Married at First Sight wedding a sham claims two contestants caught in controversy

Married at First Sight is known for its drama but what happens behind the scenes is even more amazing.

Married at First Sight contestants widely criticised for behaviour in a recent episode claim less than “one per cent” is reality.

Gold Coasters Ellie Dix and Jonathan McCullough both said in April they would not repeat the experience.

The show involves marrying a stranger - and on one of the final episodes the pair revealed they had become a couple after originally matching with other people on MAFS.

The finale triggered abuse, trolling and negative reviews of a Gold Coast business which has Ms Dix on staff as a sub-contractor.

Jonathan McCullough, Lauren Dunn and Ellie Dix.

Threats of violence and threats to boycott Coastal Clinic Plastic Surgery at Southport and Aesthetics clinic at Varsity Lakes left the firms’ owner gutted. It opened in 2022, boasting a string of positive five star reviews online but practice owner and specialist plastic surgeon Dr Drew Cronin said all that had changed within hours of Sunday’s episode – trolls inundated Google with 13 one-star reviews.

Ms Dix and Mr McCullough say while their union is one of the few true things to air, tears from Mr McCullough’s on-screen partner Lauren Dunn had nothing to do with them not working out.

Mr McCullouch said he applied genuinely trying to find a partner, but claimed Ms Dunn didn’t share that goal.

“At the final dinner party before final vows she admitted she didn’t want a relationship with me and wanted to make an agreement to look after each other and make it as far as we can. I’ll give it to Lauren, she was honest.

“She told me, ‘Nobody actually comes here to find anyone,’ and I said, ‘Well I kinda did,’. She went, ‘Don’t lie – that’s pathetic’.

“She suggested we just look after each other, have a good time and enjoy the experience. I’m a big boy – I was completely in the agreement,” he said.

“I didn’t want to go home after three days, I wanted to see what it was like - it seemed like such an amazing adventure.”

Ms Dix and Mr McCullough - now living together on the Gold Coast - said the show was “so distorted it’s not funny” revealing “not even one per cent” of Sunday’s episode was real.

“It’s ridiculous,” Mr McCullough said. “We’ve got so much hate over something that isn’t even true.

“People are that mad about a TV show. Everyone knows they edit MAFS to the hills and they still believe it,” Mr McCullough said, adding in no way did he think he’d come across how he did on the show.

“I thought there was a possibility of looking bad in some way with an edit – but not evil and made to look like horrible, disgusting people,” he said.

“Married at First Sight really shouldn’t be able to put themselves in the category of reality TV,” Mr McCullough said.

“They should make a law that reality TV can’t be edited.”

Ellie Dix and Jonathan McCullough. Picture: Supplied

“Ellie and I are one of only few amazing things to come out of this show and we went to the reunion together because we thought people would be happy for us.”

The pair said the experience was a “real kick in the guts”.

“We thought it was meant to be a love show and we found love but they go and make it look like a horrible thing,” Mr McCullough said.

“It’s pretty poor form for a love show. They don’t care about love, they only care about creating drama.”

In an Instagram story on Ms Dunn’s co.cooked account she wrote: “To everyone trolling and attacking Ellie at her workplace, please stop immediately. What you see on TV is only a small portion of what goes on.”

Channel 9 has been contacted for comment.

Jonathan McCullough and Ellie Dix (both in green) at the Burleigh Pavilion on the Gold Coast with fellow contestants. Picture: Supplied

Originally published as Married at First Sight wedding a sham claims two contestants caught in controversy