MAFS fans debate whether the show is real or fake and their theories are legit

"You don't really need to script interactions between a bunch of strangers when they have all been freshly married, throw some challenges and alcohol into the mix and the drama creates itself," one person argued.

We all know to take MAFS storylines with a grain of salt. 

But a recent thread that’s gone viral in a popular forum has left viewers debating just how much involvement the show's production crew really has.

Is all that wine-throwing and partner-swapping chaos real or scripted? 

Everyone’s theories are actually quite compelling….

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Fans believe Tayla (right) is a paid actress. Image: Nine

"It's clear who's in it for the fame"

Posting to the r/MAFS_AU thread a user asked, “How much of this show is real vs fake?”

They explained that “one of the biggest turn-offs about this show is how staged it gets sometimes,” and hunny - is this your first time watching?

Welcome. You're going to hate it.

Anyway, they claim “it's very clear who's in it for the fame or product deals at the end. I feel like it's getting more pronounced though.”

They then point out in this season alone:

• Harrison and Adam are clearly planted in there to cause mischief
• Evelyn was in Big Brother UK and has publicly been with many celebrities including Andrew Tate
• Tayla is clearly putting on an act and just saying absurd shit to fit her ‘controlling character’
• There's evidence of Bronte knowing about Harrison's girlfriend before coming in and agreeing to ‘play along’ for effect.
• Most couples jump straight into bed and have sex upon ‘getting married’ which I don't think most people would do. 

Might we add to the poster’s list: there are more editing fails in this season than there are failed relationships and that’s saying something.

The user concluded, “it makes me wonder which (if any couple) is actually legit and if this show is 90% scripted.”

RELATED: MAFS producers’ major editing fail at wedding

Do you think the cheating scandal was legit? Images: Channel 9

"Who can act authentically under these conditions?"

MAFS fans swiftly got to debating it out in the comments and some self-proclaimed TV experts even weighed in.

This person made a good point: “What part of being followed around by a camera crew is NOT an act?

“Who can act authentically under these conditions? One couple of out ten perhaps.”

Another woman in the ‘it’s real’ camp noted that it would be too much effort for producers to script the entire show, especially when the drama creates itself.

They said, “People still believe the show is scripted but I fail to see why they would bother. The style of the show is chaotic at best and a complete disaster at worse. You don't really need to script interactions between a bunch of strangers when they have all been freshly married, throw some challenges and alcohol into the mix and the drama creates itself.”

However, they did add that they think producers “definitely massage some things, like the vows are written by producers and the challenges are a joke.”

Another echoed, “If you stick a bunch of shit people and fame chasers in an environment like this, there's really no scripting required. You can just give them a few nudges along the way and they'll produce the content that we all thirst after.”

And this person was adamant that it was real too: “I don’t think it’s scripted ‘cause you can see that Tahnee and Ollie are making a genuine connection,” but they still agreed that “producers instigate certain things in people’s one on one chats.”

One fan had a compelling theory, explaining that they believe, “Production hire personalities that fit one or all of the following categories: Pathological narcissists, attention seekers, liars and willing victims.

“They then put them in an apartment block together and take away their ability to seek validation via social media, maybe overt drug habits and privacy.

“Then they slowly feed them attention via cameras in production, the ability to ‘create narratives’, pit them against each other and put them in situations that are bound to cause some sort of problematic behaviour and film all of it.”

They summarised their point by saying, “It might not be completely scripted, but if you annoy two dogs enough, starve them and place them in a pit together, they’re not going to be best friends for long.”

So what was the real deal with Josh and Melissa? Image: Channel 9

RELATED: Pic proof that MAFS sweethearts Duncan and Alyssa split

It's reality TV!

But then the ‘it’s fake’ camp came out in full force, with one person claiming “the show is 100% scripted. I hate to burst the bubble. This is reality TV.”

And this reality TV buff weighed in with their opinion, breaking it down into a numbered list:

1. “Producers work with the cast regarding their storylines. A lot of the cast want airtime. Producers give them ideas or suggestions of directions to take their story - of things they might say or do. Producers plant ideas of things that might create drama or conflict. 
2. Filming takes a lot longer than what you see. They want a lot more content than they will use. They also need to retake shots to get the right lighting or sound bites. They also control the flow. If too much is happening at once, they will put drama or conversations on hold if they want to save it for the next episode. 
3. Editors and producers decide what stories they want to tell. They find clips and splice them together in the order that works to create the emotion and the story they want. They use talking heads and voiceovers so that you think two things are happening at the same time but they really aren't. 
4. They check ratings and all kinds of metrics for each segment to see what engaged the audience the most. What story kept people focused, what led to social media engagement and what is being talked about the most.”

And this person took the middle ground, saying, “I honestly feel like they try and find some couples that will genuinely work to give the show some credibility, but then fill the rest with crap.”

Then finally, this comment summed up our thoughts exactly, “Either way… fake or real, I love it!”

Originally published as MAFS fans debate whether the show is real or fake and their theories are legit