Married at First Sight may be the subject of an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority after outraged viewers filed several complaints about the show.
Many viewers took offense to scenes involving controversial couple Melissa Rawson and Bryce Ruthven, according to a report from The Wash on Monday.
Speaking to The Wash, ACMA revealed that it had received 14 complaints about this year’s MAFS season, and four of them involved Bryce and Melissa, both 31 years old.
Consideration of issue: Married at first sight may be the subject of an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority after outraged viewers filed several complaints about the show. Pictured, Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson
“As part of the co-regulatory system, ACMA will refer complainants to the broadcaster first,” they said in a statement.
“If the complainant does not receive a response from the broadcaster within 60 days, or is not satisfied with the response, they can refer their complaint to ACMA who may choose to investigate.”
According to ACMA, many viewers expressed “concern about the scenes involving Melissa and Bryce”.
Issue: Change.org petition asks Channel Nine to apologize for airing ‘trigger’ scenes involving ‘gas’ groom and his long-suffering wife
On Monday, a Change.org petition began circulating, asking Channel Nine to apologize for airing ‘trigger’ scenes involving the ‘gas’ groom and his wife who has been suffering since. long time.
The petition, which has already received 2,500 signatures in less than 24 hours, also asks Nine to admit her alleged “breach of duty of care” to Melissa.
“This season of Married at First Sight in Australia features a couple, Melissa and Bryce, who portray an excessive amount of DV signs that are not being treated appropriately by the network,” the petition says.
“There is a clear breach of duty of care owed to Melissa during the filming of the series, allowing her to remain in a toxic and dangerous environment with her partner for the ‘benefit’ of the network.”
“ She is subjected to gas light, emotional manipulation, isolation and countless other manual signs of a controlling and / or abusive relationship, ” the petition continues, adding that the scenes are “ incredibly triggering and stressful to watch ”.
Fans’ fury: Many viewers took offense to scenes involving controversial couple Melissa and Bryce according to a report from The Wash on Monday
He continues: ‘This petition is for the Nine Network to acknowledge and apologize for letting Melissa go through this and also aired such a horrific relationship on TV without doing anything to show that the relationship clearly isn’t healthy. ”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.
Similar outrage has exploded on Twitter, where many viewers are calling for the show to be canceled or boycotted due to its portrayal of toxic relationships.
Blame game: He tried to further explain his initial decision to “ quit ” on Monday, saying he wanted to remove Melissa from the “ toxic environment ” the other cast members were creating.
Bryce and Melissa’s “ marriage ” has also been a point of contention for the other couples on the show, who largely disapprove of the relationship.
In Sunday’s episode of Married At First Sight, Bryce humiliated his bride during the show’s engagement ceremony after revealing that he initially voted to ‘leave’ the experience, before ultimately decide to “ stay ”.
The other couples criticized the radio presenter after a series of incidents in which he repeatedly showed contempt for Melissa’s feelings.
Angry: According to ACMA, many viewers expressed ‘concerns about the scenes involving Melissa and Bryce’
But Bryce defended his behavior in a lengthy Instagram post on Sunday.
“ People won’t agree with what I did at the engagement ceremony saying I didn’t put my partner’s feelings first, BUT I raised the issue that bullying is not acceptable in any area, ” he wrote.
“ It was a difficult decision to continue the experience given what we were going through, but in the end the goal of finding love with someone will always win out. ”
Taking the lead: Speaking to The Wash, ACMA revealed that it received 14 complaints about this year’s MAFS season, and four of them involved Bryce and Melissa, both 31 years old.
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