A former bride from the UK version of Married At First Sight has alleged that she was left traumatised after her on-screen husband performed a lewd act and controlled her behaviour, while also criticising the show's welfare team.
Disturbing Allegations
The woman, who spoke to the Mirror following the BBC Panorama investigation The Dark Side of Married At First Sight, claimed: 'He performed a lewd act and then touched my face without consent. He banned me from drinking or speaking to production staff without him.' She says she reported the incidents to welfare staff but was encouraged to continue filming, with production staff allegedly telling her, 'It's going to be OK,' and even buying her a drink to smooth things over.
Welfare Team Criticised
Describing the welfare team, she alleged: 'They present as your best friend. I thought they were somebody you could talk to about anything. But if I look back on it now, I would say it’s more like grooming.' She also claimed she felt pressured into intimacy, stating: 'I had sex with my partner and whilst I wasn’t forced, I felt pressured.' The bride believes that once couples returned to their apartments off-camera, there was insufficient safeguarding.
Production Concerns
The bride alleged that much of the behaviour took place away from cameras, and she repeatedly raised concerns with welfare and production teams throughout filming. She underwent months of psychological assessments and background checks, but now feels that this information was used against her: 'I told them everything about myself – that I’d been in controlling relationships before, that I struggled speaking up for myself and that I fall in love very quickly. But now I feel like I gave them the blueprint on how to expose me and use me.'
She also questioned the role of relationship experts Paul C. Brunson, Charlene Douglas, and the late Mel Schilling, claiming: 'The experts had zero idea what was going on. They gave good advice based on the information they had.'
Channel 4 Response and Wider Fallout
Following the Panorama investigation, which revealed that two women claim they were raped by their on-screen 'husbands' and another alleged sexual assault, Channel 4 removed all ten series from its platforms and scrapped the upcoming series. The Metropolitan Police has urged potential victims to come forward. Channel 4 has commissioned an external review, stating that their welfare protocols are 'some of the most comprehensive and robust in the industry.' However, the bride believes these claims are just the beginning, saying: 'They need to properly safeguard people instead of just creating drama. This Panorama story is only the beginning of hearing the nightmares people have had.'
