Call for MAFS cast to regain control of their Instagram accounts so they can cash in quick
Just when you thought this season of MAFS couldn’t get crazier, a celebrity agent moves to help them cash in on their 15 minutes of fame. Here’s the latest lunacy.
Fiona Byrne
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An online petition has been launched calling for the Married At First Sight cast to have the right to cash in immediately on their 15 minutes of fame as influencers claiming denying them was “un-Australian” and left them stuck in “Instagram purgatory.”
The ‘Let My People Go! MAFS 2022 stars have no access to their Instagrams’ petition went live on Saturday following reports that Channel 9 would be retaining control of the MAFS cast’s Instagram accounts until sometime in May because of the show’s international rollout.
In past years the network had managed the accounts until two weeks after the final episode of the season.
It is not unusual for the social media accounts of reality cast members to be managed by networks or TV stations during the run of a show in order to protect the stars from online trolling and abuse.
However, the change.org petition is asking fans to rally behind the current cast, including Olivia Frazer, Jackson Lonie, Dom Calarco, Al Perkins and Brent Vitiello, in the hope that they could get their accounts back ASAP and reap the rewards of their MAFS madness via influencing deals, freebies and party invitations.
“Poor MAFS 2022 personalities are not allowed access to their Instagram until May or beyond! This is a petition to ask Channel 9 to politely ‘Let my people go!’,” the petition, established by Max Markson who has a stable of ex-MAFS influencers, read.
“Just as Moses asked Pharaoh in Egypt in the Bible, please Channel 9, let MAFS stars enjoy the interaction with their thousands of followers.
“It’s Instagram purgatory and un-Australian not to allow them interaction with their followers and be praised, lauded and earn money from paid posts.
“Please listen to our pleas and release the MAFS stars from Instagram purgatory. It’s like being placed in Azkaban in the Harry Potter movies.”
Nine said in a statement it managed the social media accounts of MAFS contestants as part of looking out for their health and wellbeing.
“Nine provides all participants with ongoing support for the duration of the show and we monitor all participant’s social media accounts so that we are aware of, and manage, any negative commentary,” the statement said.
“We are very proactive in this space, and care for the health and wellbeing of the participants. As a result of the level of interest in the participant’s personal lives and volume of commentary on every post, Nine manages all individual MAFS social accounts with their permission, as an extra measure of protecting them from negativity.”
The petition can be found at:
https://www.change.org/p/let-my-people-go-mafs-2022-stars-have-no-access-to-their-instagrams