Married At First Sight UK dating coach posts Instagram message sign-posting viewers to three domestic abuse charities… as producers come under fire over contestants’ well-being
- E4 matchmaker Mel Schilling urged viewers to ‘be kind’ after explosive episode
- Dating coach defended ‘courageous’ cast members who she said had showed ‘openness and vulnerability’ for the audiences ‘viewing pleasure’
- She also told fans to ‘reach out for support’ if any themes raised during the series had caused ‘concern’, before tagging three domestic abuse charities
- Yesterday MailOnline revealed that the show had been accused of prioritising ratings over couples’ wellbeing amid a number of safeguarding concerns
- Barrister Dr Charlotte Proudman said ‘you’d phone the police for harassment’ if some of the behaviour aired on the E4 dating show was seen ‘on the street’
- Channel 4 said ‘contributor care and wellbeing is of paramount importance’
Married At First Sight UK dating coach Mel Schilling has posted an Instagram message in which she signposted viewers to three domestic abuse charities as producers come under fire for putting ratings over contestants’ wellbeing.
The matchmaker today took to Instagram to defend the show’s stars, saying they had taken the ‘courageous step to enter this process’ and hailing them for ‘showing such openness and vulnerability (for your viewing pleasure)’.
In an appeal to viewers, she said: ‘Please be mindful when commenting and engaging on social media, that they may read what you write.’
Towards the end of the post, she advised viewers that if themes on the programme had caused concern then to reach out for support, before tagging three domestic abuse charities, Refuge, Women’s Aid and Respect UK.
The dating show has been accused of prioritising entertainment value over contestants’ wellbeing as viewers questioned a number of scenes aired during this year’s series.
Dating coach Mel Schilling posted ‘a note on kindness’ to her Instagram page this morning, asking viewers to be ‘mindful’ about what they post
Mel Schilling said that each participant had taken a ‘courageous step’ as she asked viewers to ‘be mindful’ about what they posted online
E4’s Married at First Sight UK’s dating experts Charlene Douglas, Paul C. Brunson and Mel Schilling pictured
In what she called a ‘note on kindness’, Mel told her social media followers to ask themselves if they would say the comment to their face.
‘If not, don’t post,’ she urged.
Mel went on to say that events highlighted in this week’s episodes may prompt ‘intense conversations’ between households, friendship groups and group chats.’
‘My hope, is that it makes you reflect and think about your own relationships,’ she continued.
‘You may have strong views about the decisions and actions you see this week – great!
‘Talk about them, debate them, consider different perspectives and get passionate about your views!
‘But please, do it with respect and kindness’.
She went on to say that if themes highlighted in the programme have caused concern then to reach out for support, before tagging three domestic abuse charities, Refuge, Women’s Aid and Respect UK.
Wednesday night’s explosive episode saw Matt Murray and Whitney Hughes ditch the partners they had been expertly paired with for each other. Pictured Matt with his ex-partner Gemma
Pictured during yesterday’s explosive commitment ceremony, contestants Kwame, Duka and Whitney
It comes after MailOnline revealed yesterday that the E4 show had been accused of prioritising ratings over contestants’ wellbeing, with viewers expressing concern over a number of scenes aired in this year’s series.
Series seven has been plagued with safeguarding concerns after fans hit out against couples being urged by experts to be ‘intimate’ with each other despite appearing uncomfortable and seemingly plied with booze at explosive dinner parties.
Questions have been raised over the thoroughness of background checks after emotional abuse allegations surfaced about George Roberts earlier this week – which he categorically denies.
And last night’s explosive episode saw Matt Murray and Whitney Hughes ditch the partners they had been expertly paired with for each other, causing blazing arguments between the group.
Problems for the show kept coming as cast member Gemma Rose accused producers of airing an untrue storyline about her ‘masturbating in a restaurant’.
The salon owner, 31, told MailOnline she was left feeling suicidal after producers ‘coerced’ her to stay on the show despite expressing on several occasions that she wanted to go home.
‘I was disgusted’: Married at First Sight UK star Gemma Rose says she was left feeling suicidal after E4 ‘slut shamed’ her and ignored her concerns about being matched with ‘aggressive’ husband Matt Murray
Gemma’s time on the show was made worse after her marriage to Matt came crashing down once he struck up a romance with co-star Whitney – and the pair started an intimate relationship during filming
Gemma told MailOnline she suffered ‘multiple panic attacks’, exhaustion, and believes she was ‘coerced’ by producers to stay on the show despite expressing on several occasions that she wanted to go home
In her first interview since starring on the series, Gemma revealed that she felt ‘scared’ and ‘vulnerable’ being married to tattooed barber Matt, 32, who she said ‘lied’ about her ‘masturbating in a restaurant’ to cover up for his own ‘toxic behaviour.’
The mum-of-two said the show airing the false storyline that she pleasured herself in a restaurant made her want to ‘die’ and she will be taking her complaint with the broadcaster further.
She said: ‘Matt made that up to deflect what he did in that restaurant, which was getting aggressive, flipping a chair back, and storming away. It obviously did not happen.
‘I defended myself on more than one occasion and said that’s not f***ing true, but it didn’t make the cut because the storyline was too good.
‘I was told it wouldn’t be put into the final edit and I was disgusted when it did. E4 is not allowed to manipulate a storyline like that so I will be taking it further.’
