Channel Nine apologises for ‘concern or distress’ caused by MAFS

Channel Nine has formally addressed the controversy surrounding the recent season of Married At First Sight.

The show had come under fire for some of the sexual content and claims of bullying and gaslighting.

In a lengthy letter obtained by The Wash, Nine apologised for the way the reality show made some viewers feel.

‘We sincerely apologise for any concern or distress which may have been raised by your viewing of the program,’ Nine’s compliance department wrote.

The network stated the views of the show’s participants did not reflect Nine as a whole, and that everyone on the show has access to psychological support.

Nine also acknowledged that ‘bullying and conflict’ are ‘serious issues’, but insisted that they didn’t breach any broadcast standards in airing the show.

The eighth season of Married At First Sight Australia was the most complained about season of the show.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) received more than 50 official complaints – a record number for the watchdog.

‘A significant proportion of the complaints alleged the program included personally abusive interchanges between participants through gaslighting, social, verbal and mental abuse and that the program perpetuated and promoted the theme of domestic abuse,’ an ACMA spokesperson told The Daily Telegraph in a statement.

According to a report by The Wash, many viewers took offence at scenes involving controversial couple Melissa Rawson and Bryce Ruthven. 

‘Under the co-regulatory system, the ACMA will refer complainants to the broadcaster in the first instance,’ the media watchdog said.

‘If the complainant does not receive a response from the broadcaster within 60 days, or is not satisfied with the response, they may refer their complaint to the ACMA who may choose to investigate.’

According to ACMA, many viewers raised ‘concerns over the scenes involving Melissa and Bryce’.

Additionally, a Change.org petition demanded Nine issue an apology for airing ‘triggering’ scenes involving the ‘gaslighting’ groom and his long-suffering wife.

The petition, which has received 2,500 signatures in under 24 hours and now has over 15,000, is also calling for Nine to acknowledge its alleged ‘failure of duty of care’ towards Melissa.

‘This season of Married at First Sight Australia features a couple, Melissa and Bryce, who portray an excessive amount of DV signs which are not being handled by the network appropriately,’ the petition states.

‘There is a clear failure of duty of care to Melissa during filming of the show, allowing her to remain in a toxic and dangerous environment with her partner for the “benefit” of the network.’

‘She is being subject to gaslighting, emotional manipulation, isolation, and countless other textbook signs of a controlling and or abusive relationship,’ the petition goes on to claim, adding that the scenes are ‘incredibly triggering and stressful to watch’.

It continues: ‘This petition is for the Nine Network to acknowledge and apologise for letting Melissa go through this and also airing such a horrible relationship on TV without doing anything to showcase that the relationship is clearly not healthy.’

Despite the backlash, Bryce and Melissa have remained together since the series went off air and are now working on their own podcast together.