drama down under 

MAFS Australia hit by claims brides were ‘secretly filmed in shower & groped by grooms’ after UK show rape accusations

MAFS Australia has been hit by claims that brides were ‘secretly filmed in the shower and groped by grooms’ – days after the UK show’s rape accusations.

The Australian version of the dating show has aired since 2015, but documents seen by the MailOnline has revealed multiple complaints have been made to SafeWork NSW.

A bride and groom wearing blindfolds, about to kiss, with text "MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT".
MAFS Australia has been hit by claims brides were ‘secretly filmed in shower & groped by grooms’Credit: Nine
 

Three experts on MAFS Australia appear stunned by a groom's comment.
The series has aired Down Under since 2015Credit: Channel 4
The workplace watchdog then issued three improvement notices to production as a consequence of these complaints.

Allegations reportedly included “violence and aggression by producers and grooms on the show including non-consensual touching by a groom.”

A further allegation came from a bride who claimed she was secretly filmed while taking a shower by her groom.

Production staff were also accused of physically blocking exits to stop cast members from leaving the set, as well as being threatened or intimidated if they attempted to walk away from filming, due to illness.

A group of people sitting at a long dinner table with plates and wine glasses.
A TV watchdog was called in to investigate the show and the allegations appeared in its reportCredit: Nine
 

Mel Schilling, a woman in a black top with sparkly bow embellishments, gesticulating while speaking.
Nine Entertainment issued a statement following the investigationCredit: Channel 4
A spokesperson for Nine Entertainment said in a statement to The Sun Online that the network and production company Endemol Shine took participant welfare seriously.

They said: “Nine and Endemol Shine Australia have welcomed working with SafeWork NSW and have engaged fully and transparently with them.

“Participant welfare is always the primary consideration in every work health and safety decision we make.”

The situation Down Under comes hot on the heels of allegations made about the UK version of MAFS, which airs on E4.

A bombshell BBC Panorama investigation, which aired on the BBC earlier this month, saw two Married at First Sight brides accuse their husbands of rape, while a third accused her on-screen partner of sexual misconduct.

The programme and subsequent news coverage prompted Channel 4 to remove all previous seasons of Married at First Sight UK from its streaming platforms.

The Sun exclusively revealed all three victims had slammed the makers of the Channel 4 show for failing to protect them – and the explosive claims have sparked an internal debate about cancelling it for good.

In a statement, the broadcaster said: “In April, Channel 4 was presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors, allegations that we understand those contributors have denied.

“The channel is mindful of the privacy and continuing duty of care towards all contributors and cannot comment on or disclose details of those allegations.

“Related to those allegations, Channel 4 was asked to respond to claims of failures in welfare protocols.

“Channel 4 believes that when concerns related to contributor welfare were raised through existing welfare and production protocols, prompt and appropriate action was taken, based on the information available at the time.

“Channel 4 strongly refutes any claim to the contrary.”

CRE: https://www.thesun.ie/tv/17027599/mafs-australia-brides-filmed-shower-groped-grooms/