meanwhile, Virginia thought Erik’s behavior could be controlling and condescending.

After the most recent episode of Married at First Sight, fans took to social media to sound off about Erik and Virginia’s marital troubles.

Erik and Virginia had several intense arguments on the most recent episode

On the most recent episode of Married at First Sight, it was clear that Erik and Virginia were dealing with major issues in their marriage.

An argument over Virginia’s dog, Rockie – whom Erik believed needed more obedience training – turned ugly when Virginia had a panic attack. Erik repeatedly told Virginia she could “leave if she wanted to.” He also yelled that he was “done” with the marriage.

Meanwhile, Virginia told producers she and her husband were “not in a good place at all.” She was tired of Erik referencing his previous marriage and more experience in life, arguing that he seemed to believe he was “perfect.”

Later, Virginia and Erik argued yet again about his behavior after she allegedly disappeared for about half an hour during a night out at the bar. Virginia accused Erik of being especially controlling and condescending when he was drinking. Meanwhile, Erik told Virginia she had been an “a**hole” to him and to the producers all day.

Some fans thought Virginia wasn’t ready for marriage

Some Married at First Sight fans took to Instagram to argue that Virginia seemed too immature to be a wife. Several viewers referenced her drinking and partying, while others thought she was too involved with her male friends.

“He is mature and she is still a wild young girl who wants to party!” one viewer wrote. “Lots of women would want him. When she grows up, lots of men will want her too! She is sweet and pretty but not ready.”

Another fan agreed, writing: “Who wants their significant other out drinking and getting drunk Thursday-Saturday?”

Yet another argued similarly, “Virginia is too immature – she wants to be out with her friends and party…why did she want to get married?”

Others thought Erik’s ultimatums were ‘controlling’ and ‘condescending’

But many other Married at First Sight fans thought the problems in Erik and Virginia’s marriage were not all Virginia’s fault. In fact, some said they saw “red flags” in Erik’s behavior – especially his tendency to issue ultimatums and threats of divorce when things weren’t going well.

“He is the king of ultimatums,” one fan commented.

Another mused, “Half the time he seems all in and the other half he gives ultimatums like he’ll walk away any second…?”

Many viewers thought Virginia and Erik had trouble because he was too “controlling” toward his wife.

“This guy is passive aggressive and a controlling person who wants to dominate and limit her own sense of self,” one critic argued.

“He is starting to show his controlling side,” another agreed. “A great complement to his condescending side.”

Another Married at First Sight viewer wrote in the same vein, “He comes down on her too hard. About her dog, about the fact she’s gone for 40 minutes.”

Married at First Sight airs Wednesdays on Lifetime at 8 p.m. EST.