Former participants of Married at First Sight (MAFS) Australia have described the show as a 'pressure cooker' environment where physical intimacy is forced and participants are left alone with strangers who may have histories of domestic violence. The comments come as the UK franchise faces serious allegations of rape and sexual assault.
Awhina Rutene, a bride on season 12, said the show 'obviously needed a better vetting process' after it was revealed her on-screen husband, Adrian Araouzou, had faced historical domestic abuse charges that were dismissed before filming. 'We are strangers sleeping in a bedroom on our own on the first night, you've got no security, you're by yourselves,' she told Guardian Australia.
Another season 12 bride, Sierah Swepstone, posted on Instagram that the environment is 'characterised by control, manipulation, isolation … gaslighting, psychological dependency, triggers and deprivation of autonomy'. A former participant who wished to remain anonymous said men with 'criminal or domestic violence backgrounds are cast regularly, season after season', and that women on her season experienced 'physical violence, assault, non-consensual touching'.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has conducted 10 investigations into MAFS and received 39 complaints, though no breaches of its code of practice have been found. Olivia Rutherford, a contestant from season nine, said she does not believe the show can be made safely. 'The solution already exists – it is called Love Island. Cameras rolling at all times,' the anonymous former participant added.
