The secrets MAFS producers were hoping you’d never find out

"It would have been wrongful duty of care and potentially unsafe."

MAFS has never shied away from controversy, but the 2024 season holds secrets that even the most dedicated fans missed.

From accusations of editing fails to potential lawsuits, we’re spilling the tea to uncover the scandals that producers hoped to keep hidden.

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1. A condensed season

MAFS took an unexpected turn with a shorter season, spanning just ten weeks instead of the usual 11. 

While this decision aimed to intensify the drama, it also meant skipping the iconic Girls' and Boys' nights. 

“There was basically no need for it because all the couples stayed on the show quite long anyway, so a reunion that early would have been weird,” an insider revealed.

Insider sources also divulged that the absence of key cast members, notably Lauren , left these events lacking in spark. 

“The week it was meant to happen, Lauren was also back home in Perth and not filming, so it would have been lacklustre without her there, and none of the other brides would have really said much.”

Coupled with contestants leaving the show early due to mental health concerns, producers opted to scrap the additional week and any premature reunions.

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2. Feedback Week vs. Partner Swap

Fans anticipated the return of the Partner Swap challenge, but producers had other plans. 

“The challenge copped a lot of backlash last year from the public because the situation would never happen in the real world,” the insider said.

“Also, a lot of contestants who refused to participate,” they added.

Instead, Feedback Week replaced the controversial swap as producers also felt they didn’t have any other options.“The whole point of it is to pair contestants who have been feuding with each other. So obviously, Jack would have been paired with either Lauren or Sara,” they added.

However, with the combination of Lauren undergoing emergency surgery and Sara accusing Jack of “making unwanted sexual advances towards her”, the producers agreed it “would have been wrongful duty of care and potentially unsafe” to pair her with Jack- despite the potential drama that would unfold on camera.

“So they just decided not to do it because there was no point.”

RELATED: Eagle-eyed MAFS fans spot hilarious editing fail

Jack enjoying his 'feedback' from Jade earlier in the week. Source: Endemol Shine Australia (a Banijay Company) for the 9Network.

3. Nude photo scandal

One of the season's most shocking moments involved Jack's alleged sharing of intimate photos of his ex, Courtney, with fellow contestants. 

A show insider revealed, “Jack showed naked photos of his ex Courtney to Jonathan McCullough and Tim Calwell in the gym.” 

They continued, “Jack was boasting to the boys about how hot his ex is and how he tapped that.

“Courtney’s privacy was fully violated. I feel so sorry for her. It was disgraceful. Absolutely cooked behaviour.”

Despite the salacious drama unfolding behind the scenes, Channel Nine opted to pull the plug due to legal concerns. 

The insider revealed that airing the scandal would have risked defamation, forcing producers to edit out the incriminating footage. 

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It has been alleged Sara's cheating scandal had been taken out of context pointing the finger to an editing fail. Source: Endemol Shine Australia (a Banijay Company) for the 9Network.

4. Sara cheating: truth or bad editing?

Accused of cheating and caught in a web of lies, Sara's portrayal on-screen has been deemed a byproduct of unfair editing- claims that insiders have denied.

“I worked on the show. It was not edited out of context at all. This is false,” the MAFS insider told So Dramatic!

“No one is a victim of a bad edit. I was a transcriber on the show, which means that I literally transcribed every single thing that was filmed, including things that were not televised.”

They continued to explain that “Everything is quite literally exactly as portrayed. And I believe every other person who participated in this season would attest to the fact that she has been portrayed fairly and accurately.”

The source then revealed that producers actually “left out a lot of horrible things [Sara] did”.

“She is not the victim of a bad edit… In fact, I think she should be grateful for the stuff that they left out,” they said.

“The same goes with Jack and Tori” they added. 

We’d do anything to get our hands on that footage!

At the end of the day, we need to remember this show really stretches the ‘reality’ aspect of reality TV and while we like to think the drama is totally organic without any prodding and probing from producers, it’s just not true.

In saying all that, it still makes for some entertaining watching, and there will be a massive MAFS-shaped hole in our hearts when the show wraps in the coming weeks.

Originally published as The secrets MAFS producers were hoping you’d never find out