A BBC investigation has revealed that participants in the Australian reality show 'Married at First Sight' (MAFS) felt unsafe and unprotected because their on-screen partners had criminal histories that were not disclosed to them.
One woman from last year's Australian series said she was not told that the man she was matched with had a previous drug conviction, learning about it only after the show ended. "There should be informed consent," she told the BBC.
Another groom from the same series had a past conviction for affray, which his on-screen bride was allegedly not made aware of. Nine former cast members have spoken to the BBC, calling for improved background checks and a ban on participants with criminal records or allegations.
Channel 9 and Endemol Shine Australia, the production company, issued a joint statement saying they have "strong protocols in place to ensure participant safety and wellbeing." However, they did not confirm whether participants are informed about their partners' pasts, stating that their protocols do not include sharing personal information between participants.
Sierah Swepstone from last year's series said she feels let down by producers. Her on-screen husband Billy Belcher was sentenced in 2014 for drug-related offenses. "Brides are not safe on MAFS Australia," she claimed. Belcher did not respond to a request for comment.
Another former contestant, who asked to remain anonymous (referred to as Anna), said her on-screen partner admitted to aggressive behavior during filming, and producers knew. "I was terrified the whole time," she said. She alleged he threw a mic-pack at a wall, shattering it, and later threw an object at producers. Channel 9 and Endemol Shine Australia denied these allegations, stating the male contestant has no criminal record and they have no record of the mic-pack incident. Anna's on-screen husband categorically denied all allegations.
Adrian Araouzou, a groom on the 2025 series, was found to have a 2017 conviction for affray. He told the BBC the information was "false." Channel 9 and Endemol Shine Australia confirmed he underwent background checks but did not disclose the conviction to his on-screen partner.
Other male cast members with criminal histories include Timothy Smith, who spent a year in a US prison for drug trafficking, and Chris Nield, convicted of common assault. Both participated in the show.
Several former cast members criticized the background check process as "rushed" and inadequate. One groom said producers accepted his word when he couldn't provide documentation. Others felt the show "dropped the ball" on safety.
Our Watch, an Australian non-profit preventing violence against women, told the BBC that allegations or convictions must be treated as "a serious safeguarding issue" and not withheld from those most at risk.
Source: www.bbc.com