Married At First Sight UK star Brad Skelly has been removed from the show after displaying controlling and manipulative behaviour towards his wife, Shona Manderson. The 27-year-old model was confronted by experts Paul C Brunson, Charlene Douglas and Mel Schilling, who deemed his conduct potentially 'dangerous'.
During a dinner party, Brad told Shona to 'shut up' and later referred to her as 'emotionally immature'. He also said, 'if I allow her to get angry, is she ever going to learn?' Mel Schilling warned him about his language and urged him to give Shona space to think independently.
A Channel 4 spokesperson confirmed the couple's exit, stating: 'It was agreed alongside experts that the intensive Married at First Sight environment was not working for the couple and it was the right time to leave the experiment.' The welfare of contributors is a top priority, with 24/7 access to welfare and psychological support.
Women's Aid praised the experts for challenging Brad's behaviour, saying: 'It is really important that the experts called this out as controlling behaviour and challenged Brad's view that it was acceptable to say he had the right to “allow” Shona to be angry.' The charity emphasised that TV programmes should send a clear message that controlling and coercive behaviour is unacceptable.
Shona later described watching the scenes back as 'uncomfortable viewing' and said she would 'never again put up with this behaviour'. She admitted feeling 'completely infatuated' and lost while trying to defend the relationship. Brad took to social media after the episode, stating that people can easily have opinions on situations they have never been in.
