For better, for worse? Toxic and outdated MAFS Australia should be upholding its duty of care

Reality shows like Married at First Sight are outdated and dangerous and offer nothing but sensationalism at the expense of real human lives, writes Briana Domjen.

In a time where mental health awareness is growing, reality shows like Married At First Sight are outdated and dangerous, offering nothing but sensationalism at the expense of real human lives.

Just a few episodes in, Network Nine and MAFS production company Endemol Shine have already got millions of people watching and talking.

But at what cost?

At the expense of a beautiful young woman genuinely looking for love.

As an entertainment journalist, a lot of what I write is fun and often trivial.

However, after watching primary school teacher Tim Gromie belittle, gaslight and break Katie Johnson’s heart, it’s become clear MAFS producers are taking pleasure in the humiliation of others.

Much like the culture at Nine Entertainment, MAFS manages to get nastier, uglier and more toxic each year. And while it’s Endemol Shine that recruits the talent, it’s Nine that chooses to air their bad behaviour.

The MAFS marriage of Katie Johnson and Tim Gromie puts a spotlight on how reality TV is getting nastier, uglier and more toxic. Picture: Supplied by Nine.

In country girl Katie’s first piece to camera, she says: “I’m definitely scared of being rejected. I’m used to people not being attracted to me.

“I’ve been single for 10 years and I don’t know how to get into a relationship.”

It doesn’t take a psychologist to see Kate is vulnerable and fragile, and raises questions about producers casting psychologically vulnerable contestants. The emotional toll this show has already taken on Katie is palpable.

She has been publicly humiliated and no doubt had her self-esteem shattered

Fast forward one episode and Tim tells producers, moments after he met Katie, “I normally go for short, petite, blonde or brunette … there’s no attraction, there’s nothing there.”

It’s easy to blame the producers for crafting such an exploitative show, but the so-called “experts” who lend their credibility are equally worthy of criticism.

When I interviewed both Mel Schilling and Alessandra Rampolla a couple of weeks back about this season’s show, they told me they had a say in casting and feel comfortable “voicing concerns” to producers.

“We have a really open dialogue and it’s become a very collaborative process, so there’s a lot of chat going back and forth throughout you know the entire casting process.,” Schilling said.

“We are able to get those messages across an you know, we learn every year and we are constantly taking feedback and trying to do better.”

Rampolla added: “I do think it’s my responsibility to voice concerns when I have them and I do feel absolutely heard when I do”.

MAFS sexologist Alessandra Rampolla says she feels comfortable “voicing concerns” to producers.

These so-called experts don’t do enough to stop the lying, cheating, bullying, gaslighting and toxic masculinity.

Time after time, former contestants accuse the show of having caused them depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts

Where is the duty of care?

Competitors on The Bachelor, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, The Voice and Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares have all taken their own lives.

The concept is obviously lucrative, with Nine luring a total TV national reach of 2,523,000 viewers for its debut episode.

And despite participants being aware of the explicit premise of the series, the fact they will be judged by viewers, that the show’s producers will prod and provoke to raise drama and that they have no control over how they are portrayed, thousands still apply to feature on the show.

So there’s clearly a desire and appetite for this ratings juggernaut.

However, instead of Endemol Shine torturing and damaging genuine and clearly fragile singles looking for love, how about they only recruit the wannabe famous social media personalities who are willing to be exploited in the search for fame.