Married At First Sight UK is facing fresh allegations from three former stars who featured on the show, whose claims range from sexual assault to abuse. It comes after a BBC Panorama investigation aired two women’s claims that they were raped by their on-screen husbands while filming the Channel 4 show, as well as a third allegation of a non-consensual sex act.
The programme is now facing calls for it to be cancelled, with Channel 4’s chief executive Priya Dogra saying she was ‘deeply sorry’ to the contributors who have come forward.
Now an additional two brides and a groom from the show – which sees contestants wed in a non-legally binding ceremony – have come forward with their own claims.
Groom Alleges Pressure to Stay Silent
The groom, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has alleged that he was pressured by show producers to keep quiet after reporting a claim of sexual assault involving his co-star, according to a report in The Mirror. He alleges that his partner on the show became aggressive after a night of drinking and allegedly ripped off his underwear, despite him saying ‘no’.
The groom told the publication he initially did not reveal the alleged assault, as he hoped to make the relationship work, but later spoke with a senior member of the welfare team about his concerns. He said: ‘They contacted me saying I’d signed an NDA [non-disclosure agreement] and shouldn’t be speaking negatively about the process.’
Bride Claims Trauma and Control
The publication has also reported a woman’s claim that she suffered trauma in the years following her appearance on MAFS UK, after feeling controlled by her partner on the show, who she claimed she at times felt pressured to be intimate with.
She told the publication: ‘He performed a lewd act and then touched my face without consent. He banned me from drinking or speaking to production staff without him. [Production] would say, “It’s going to be okay”. Staff bought me a drink to help smooth things over after I complained.’
Another Bride Alleges Verbal Abuse
A second woman who appeared on the show alleged that her husband from MAFS UK would ‘throw things and call her names’. She said: ‘They’d separate us into breakout rooms to get both sides of the story. A lot of times they will ask you, is there any way you might have provoked it? My biggest thing – I cannot be left in a room with this man. There’s this concept he’s your husband, but he ain’t. It’s not legally binding. It’s just a dating show.’
Channel 4 and Production Company Respond
The broadcaster announced that in April it commissioned an external review into contributor welfare on the show. Channel 4 pointed Metro to the broadcaster’s previous statement when contacted for comment, which in part said: ‘MAFS UK is produced under some of the most comprehensive and robust welfare protocols in the industry.
‘These include the most thorough background checks available, a Code of Conduct which clearly sets out behavioural standards, daily contributor check-ins with a specialist welfare team and access to additional support before, during and after filming. The physical and psychological wellbeing of all contributors is of paramount importance throughout the process. All duty of care processes are regularly reviewed and, where appropriate, strengthened.’
After the first Panorama claims, lawyers on behalf of CPL, which is the production company behind MAFS UK, said that its welfare system was ‘gold standard’ and that it acted appropriately in all these cases. Metro contacted production company CPL for comment on this story.
