Confusion, fury over bizarre grilling of Selina on MAFS

Viewers have been left scratching their heads after an expert harshly grilled a wife, trying to get her to confess to something very strange.

A fiery exchange sparked by the denial of a hug has left Married At First Sight viewers scratching their heads.

On Sunday night’s show, Selina expressed her sadness that husband Cody had refused a request to embrace her. Clearly deeply hurt, it was a far cry from the sunnier relationship dynamic the duo displayed last week.

While Cody took the blame for the tension in the relationship, confessing that he doesn’t know how to offer affection, his explanation wasn’t enough for the judges.

“It’s obviously awful, and it’s something I’m not equipped to deal with,” he said.

“I’m not very empathetic. I’m quite cold in that regard, and I know it. That is one of my weakest points, I don’t know how to console someone.”

Other members of the group jumped in with some commentary and then, in quite the twist, expert Mel Schilling praised Cody and ripped into Selina in a tense exchange that was focused on getting her to admit an imagined wrongdoing.

“I’ve got to commend you, Cody, some of the parts of the trouble that perhaps sit with you,” Schilling said. “Selina, in your perspective, how are you contributing to the rockiness that’s happening?

“ … Do you see the (problems) as wholly sitting on Cody’s side of the equation?”

To which a confused Selina said “yes”.

“How do I have my wants and needs neglected because someone can’t show any empathy?” she cried.

Puts Selina and Cody together
Cody feels nothing for Selina.
Selina feels neglected.
Tells Selina both parties are always at fault when a relationship isn't working.#MAFS#MAFSAU#MAFSAustralia#MarriedAtFirstSightpic.twitter.com/jUsC4fJJaj

— Rae (@Ray77613453) February 27, 2022

“Let’s be really clear,” Schilling continued, unfazed by the emotional display. “We’re not asking you to neglect your wants and needs at all. What we’re after here is equity.

“And at the moment, we’re hearing that the accountability for the problems in the relationship, Cody, you’re owning some of them. Selina, you’re not.

“And we’re trying to understand if that’s the reality. So it’s back to you – what is it that you’re doing that’s contributing to the trouble? Because it’s obviously on both sides, it always is.”

Selina stuttered and Mel jumped in again. “How have you contributed to the problems?”

Selina shook her head and said she’s “confused”.

It was a bizarre grilling.

Things got even more awkward when Selina voted to leave the relationship, but Cody chose to stay, leaving them stuck with each other for another week.

Viewers took to social media to lash Schilling for her seemingly unjustified harsh criticism of Selina.

Twitter user Ten wrote: “What has Selina done wrong? Why is Mel grilling her when it’s clear from the get go that Cody has never put in any effort.”

Gemma agreed: “Mel is infuriating me by blaming Selina.”

And Nez said: “Is Mel mistaking Selina for Selin at the moment? She didn’t take Selin to task. Barely said a word to Andrew. But goes after Selina?”

And furious fan Alysha said: “They’re full on gaslighting Selina and she’s literally done nothing wrong? I’m so pi--ed off.”

Selina: Cody is at fault.

Cody: Yes, I know I'm at fault.

The Experts: Selina, you maybe at fault.#MAFS#MAFSAUpic.twitter.com/SkFgqTOxu7

— Married At First Sight Experts (@mafsexperts) February 27, 2022

Cody: I cannot empathise. I do not give Selena what she needs. I don’t comfort her if she’s sad. Please change my batteries.

The experts: okay but Selena can you tell us what you’ve done to ruin this relationship too please? #MAFS#MAFSAU

— realityniccy59 (@realityniccy59) February 27, 2022

Well done “expert” Mel for demonstrating exactly how you should not treat a victim of spousal neglect.

Poor Selina.

#MAFSAU#MAFS#MAFSAustralia

— Jo Desmond 💗 (@jodes888) February 27, 2022

Hey, Mel. Even Cody admits he's the problem, maybe lay off Selina.#MAFS#MAFSAU

— So Dramatic! (@sodramaticpod) February 27, 2022

UR JOKING OMG SELINA RUN PLEASE #MAFS#MAFSAUpic.twitter.com/BFIm54kOfs

— pippa 💭 (@iKissVillbur) February 27, 2022

Others laid into Cody, with Artemis writing: “Cody had the emotional intelligence of a Tim Tam.”

And his decision to stay was also quite the surprise.

So Cody doesn’t show any empathy towards Selina and isn’t attracted to her and has not put in any effort for weeks…. and he writes stay #MAFSAU#MAFSpic.twitter.com/h1sCNn9KCH

— ten (@ten_1996x) February 27, 2022

Originally published as Confusion, fury over bizarre grilling of Selina on MAFS