MAFS bride Tayla Winter makes shock accusations against Channel 9 producers

A former contestant on Married At First Sight says she barely leaves the house anymore after being given the villain edit this season, as she revealed the tactics used to manipulate scenes.

Married At First Sight bride Tayla Winter has exclusively revealed how the show’s producers create a culture that leaves participants of the hit reality show traumatised.

The 2023 MAFS contestant provided The Daily Telegraph with a detailed breakdown of exactly how she was edited behind the scenes.

“You prepare yourself for an unfavourable edit, however you still think you’re somewhat in control of how you’re portrayed,” Winter said.

The Tasmanian nurse joins a long list of former MAFS stars who have sought retribution for their damaged reputations and online abuse.

“Personally, I thought I was going to get a good edit. When context is removed, your audio is cut and pasted to create conversations. Your facial expressions and your reactions are something completely different to what actually happened,” Winter explained.

“We were told things like: ‘Could you do a frustrated face?’. But you could be doing that to say a mouthful of food you disliked, and then it is edited so you’re making that face to a girl walking into a dinner party.”

MAFS Tayla (@taylawinter) https://www.instagram.com/taylawinter/?hl=en

Fellow bride from Winter’s season, Alyssa Barmonde, told The Daily Telegraph in April that she had lost her job and was fleeing Australia to the U.S. as a result of her villain edit.

Numerous MAFS contestants from prior seasons have sought legal action against producers, although the show continues to be a ratings hit and receives thousands of applicants each year.

Jack Millar and Domenica Calarco were contestants on last year’s MAFS. Picture: Supplied

Domenica Calarco was in talks with lawyers to order cease and desist letters against three of her former castmates last October, after OnlyFans was explosively leaked on the 2022 show.

It was also reported that several cast members from 2021 were consulting lawyers to bring a class action lawsuit against producers for they “psychological trauma” they endured after being trolled by UK viewers.

“I suppose I signed the contract therefore I will take part ownership but I will never be okay with what they do to people. It’s unethical and it was traumatic,” Winter said.

“My story was not shown and it was probably because it wasn’t able to be. There was a lot of inappropriate behaviour happening.”

“It’s hard to explain to people what happens behind the scenes. If I knew what I do now, I would never have gone through with it.”

Tayla Winter was married to Hugo Armstrong on the reality TV show.

Winter was married to Hugo Armstrong, and their storyline centred around Winter refusing to share a bed with him.

However, a leaked video which never made it to air showed the pair snuggled up in bed on their honeymoon.

Alyssa Barmonde said she lost her job after the season aired. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Tayla Winter has hardly ventured outside since the MAFS season aired.

The 27-year-old said she tried to leave the experiment but was told by producers that she wasn’t allowed to. Similar claims were raised by Lyndall Grace and Harrison Boon.

“It is nothing like what I expected,” she said. “I didn’t know the filming environment would be so controlled. For the first three days in Sky Suites, I was not told I wasn’t allowed to leave the apartment. I felt like I was going crazy.

“I remember calling my mum and telling her ‘I can’t leave.’ She said: ‘Tayla you can leave, they can’t physically hold you there’.”

Winter has hardly ventured outside her front door since the season aired in April.

“I’ve been sent messages asking me to kill myself, I’ve been told I need to meet three men in a dark alley to teach me a lesson, I’ve been called every name under the sun. When people are publicly stating they want to hurt you it’s really scary.

“I was recently stalked at Sydney airport and was told I needed to be punished. We aren’t protected.”

A Nine spokesperson said contestants have access to psychological support.

“Nine also have an additional service for participants should they like or need further individual and confidential psychological support.”