Poppy Jennings reveals she left MAFS after ‘contact’ with Luke
MAFS bride Poppy Jennings reveals what caused her to abruptly leave the popular reality TV show. In an exclusive interview, Jennings unloads on the show and her TV “husband” Luke Eglin. WATCH THE VIDEO AND READ THE TEXTS
Confidential
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A Married At First Sight contestant says she left the top rating reality TV show after “contact” between her and on-screen husband Luke Eglin made her feel uncomfortable.
In an exclusive video interview Poppy Jennings said she felt uneasy being around Mr Eglin after two separate scenes.
Ms Jennings claimed her concerns were not taken seriously by the program and she was encouraged to share a bedroom when she did not feel comfortable doing so.
It is understood Mr Eglin denies any wrongdoing.
Speaking extensively for the first time, Ms Jennings said her life had been hell after leaving the show because the real reason for her early departure had not been explained properly.
“I left the show because I was incredibly uncomfortable with some things that unfolded,” Jennings, 38, said.
“The official explanation was that we are not here to make you look bad, we are just going to play on the fact you miss your kids, we have never had that storyline before.
“When you can’t tell the truth about something, you’re obviously going to have to say something. So I am there saying: ‘My kids, my kids, my kids’.
“The truth was never going to be played.”
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Ms Jennings said she told Mr Eglin on set that she was feeling uncomfortable.
“He said: ‘Oh, I’m really sorry’ and so I thought it must have been an accident,” she said.
However, she chose to leave after feeling uncomfortable on a second occasion.
When asked about Ms Jennings’ concerns earlier this week Mr Eglin said: “Honestly I am not going to comment about anything about this because she has blown up and she just needs her own space. She just needs to move on like I have and that’s it and that’s as good as it is. I don’t know where you are getting all of this from.
“We are finished on the show and that’s as far as it goes.”
Married At First Sight is a matchmaking program which has singles “marrying” a partner and then trying to make their relationships work.
Jennings said she was made to believe the contact was “an accident” and insignificant.
“I am not a person who is easily intimidated. But I felt like once again I was being made to feel like I was making a big deal out of nothing,” she said.
“When people are telling you something is not a big deal, you start to believe that it is not.”
The Sunday Telegraph has seen text messages sent by Jennings to numerous friends and family members during filming in September, telling them how she was feeling and how it was affecting her time on the show.
Throughout filming of the ratings juggernaut, Jennings, a photographer from Wollongong, was repeatedly told to make more of an effort with 39-year-old Eglin.
“Initially obviously my wedding was really uncomfortable, I think everyone saw that,” she said.
“I didn’t sleep initially with Luke in the bed on the very first wedding night. On the honeymoon it was very uncomfortable. I was pulled up a couple of days into the honeymoon and basically told by production that Australia’s going to hate you. You are the next Ines, you’re treating him really badly. You need to at least sleep in the same room.”
“That night I apologised and said I am sorry and I moved into the same bedroom.”
In a notable scene between Jennings and her on-screen husband Eglin, Poppy was slammed by viewers when he offered to make her dinner, but she said she wasn’t hungry. She said they had had an argument.
“I don’t want to be in this apartment. There is only one bed. I feel really uncomfortable.
Jennings said the ordeal left her feeling like a “trainwreck”.
“When I got home from filming I didn’t get out of bed for three days,” she said.
“My mum had to come over here and look after my kids.”
The reality TV contestant said she has received relentless bullying online since the show went to air.
“I have had a particularly hard time with it because I didn’t get a chance to speak the truth of why I was so uncomfortable and so cold on that show.
“People, have written to me. ‘f … you and your shitty white kids. I will stab them.”
Jennings has also since found out that media attempted to speak to her when the show initially went to air but was told she was “unavailable”. Nine would not comment on Ms Jennings’ concerns
.