Behind the Wedding Bells: MAFS Australia Casts Contestants With Criminal Pasts
A BBC investigation uncovers that several former girls on the Australian version of Married at First Sight (MAFS) were matched with men who had drug and violence convictions – information that was not disclosed to them by the show’s producers.
Sierah Swepstone: "There should be informed consent – we need to know if our partner has a criminal record before we meet them." In her case, she married Billy Belcher, who was sentenced in 2014 for multiple drug-related offences. Swepstone only discovered the conviction after the season finished.
Another former contestant, who asks to remain anonymous, said her on-screen husband told her he had “aggressive” behaviour and producers knew of these incidents. She was terrified to be alone with a man whose past included an affray conviction and a violent outburst that smashed a mic‑pack.
Channel 9 and Endemol Shine Australia’s response: they assert a thorough background check process is in place, citing police checks, psychological assessment and a statutory declaration. Yet, critics point out that many participants had only a two‑week window from application to filming, and the checks were allegedly rushed.
The cast’s concerns are echoed by other participants such as Katie Johnstone and Tahnee Cook who say they would accept a partner with no criminal record but feel that the show’s procedures didn’t adequately inform women about the potential dangers of pairing with someone with a “sketchy” background.
The BBC’s report came after a separate BBC Panorama investigation exposed rape allegations in the UK version of MAFS. In that drama, two women said their partners allegedly assaulted them, a claim the men denied. The UK series was pulled from Channel 4’s streaming service All 4 as a precaution.
In Australia, while MAFS is produced by Endemol Shine Australia and aired on Channel 9, Channel 4 – which does not produce the show – has stated it has no editorial control but will ensure any broadcast meets Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code.
With nine former members calling for a review, the conversation centers on whether reality shows should reveal participants’ criminal histories to protect the safety and well‑being of those casting with strangers. The findings highlight a broader ethical debate around the strictness of background checks in stardom‑driven television.
