Former cast members of the Australian version of Married at First Sight (Mafs) have spoken out about what they describe as a culture of control, manipulation and isolation, as the UK franchise faces serious allegations of rape and sexual assault. The Australian show, which has become the country’s most-watched reality programme, reaching over 16 million viewers this year, has been the subject of 10 investigations by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (Acma) and 39 complaints.
One former participant, who wished to remain anonymous, said men with criminal or domestic violence backgrounds are cast regularly. “Every night you are left alone in a room with this man … There are no cameras rolling. You are isolated,” she said. She added that women on her season experienced physical violence, assault and non-consensual touching, and that the allegations from the UK did not shock her.
Awhina Rutene, a bride on season 12, said the show’s vetting process needed improvement after it emerged that her on-screen husband, Adrian Araouzou, had faced historical domestic abuse charges that were dismissed before filming. “It’s wild, with hindsight,” she said. “We are strangers sleeping in a bedroom on our own on the first night, you’ve got no security, you’re by yourselves.” She described the environment as a “pressure cooker” where physical intimacy was forced, with producers asking “why aren’t you having sex?” every morning.
Olivia Rutherford, a cast member from season nine, said she does not believe the show can be made safely. Another former bride, Sierah Swepstone, wrote on Instagram that the environment is “characterised by control, manipulation, isolation … gaslighting, psychological dependency, triggers and deprivation of autonomy”. The anonymous participant suggested that Mafs should adopt a model like Love Island, with cameras rolling at all times and no private unsupervised access, to ensure participant safety.
