5 Shocking Revelations About Married At First Sight's Danielle And Cody: Where Are They Now In 2025?

The tumultuous marriage of Danielle DeGroot and Cody Knapek from Married at First Sight Season 5 remains one of the most talked-about pairings in the show’s history, primarily due to their highly publicized struggle with intimacy. Their Chicago-based experiment, which aired in 2017, saw the couple struggle to connect emotionally and physically, leading to a dramatic Decision Day where they chose to stay married, only to announce their divorce a few months later.

As of December 11, 2025, fans still wonder what happened after the cameras stopped rolling and where the former reality stars are now. While their romance fizzled out shortly after the show, both Danielle and Cody have since built new, private lives, focusing on their careers and new relationships—or in Danielle’s case, a passionate new career path in holistic wellness that has garnered significant attention in the post-show world.

Danielle DeGroot and Cody Knapek: Full Biography and MAFS Profile

Danielle DeGroot and Cody Knapek were matched by the experts—Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Pastor Calvin Roberson, and Rachel DeAlto—during the fifth season of the hit Lifetime docu-series, which took place in Chicago, Illinois. Their match was initially based on shared values of health, fitness, and a desire for a committed partnership.

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Danielle DeGroot Profile

• Full Name: Danielle DeGroot
• Age at Marriage: 30
• Hometown/City: Chicago, Illinois
• Original Profession: Dietitian
• MAFS Season: 5 (Chicago)
• Decision Day: Chose to Stay Married
• Current Status (2025): Single (as of her last major public update), Certified Yoga Teacher, and Holistic Health Entrepreneur.

Cody Knapek Profile

• Full Name: Cody Knapek
• Age at Marriage: 26
• Hometown/City: Chicago, Illinois
• Original Profession: Gym Owner/Fitness Professional
• MAFS Season: 5 (Chicago)
• Decision Day: Chose to Stay Married
• Current Status (2025): Engaged (publicly announced post-divorce), lives a more private life away from reality television.

The Intimacy Hurdle: Why Their MAFS Journey Stalled

The central conflict of Danielle and Cody’s marriage, which became a major talking point for the entire Season 5 run, was their profound lack of physical intimacy.

Despite Cody’s apparent desire to consummate the marriage, Danielle consistently expressed reservations and a need for a deeper emotional connection before taking the next step. This created significant tension and frustration for both partners.

Cody frequently voiced his concerns that the lack of a physical relationship was "starting to become an issue," feeling that his wife was "friend-zoning" him, even on their honeymoon.

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Danielle, on the other hand, felt pressured and misunderstood. She needed time to build trust and emotional rapport, a process that was clearly accelerated and complicated by the unique, high-pressure environment of the Married at First Sight experiment. The couple’s differing views on the pace of intimacy ultimately overshadowed all other aspects of their relationship.

The Surprising Decision Day Twist

Against the expectations of many viewers and even some of the experts, both Danielle and Cody chose to stay married on Decision Day. They confirmed at the reunion that they had moved in together and claimed their sex life was "very healthy," suggesting they had finally overcome their biggest hurdle.

This positive update, however, was short-lived. The pressure of the cameras was gone, but the underlying issues apparently remained. Less than a year after their wedding, and just two months after the reunion special aired, the couple announced their separation, confirming the fears of fans who doubted their long-term compatibility.

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The Final Split: Divorce and Irreconcilable Differences

In August 2017, Danielle DeGroot and Cody Knapek released a joint statement announcing their decision to divorce after one year of marriage.

The news made them one of the three couples from the Chicago season to split, leaving only Ashley Petta and Anthony D'Amico as the sole success story.

Cody officially filed for divorce in September 2017, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the legal reason for the dissolution of the marriage.

In a statement released at the time, Danielle shed light on the difficult decision, emphasizing that while they valued marriage, they also valued happiness. She explained that despite their best efforts and the genuine hope they had for their future, they ultimately couldn't make the relationship work outside of the show's structure.

The core issue of their intimacy struggles, coupled with the difficulty of transitioning from a televised social experiment back to normal life, proved too great a challenge for the couple to overcome. Their split served as a poignant reminder of the high-stakes reality of the MAFS process and the complexity of building a relationship under a microscope.

Where Are Danielle and Cody Now in 2025? A Post-Show Life Update

Since their divorce, both Danielle DeGroot and Cody Knapek have prioritized privacy, but key details about their lives and careers have emerged, painting a picture of two individuals who have successfully moved on from their televised past. This is the latest on the Season 5 stars as of late 2025.

Danielle DeGroot: The Holistic Health Entrepreneur

Danielle has fully embraced her passion for health and wellness, transforming her career post-reality TV. She is now a Certified Yoga Teacher and continues to work as a Dietitian, combining these two passions into a successful holistic health business.

Her business, often referred to as "Dietitian Gone Wild," focuses on a comprehensive approach to wellness, integrating nutrition, mindfulness, and yoga practice.

In a January 2025 update, Danielle was quoted as an active yoga teacher and dietitian in the Chicago area, confirming her continued dedication to this career path.

The star has maintained a relatively private personal life, stating in a past "Where Are They Now?" update that she has remained single since the divorce, focusing instead on her professional growth and self-care, a narrative that resonates deeply with her holistic brand.

Her commitment to her career as a yoga instructor and her focus on holistic health entities like nutrition, mindfulness, and self-care demonstrate a powerful shift from the stressful environment of the reality show to a life of genuine personal fulfillment.

Cody Knapek: The Engaged Fitness Professional

Cody Knapek has also moved on, stepping away from the intense scrutiny of the Lifetime network and the Chicago dating scene. While he keeps a lower profile, a major life update was confirmed shortly after his divorce from Danielle: he got engaged.

Cody announced his engagement to a new fiancée on social media, sharing photos of the proposal. The news confirmed that he was able to find the committed partnership he desired outside of the MAFS experiment.

While no public marriage announcement has been widely circulated as of 2025, the engagement signifies a major step forward in his personal life. He had also mentioned dating someone he met through the Lifetime network, though it is unclear if this is the same woman to whom he became engaged.

Today, Cody is understood to be focused on his career in the fitness industry and his private life with his fiancée, successfully navigating the transition from a reality TV personality back to a private citizen. The couple's decision to keep their relationship out of the public eye suggests a deliberate choice to build a foundation free from the pressures that ultimately doomed his marriage to Danielle DeGroot. Both former cast members have clearly found happiness and stability in their post-MAFS lives, proving that even a failed experiment can lead to a positive, new beginning.