‘I felt very vulnerable’: Gemma married Matt at first sight during filming of the series back in May, and says she pleaded with welfare on several occasions to be ‘removed’ from the process
A Channel 4 Spokesperson said: ‘Married at First Sight UK episodes are carefully put together and we ensure that what we broadcast is a fair and accurate reflection of the events that unfolded.
‘Contributor care and safety is of paramount importance and we work closely with our production partners to ensure robust contributor care protocols are in place and that appropriate support is available to contributors before, during and after broadcast, including access to our experts and an independent psychologist.’
Concerns over the show’s safeguarding process come after other broadcasters, such as ITV, faced intense scrutiny over their duty of care for participants of reality TV shows following a number of deaths linked to Love Island and Jeremy Kyle, leading to stricter protocols being implemented.
One psychologist told MailOnline there was a risk that audiences watching the show could emulate problematic behaviours, after concerns were raised over an intimacy task in which one couple was asked to hug, kiss and stare into each other’s eyes – leading to some uncomfortable viewing.
In one episode, couple Whitney and Duka were told they had to ‘gaze into each other’s eyes’ by dating expert Charlene Douglas which led to ‘uncomfortable’ scenes
Whitney appeared ‘uncomfortable’ during the episode in which she was asked to do intimacy tasks with her husband Duka, which led viewers branding the task as ‘cringe’
Dr John Oates, a professor of developmental psychology at the Open University who advises TV production companies, said watching these sorts of tasks ‘might normalise invasion of privacy as being an acceptable thing to do’.
Dr Proudman added that some of the behaviour exhibited on the show, if seen in real life, would warrant calling the police ‘for harassment’.
She said: ‘If you saw someone on the street trying to kiss a random person and asking them intimate personal questions you’d call the police for harassment and assault but put a rolling camera in front of them and call it ‘love’ suddenly it’s all fine.’
Channel 4 said that ‘contributors have the choice not to take part in activities if they do not wish to’.
Couple Gemma and Matt at a dinenr party while two other cast members clink glasses of wine
Married at First Sight UK cast member Thomas pictured at an explosive dinner party
People have expressed concern over the amount of alcohol participants appear to drink at the dinner parties. Cast members pictured on E4’s Married at First Sight UK
Concerns have also been raised over the amount of alcohol apparently consumed at explosive dinner parties and other group activities, where blazing rows are commonplace.
One person said: ‘The producers know if they add alcohol to the mix and they’ll get the drama they want’ while others were left questioning if there was a limit on how many drinks they were allowed.
Other reality TV shows such as Love Island have implemented a two-drink rule to curtail the amount of alcohol which can be drunk by contestants.
ITV’s safeguarding came under fire following the deaths of former contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis on Love Island and guest Steve Dymond on Jeremy Kyle, prompting the broadcaster to publish details of their extended duty of care protocols.
Tragic: Mike Thalassitis, who was 26, died by suicide in March 2019 after taking part in Love Island in 2017 (pictured in his official Love Island picture)
Kyle’s return could come as soon as early 2020 after ITV’s director of television, reveals they are piloting a new show (pictured, on his show)
Last year, Ofcom boss Adam Baxter warned Love Island and other shows could be stripped of their broadcasting licences if they fail to protect contestants wellbeing.
Dr Oates said it was ‘not appropriate’ to provide contributors with alcohol ‘as a means to generate conflictual, aggressive behaviour which shows they’ve lost a degree of control.’
‘It’s arguable it’s not ethical for television broadcasts to show people who lost control,’ he added.
Channel 4 said that ‘alcohol intake is monitored and limited across dinner party shoots, which take place during the course of a single evening, and producers prioritise the contributor’s safety and wellbeing at all times.’
George Roberts, 40, married former Ms Great Britain, April Banbury, after they met at the altar for the first time. Pictured, the pair together during yesterday’s episode
Earlier this week, bombshell revelations made in the Sun claim that Mr Roberts, 40, was able to marry a stranger on television despite three of his exes complaining to police about his alleged abusive behaviour.
In the show, Roberts married former Ms Great Britain, April Banbury, after they met at the altar for the first time. However three women who claim to be his ex-girlfriends said that they were horrified by his inclusion in the show.
Each of them said that they had independently made a complaint to the police about his behaviour, claiming to have been ‘love-bombed’ before the relationship became ‘coercive’.
Three ex-girlfriends of George Roberts said they independently made complaints to the police, claiming to have been ‘love-bombed’ before the relationship became ‘coercive’
All three said that they raised concerns with Channel 4 after seeing Roberts in trailers for the show, flagging his ‘abusive, ‘obsessive’ and ‘manipulative’ behaviour towards women.
Channel 4 said Mr Roberts, like all contestants that appear on the show, was ‘subject to rigorous background and psychological checks, including the most detailed police checks a production is able to undertake.’
When considering if the show should continue in the same format next series, Professor Oates said ‘the broadcaster and production company should definitely reflect on what’s happened’, adding that he recommended they ‘consult with experienced psychologists in reviewing their duty of care practices’.
Channel 4 said that ‘prior to filming, we work incredibly closely with our production partners to ensure all Married at First Sight UK contributors are subject to rigorous background and psychological checks, including the most detailed police checks a production is able to undertake.
‘Any allegations of this nature are taken extremely seriously by Channel 4.’
A spokesperson for Mr Roberts told The Sun that the television star denies the allegations and finds them ‘deeply upsetting’, adding: ‘[He] does not condone abuse nor behaves in that way.
‘These allegations were never brought to his attention, investigated or taken further by the police for good reason as they are simply not true,’ they added.
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