Married At First Sight Australia has received more than 100 Ofcom complaints following an episode broadcast on Thursday, 26th March, which featured heated confrontations and alleged exploitative treatment of contestants. The episode, which aired on E4, included a double warning to viewers due to its intense content and the fact it was filmed before the death of expert Mel Schilling.
The complaints centre on the behaviour of two brides, Brook and Gia, who repeatedly targeted fellow contestants Stella and Alyssa during a dinner party. Brook, who had previously abandoned her husband Chris, returned to the experiment claiming she had 'unfinished business' but ruled out giving him another chance. She told Stella: 'I don't think you're deep, I think you're f***ing dumb.'
Gia joined in, telling Stella to 'go back in your kennel, babes' and demanding she remove her 'stripper boots'. The pair also made cruel remarks about the physical appearance of other contestants. Viewers took to social media to express their shock, with one writing on the MAFS subreddit: 'This is hard to watch.' Another said: 'Gia telling her to get back into her kennel? That's Vile.'
Following the broadcast, both Brook and Gia issued statements on social media addressing their behaviour. Brook said: 'Bullying should never be condoned and I am extremely embarrassed by the way that I acted.' The companion show After the Dinner Party aired additional footage, showing Alyssa and Stella becoming tearful as they watched the scenes.
Ofcom confirmed it received 110 complaints about the episode, which is one of the most controversial of the current season. Married At First Sight Australia continues Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on E4 and is available on Channel 4.
