MAFS star Bec claims show was shut down over unwanted kiss from Bryce

Viewers were shocked by last night’s ‘uncomfortable’ MAFS kissing incident. Now, the explosive fallout has been revealed.

MAFS contestant Rebecca Zemek has claimed Channel 9 production was shut down following an unwanted kiss from fellow contestant Bryce Ruthven.

On Tuesday night, viewers watched in shock as Bryce forcefully planted a kiss on Bec’s cheek during the dinner party, leading to an explosion of backlash on social media.

The two have been locked in a feud since Bec, who is ‘married’ to Jake Edwards, accused Bryce of flirting with her behind his ‘wife’ Melissa Rawson’s back, with Bec telling 2Day FM’s Hughesy, Ed and Erin this morning that she felt “violated” by the kiss which left her in floods of tears during the episode.

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Visibly shaken and in tears, Bec was comforted by fellow ‘wives’ after Bryce’s unwelcome kiss. Picture: Channel 9

“When he went to lean into me, I just freaked out,” she said of the moment Bryce pulled her towards him on the couch and kissed her cheek, after which she recoiled and burst into tears, screaming: “Yuck! That’s disgusting!”

She said: “I didn’t want him near me, him coming over to me was quite stressful for me, but then as soon as he grabbed me and leant over to me I think I just blacked out.”

The unwanted kiss occurred after Bryce had sarcastically referred to Bec, 27, as ‘the queen’ of this year’s season of MAFS at the couples retreat, with fellow groom Liam Cooper urging Bryce, 31, to apologise for his behaviour.

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Bryce had planted the kiss on Bec moments after insulting her. Picture: Channel 9

This morning, Bec described feeling ‘violated’ by his actions. Picture: Channel 9

Bryce previously told Kyle and Jackie O it was merely a “friendly kiss”, suggesting Bec had overreacted and that her tears were “fake”.

“It’s not really a kiss. You know how you greet someone, give them a hug, kiss on the cheek sort of thing,” he told hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson earlier this week.

“She gives me a big shove away and then breaks down in fake tears,” he recalled of her reaction.

According to Bec, the incident actually led to a complaint to production.

“It was one of those moments where I had to bring the contract up to even see what my rights are. I didn’t sign up for this, I didn’t sign up for even having conversations with Bryce anymore,” she said on air this morning.

She went on to reveal production was shut down for a day following the dinner party.

“It was just so mentally draining for me at the time,” she said, adding that she’s still traumatised by the moment: “I look at it the same way as I did before. It’s harassment. I think you learn to keep your hands to yourself when you’re five years old.”

She added: “It was really hard for me to even watch last night … Everyone’s seen a good edit of it; it was worse than that.”

Following the scene airing, viewers took to Twitter to slam the show’s producers for not stepping in.

Rebecca did not consent to that kiss from Bryce. @Channel9 you need to acknowledge this and remove Bryce immediately! #consent#MAFSAU#MAFSAustralia#mafs#Brycepic.twitter.com/hB9ls2rH7y

— Miss OVH (@Miss_OVH) March 30, 2021

#MAFS#MAFSAustralia with everything going on in Australia at present in regards to treatment of women, consent and sexual abuse how does Bryce get away with laying an unwanted kiss onto a woman on national television. I am not a fan of Bec but come on that is just not on!!

— say what? (@dontbsilent_say) March 30, 2021

At the end of the day, Bryce barely knows Bec. But he clearly dislikes her & is very open about it. Yet he STILL felt entitled to enter her space, lay hands on her & forcibly kiss her as she tried to get away from him. And a production crew stood by and did NOTHING. #MAFS#MAFSAU

— Jess (@jess_may_h) March 30, 2021

Bryce forcing a kiss upon Rebecca in #mafs is uncomfortable watching - & definately triggering for people who have been subject to DV & sexual assault. Especially in these times, where is your duty of care @Channel9 ? Bryce should be removed from the show as hes a predator.

— Anth (@anth0888) March 30, 2021

News.com.au has contacted Channel 9 for comment.

Throughout this season, viewers have slammed Bryce’s behaviour, labelling him a “manipulator” and a “bully” for his treatment of Melissa.

His co-stars have been similarly damning of his actions, particularly during Sunday’s commitment ceremony when he revealed he’d initially voted to leave the experiment, before crossing it out and writing ‘stay’.

A visibly upset Melissa later told producers: “I had no idea that leave would even be considered. I’m still a little confused.”