Australia

Police Probe 'Married at First Sight Australia' Filming

Is MAFS Australia a world-best-practice model of consent and privacy or a ratings machine that puts participants at risk?

3 hours ago·Updated 1 hour ago

Police Probe 'Married at First Sight Australia' Filming

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Above: A stock photo of two wedding rings. Image credit: Christoph Wagner/Getty Images

The Facts

New South Wales Police confirmed on Thursday that officers from the South Sydney Police Area Command opened an investigation on Aug. 24 into a report that inappropriate content was shared during filming of the upcoming season of Married at First Sight (MAFS) Australia.
Independent
News.com.au
Nine, which broadcasts the series, said it was aware of a police investigation involving the show's producer, Endemol Shine Australia, and directed inquiries to the company. Endemol Shine has not responded to multiple requests for comment from news outlets.
BBC News
International Business Times
Industry site TV Blackbox reported that a male participant filed a formal complaint with police after producers allegedly shared private information about him with his on-screen bride concerning a previous partner.
TV Blackbox
It also reported that police visited Endemol Shine to conduct interviews and seize phones. The participant has allegedly refused any settlement, with TV Blackbox adding that the producers have been supplied with lawyers.
TV Blackbox
The news follows SafeWork NSW issuing three improvement notices to MAFS Australia earlier this year after participants raised concerns about an unsafe working environment. Separately, The Sydney Morning Herald previously reported patterns of dangerous behavior, including a bride being filmed in the shower.
Parliament of New South Wales
The Sydney Morning Herald
Meanwhile, the U.K. variant of the show was thrown into controversy in May after two women told BBC Panorama they were raped by their on-screen husbands during filming, while a third alleged sexual misconduct. The men denied the allegations, and Channel 4 removed previous seasons from streaming.
BBC News
BBC News
channel4.com

Sources Split

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ESTAB

The Spin

Pro-industry narrative

Endemol Shine designed MAFS Australia from the bottom up with consent and privacy in mind. The show requires nothing to be handed over by force. Consent can be withdrawn at any time and unresolved complaints go straight to an independent commissioner. These safeguards are built to world best practice to protect everyone involved.

Endemol Shine Australia

Industry-critical narrative

The latest investigation into MAFS is just another damning indictment of the show. Time and again, producers in Australia and the U.K. have put participant safety and well-being second to ratings and drama. This has already had catastrophic consequences. How long will authorities wait before enforcing real regulation to stop it?

The Guardian