CHANNEL 4 bosses are reportedly locked in crisis talks after two Married At First Sight brides were allegedly raped and one was threatened with “acid.”
Last night the entire library of MAFS episodes was pulled from the broadcaster’s streaming service after a bombshell BBC Panorama doc aired.
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MAFS contestant Shona Manderson, who appeared on the show in 2023, was one of the other brides who bravely opened up about her experience Credit: BBC
‘Lizzie’, portrayed by an actress, alleges her on-screen husband raped her and threatened to throw acid at her Credit: BBC
A third bride accused her on-screen partner of sexual misconduct, and claimed she had to have an abortion weeks after leaving the show.
Several Channel 4 departments held emergency talks yesterday while an email from production company CPL told staff not to speak in the aftermath of the Panorama report, The Daily Mail reports.
Producers who have worked on any of the show’s ten series have reportedly been told not to speak out or post on social media.
An email sent to staff, that was reportedly seen by the Daily Mail, read: “It is prudent not to speculate about anything that is reported or commented on especially on social media, or to name any cast member in any posts as there may be legal reasons preventing anyone from doing so.”
MAFS PROBE
Two MAFS UK brides ‘raped by on-screen husbands’ & 3rd ‘had to get abortion’
PLEA TO AXE
Shona calls for MAFS UK axe after husband ‘took things too far during sex’
The bombshell claims are made in the documentary The Dark Side of Married at First Sight Credit: Channel 9
Channel 4 has since pulled all episodes of MAFS UK Credit: E4
The company has also reportedly set up a dedicated email for employees to contact, which is being monitored daily.
One of the brides who bravely came forward and claimed she was raped said she had suicidal thoughts for the first time after her series aired.
Another bride, who is known as Lizzie to protect her anonymity, alleges her on-screen husband raped her and threatened to throw acid at her.
She told how she “froze with fear” during the alleged attack, which left her with visible fingerprints where her on-screen partner had grabbed her.
Lawyer’s for Lizzie’s on-screen husband deny all claims against him.
The accusations are made in a Panorama documentary – The Dark Side of Married at First Sight – which aired yesterday at 8pm on BBC One.
If you or anyone you know needs help with mental health problems, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, http://www.samaritans.org
All three women criticised Channel 4 for not doing enough to protect them.
Channel 4 and CPL have said that the welfare protocols are robust and comprehensive.
The broadcaster said the claims are “wholly uncorroborated and disputed.”
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
MAFS contestant Shona Manderson, who appeared on the show in 2023, was one of the brides who bravely opened up on her experiences.
Shona said she had an abortion after claiming her on-screen partner Bradley Skelly ejaculated inside her without permission.
She claims experts had separately picked up on her partner’s controlling way of speaking to her at the time of the incident.
Chloe, a third victim whose name has been changed to protect her identity, told bosses she was raped before her series was aired.
She told how both she and her on-screen husband had been engaging in consensual sex, but he had proceeded on one occasion after she said no.
Shona Manderson says she had an abortion after her on-screen partner ejaculated inside her without permission Credit: BBC
All three women have criticised Channel 4 for not doing enough to protect them Credit: IMDB
Chloe told the programme he then chillingly said to her, “you’re making me feel like a rapist”.
“Chloe”, portrayed by an actress, told Panorama: “After I left the show I felt I had completely lost my grip and I had intrusive thoughts of my own death.
“And then when the show went out that really intensified into suicidal thoughts, which is not something I had ever thought of before. It was frightening.”
Chloe’s “husband” challenges details of her account, his lawyers told the BBC.
In a statement, Channel 4 said: “We have not seen the programme and will comment when we know more.”
Married at First Sight UK is a reality television experiment where singletons agree to marry total strangers.
They are then matched together by a panel of relationship experts.
It originated in Denmark in 2013 and reached the UK in 2015, where 10 series have so far aired, with over 35 versions of the show worldwide.
The series swaps traditional dating for extreme commitment, forcing couples to dive straight into a wedding and a high-pressure honeymoon.
Upon returning to reality, the newlyweds move into a communal apartment block.
They then attempt to navigate living together while their relationships are scrutinised by fellow contestants.
The Jattvibe has contacted Channel 4 for comment.
