Nine’s MAFS launches review after Adrian Araouzou cast as groom in 2025 season following serious DV assault acquittal
A male contestant on Nine’s ratings juggernaut Married At First Sight has denied serious domestic violence claims, saying he was cleared by a court after producers launched a review into how he was selected to be a ‘groom’ on the show.
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A male contestant on Nine’s ratings juggernaut Married At First Sight has denied serious domestic violence claims, saying he was cleared by a court after producers launched a review into how he was selected to be a “groom” on the popular dating show.
As the network reels from the downfall of chief executive Mike Sneesby and serious allegations that Nine management mishandled claims of bullying, harassment and sexual assault, it can be revealed new MAFS star Adrian Araouzou defeated police claims he had assaulted his girlfriend.
Mr Araouzou, who as one of the grooms on the show has been paired up with a female contestant and given the opportunity to go to bed with her hours after meeting, had assault occasioning actual bodily harm, domestic violence common assault and resisting police charges dismissed in a NSW court in November 2021 after a magistrate found him not guilty.
The serious allegations and subsequent court appearance against the 31-year-old raised serious questions as to the background checks and due diligence in place to protect contestants on the show.
In a statement on Tuesday evening, Mr Araouzou firmly denied the allegations. “Any suggestion of physical assault is categorically denied. I had my day in court, I was found not guilty and the application for an AVO was dismissed. Any allegation otherwise is completely baseless and highly defamatory,” he said through a lawyer.
In the 2020 season of MAFS, one couple were forced to abruptly leave the show after a “bride” felt uncomfortable following an inappropriate touching incident where it is understood the woman was paired with a groom who had sexsomnia.
That same season, contestant Mishel Karen claimed producers “failed her” after testing positive to opiates and tranquillisers – benzodiazepines – in her system during filming.
This year, contestant Timothy Smith revealed he spent a year in a US prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking.
Also appearing on next year’s season is 31-year-old Billy Belcher, who was given an 18-month suspended sentence for multiple serious drug charges in a Perth court in 2014.
Court documents state that in June 2020, police were called to the Sydney home that Mr Araouzou and his partner shared after a witness allegedly heard screaming, with officers finding the “hysterical and barely consolable” woman in the bathroom with her head in her hands and blood seeping through.
Police alleged in court documents that Mr Araouzou had to be handcuffed due to his “erratic behaviour” before “lurching” towards them.
“Due to the actions of the defendant, police were required to restrain (him) using weaponless control,” police said.
A few days later, the woman signed a police statement stating the injuries sustained were not a result of Mr Araouzou assaulting her but from a seizure, something she said she had suffered on previous occasions. “I am horrified Adrian has been accused of being a perpetrator of domestic violence, as this is the furthest thing from the truth. I want the matter dropped, so that Adrian and I can move on,” she wrote in June 2020.
A hospital report from the night in question states that she was “unsure what happened but fears she was assaulted by her partner” and she “remembers screaming” and expressed concerns regarding “possible sexual assault”.
Police, at the time of the alleged assault, said they were of the belief she was “too afraid” to speak.
“Upon walking towards the back of the residence, police immediately saw a significant amount of blood on the floor and along the walls, leading them towards the bathroom where they located the (woman). The (woman) was naked, sitting on the toilet, with her head in her hands with blood seeping through her hands,” police said in a report.
Mr Araouzou was found not guilty by a magistrate and cleared of any wrongdoing.
Endemol Shine, the producers of MAFS and other Nine hits like Lego Wars, has launched an internal investigation into Mr Araouzou after an acquaintance of the woman he was alleged to have attacked contacted show producers.
According to a leaked email sent to the production company, the acquaintance questioned the production company’s duty of care towards the woman who had been partnered with him on the show.
“What kind of duty of care does Endemol Shine have to participants that they put into a situation to be matched with someone,“ the letter reads.
The acquaintance of his former partner says Endemol Shine had not requested further information.
The references to Mr Araouzou’s time in the court are available in publicly available court records, which the network or production company would be able to obtain easily, raising questions of the background checks and due diligence in place.
It is understood Nine has oversight on the selection process of the contestants.
In March 2019, Mr Araouzou was convicted of drink driving, and later that year pleaded guilty to giving police a false name or address, driving while suspended and driving during a disqualification period. In 2016, a charge of assaulting a police officer was dismissed by a magistrate.
Nine and Endemol Shine were contacted for comment.
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