Olympic College Administrator Departs Following Reality TV Backlash

Olympic College Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Shawn Best departed his administrative post on August 21 following public backlash over his behavior on the reality television show Married at First Sight, according to an internal email from college President Dr. Chantae Recasner reported by the Kitsap Sun.

Best appeared on Season 20 of the Seattle-based reality series, which premiered on Peacock on July 12. The college did not state an official reason for his sudden exit, but confirmed that an interim administrator will fill the vacant position.

During the broadcast, Best faced online criticism for making unreciprocated sexual comments to his show-matched wife, Nikki Jefferson. Viewers criticized scenes including a wedding night comment regarding the thermostat, a request for mutual masturbation, and an instance where he walked naked out of his bedroom.

Best addressed the controversy in an August 10 Instagram post, which he subsequently deleted. In the original statement, as reported by Reality Shrine, he expressed regret for his behavior toward Jefferson.

"truly sorry to my wife,"

said Shawn Best, former Olympic College administrator.

In the deleted post, Best acknowledged that he had mishandled the situation with Jefferson.

"gaslit"

said Shawn Best, former Olympic College administrator.

Best further reflected on the impact of his actions during the televised experiment.

"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."

said Shawn Best, former Olympic College administrator.

In a separate social media update on Tuesday, Best announced he was leaving the Seattle area and reflected on his time in the region.

"For the last year, the Seattle area has been the backdrop to one of the most unexpected chapters of my life. I came here to work. To serve.

To build community. To help people feel seen, connected, and like they belonged somewhere."

said Shawn Best, former Olympic College administrator.

He expressed pride in his professional accomplishments despite his departure from the institution.

"And somewhere between the meetings, community gatherings, new friendships, big ideas, hard conversations, laughter, beautiful people, a few plot twists, and more personal growth than I probably ordered… this place started changing me, too. 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."

said Shawn Best, former Olympic College administrator.

Best concluded his statement by framing the career transition as an opportunity for personal growth.

"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."

said Shawn Best, former Olympic College administrator.

Meanwhile, fellow Season 20 cast member Michelle Le disclosed during the show's reunion special that she underwent a hysterectomy earlier this year due to severe uterine fibroids. Le had been paired with college basketball coach Cameron Mitchell on the series.

Speaking to relationship experts Paul Brunson and Dr. Lisa Paz at the reunion, Le detailed her decade-long struggle with reproductive health.

"I had fibroids, so fertility was definitely something that I was really worried about,"

said Michelle Le, cast member of Married at First Sight.

Le explained that her decision came after years of managing her condition while attempting to preserve her options for biological children.

"Over the past eight years ... I was really trying to focus on preserving my fertility, which I feel like as a woman is just something that is so innate. My case was just so bad, and so in May I ended up getting a hysterectomy,"

said Michelle Le, cast member of Married at First Sight.

Despite the medical procedure, Le noted that she has reached emotional closure regarding her diagnosis.

"I’m at peace with it. I feel a lot better."

said Michelle Le, cast member of Married at First Sight.

She highlighted the broader significance of open discussions surrounding women's healthcare challenges.

"It’s made me realize that there are a lot of women out there who go through women’s health issues, whether it be fibroids or endometriosis, and a lot of women have to go through IVF."

said Michelle Le, cast member of Married at First Sight.

Le praised Mitchell's supportive reaction when she shared her medical history and fertility limitations with him during filming.

"Early on, it was really important for me to have that conversation with Cameron, and just to see how he handled it, and how he is so open to alternatives like adoption and also surrogacy. That just meant the world to me."

said Michelle Le, cast member of Married at First Sight.

Olympic College has initiated a search to fill the vice president position on an interim basis, while the Married at First Sight Season 20 finale and reunion air on Peacock on August 27.