The latest allegations against Married At First Sight Australia have been labelled “serious and disturbing” by the country’s media watchdog – with Ofcom also calling them “deeply concerning”.
A new BBC investigation published over the weekend claimed multiple MAFS Australia participants were not told about their partners’ violence and drug convictions.
Sierah Swepstone, who took part in last year’s series, said she felt “brides are not safe on the show” after learning her partner, Billy Belcher, had been arrested and sentenced in 2014 for multiple drug-related offences.
Swepstone said she only found out after the show ended, telling the BBC: "You shouldn't be left alone with a stranger with a criminal record.
"At the very least, there should be informed consent. They should let us know. Why is the show accepting that risk on our behalf? We should have the choice."
The BBC said MAFS Australia's broadcaster Channel 9 and producer Endemol Shine Australia had pointed it to a previous statement which said: "Billy was completely honest with production about the life lessons he learnt when he was 18, after receiving a suspended sentence with good behaviour for drug-related offences."
They added that Belcher had faced no accusations or convictions in relation to violence of any sort.
Another 2025 groom, Adrian Araouzou, had a 2017 conviction for affray. His partner told the BBC she was not informed of this. Araouzou told the BBC it was “none of your business” when asked for a response and claimed the information was “false”.
In a statement issued to The Independent, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said it "acknowledges the serious and disturbing matters" raised by the former participants.
The Australian regulatory watchdog’s powers differ from Ofcom’s. It is responsible for developing codes of practice to safeguard viewers and listeners, but does not have provisions regarding the treatment of reality television participants.
The spokesperson added: "When members of the public raise concerns with the ACMA that fall outside of our regulatory remit, we encourage them to bring those concerns to the broadcaster and, where appropriate, to the relevant authority."
Meanwhile, an Ofcom spokesperson said: "These latest allegations are deeply concerning and we would expect Channel 4 to take account of them in its ongoing reviews into contributor care.
"We await its findings which we will consider alongside all other evidence made available to us."
It comes as the future of MAFS UK remains in limbo after three brides said they were sexually assaulted by their partners during filming.
Shona Manderson, who appeared in the 2023 series, said her partner Bradley Skelley ejaculated inside her without permission during a consensual sexual encounter. Via his lawyers, Skelley categorically denied all “any allegations of sexual misconduct” and said his relationship with Manderson "was based on mutual consent, care and affection”.
Two other anonymous women alleged they were raped by their on-screen husbands, while speaking in a Panorama documentary. The two men denied the allegations.
Channel 4 pulled all episodes of MAFS UK from its streaming service following the claims last month and the show’s Instagram account has since been deleted.
The broadcaster’s chief executive Priya Dogra said she “deeply sorry” after the allegations and that a review into contributor welfare was underway. Dogra added that she would not be able to fully respond until the review is completed later this summer.
Speaking at a briefing for the broadcaster’s annual report last month, she continued: “That said, I have watched the programme and heard the women’s accounts which are very troubling.
“Their distress is clear, and for that I am, of course, deeply sorry. Welfare across all our programmes is hugely important to us, and is a primary concern.
“However, I’m sure you’ll appreciate that Channel 4 cannot investigate the specific allegations against the men, which they have denied, nor can I comment on them in any way.
“We are a broadcaster, not an adjudicator, and allegations of this type are investigated by other bodies, including when complaints are raised by the police.”
