Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

And just like that... MAFS is over

462 replies

mumofoneAloneandwell · 18/05/2026 17:03

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8pz1k4r2lo

It was coming. You dont get good reality TV without people suffering.

This news however is awful. Bloody awful.

A groom dressed in a dark suit and a bride dressed in white walk hand in hand along a sunlit grassy path, surrounded by tall green trees. Bright sunlight filters through the leaves. A large green Channel 4 logo sits to the left.

Married at First Sight UK 'brides' say they were raped by onscreen husbands

Channel 4 was aware of one of the rape claims before broadcast, but the woman involved still featured in the show.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8pz1k4r2lo

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Raccoonsmacaroons · 18/05/2026 20:34

I’d REALLY like this to be the death knell for Virgin Island, too. I find that programme horrifying.

dayswithaY · 18/05/2026 20:34

There was obvious psychological abuse and coercion on the show for years which is why I stopped watching. The women are in such a vulnerable position - they are very much pressured to make a success of the marriage and submit to the husband. It’s almost like there’s no escape for them.

The so called experts need to share some of the blame here as well. Seems like a win win for all the toxic men that think they’re signing up for a free wife.

I would wager that more than three women were abused.

Original poster
mumofoneAloneandwell · 18/05/2026 20:33

I think that the report was less damaging than I expected.

These disgusting circumstances could happen on any reality show - love island/perfect match etc

I dont think that the next series will be cancelled but I reckon Charlene the sex therapist is out of a job 😬😬

I understand why they cant name the man who threatened acid, in order to protect the woman, but i'm not sure if they said criminal proceedings were being brought against him?

Not sure what to do with that really - if no criminal proceedings are being brought, what can be done?

OP posts:
Ifeeltheneedtheneedforcoffee · 18/05/2026 20:32

ZzzMarchhare · 18/05/2026 20:27

I feel grubby having watched the program. For me a bit of light escape but how horrible- those poor women. Needs to be some answers from the production company about this- coercion of people to stay on the show

Yes I feel the same.
Posted on the other thread but the main premise that if one person writes stay and one leave they have to stay. Even when they are unhappy. It has been said on plenty of the threads on here how wrong this is
Despite the strong editing you can see some people (not just the women) really changing along the weeks and being quieter and more withdrawn
But I didn't think it was as serious as this

sittingonabeach · 18/05/2026 20:30

Did viewers really not think that some of the contestants were not going to be abused/coerced? All for the ratings

Velvian · 18/05/2026 20:27

BurnTheWholeThingDown · 18/05/2026 17:56

I couldn’t be less surprised. In fact I’m only surprised it hasn’t come to light earlier. Dreadful attitudes shown by the ‘experts’ and you could see how uncomfortable so many of the women were.

I was really gripped by the last two seasons, which I’m not proud of. TV producers and the viewing public have lost our way. It’s awful.

Completely agree with this, I no longer watch. So much openly abusive and controlling behaviour goes totally unchallenged

ZzzMarchhare · 18/05/2026 20:27

I feel grubby having watched the program. For me a bit of light escape but how horrible- those poor women. Needs to be some answers from the production company about this- coercion of people to stay on the show

Sartre · 18/05/2026 20:23

I was at a meal after an academic conference last year and they were all sitting discussing this. I’d never watched it (or Love Island or anything of this calibre) not because I’m a snob, it just isn’t my sort of thing. I used to love Big Brother years ago when it was on C4 so not averse to reality TV or anything. I tried watching it and I just found it so fucking tedious… Sorry! I just didn’t get it. I even tried watching it with teenage DD’s and they said the same.

Popsicalpop · 18/05/2026 20:21

Paul brunson came across really badly on this, remember so many of us saying so at the time

I remember worry what young people will think is normal if they watched this

GrandmasCat · 18/05/2026 20:20

mumofoneAloneandwell · 18/05/2026 17:16

Theres a Panorama on tonight as well about the struggles of the contestants (separate to the rape offenses I think)

Is this the end of all good reality tv then? Its already so so sanitised

I didnt like how Paul treated that girl who forced to date Dean 🤔

Edited

End of good reality shows? What do you suggest is good now you know women were raped?

I only watched one series and it was so clear the yoga teacher was twisted and controlling yet producers just let the people continue.

Now this mess is a good opportunity for us to appreciate how we women can be conditioned to put the work and try to make an abusive relationship work even if the “vows” are fake.

ChocolateAddictAlways · 18/05/2026 20:19

mumofoneAloneandwell · 18/05/2026 20:18

This is awful.

Yep. Horrific.

Original poster
mumofoneAloneandwell · 18/05/2026 20:18

This is awful.

OP posts:
Original poster
mumofoneAloneandwell · 18/05/2026 20:15

The thing is, if you complain, you're scared of being dropped and/or given a bad edit

OP posts:
Original poster
mumofoneAloneandwell · 18/05/2026 20:14

loveawineloveacrisp · 18/05/2026 20:13

Didn't see this thread, I started one too. Not surprised it's that psycho Bradley, he was horrific.

He remind me of Stephen Bear

OP posts:
loveawineloveacrisp · 18/05/2026 20:13

Didn't see this thread, I started one too. Not surprised it's that psycho Bradley, he was horrific.

decorationday · 18/05/2026 20:12

Appalonia · 18/05/2026 20:10

I'm amazed there's not been any unwanted pregnancies on MAFS tbh.

"Shona said she later went to get a morning-after pill and was accompanied by a welfare producer."

"About a week after leaving MAFS UK, Shona discovered she was pregnant. "I made the choice to go through with an abortion. It was really hard," she said."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8pz1k4r2lo

Appalonia · 18/05/2026 20:10

I'm amazed there's not been any unwanted pregnancies on MAFS tbh.

Original poster
mumofoneAloneandwell · 18/05/2026 20:08

Let's lock Bradley up, ive been stealthed, its wrong

scummy man

OP posts:
Appalonia · 18/05/2026 20:07

The so called experts are rubbish at picking up on coercive control a lot of the time.

Original poster
mumofoneAloneandwell · 18/05/2026 20:06

decorationday · 18/05/2026 20:05

She's named in the article you posted. Did you not read it?

Show quote history

I did, but didnt see that bit, I was in shock!

OP posts:
ChocolateAddictAlways · 18/05/2026 20:05

About to plop kids into bed and watch it. I think we all know what's going to happen. These poor women 😢

Original poster
mumofoneAloneandwell · 18/05/2026 20:05

Piggywaspushed · 18/05/2026 20:04

Shona was on the News earlier, OP.

Ahh thank you, i didnt realise. Brave Shona.

OP posts:
decorationday · 18/05/2026 20:05

mumofoneAloneandwell · 18/05/2026 20:02

Oh who said itd be shona?

She's named in the article you posted. Did you not read it?

Piggywaspushed · 18/05/2026 20:04

Shona was on the News earlier, OP.

Appalonia · 18/05/2026 20:04

I knew it would be her.