Married at First Sight, a rollercoaster of a series. It is full of romance, betrayal, guidance, and a huge amount of drama! The reality series is an experiment where a group of strangers are matched into ten couples by relationship experts, based on compatibility, and meet for the first time at their wedding ceremony to marry each other1. The show shares their experiences through married life and learning about each other while participating in weekly activities that focus on different relationship aspects. To conclude each week, all the couples attend a dinner party together, following with a commitment ceremony with the same group the next night2. These nights are full of drama and conflict between cast members. But there are a number of questions are being asked about this series. Are the cast members burnt out and exhausted during the filming process? Are they being treated the way that any human should be treated? Are their narratives represented in the correct way? The cast members of recent seasons have spoken out in interviews and on social media about the behind the scenes of filming and participating in the show, from applying to the show to final vows.
Former cast members from previous seasons have revealed the underlying truth of what has happened when cameras are not rolling during the filming process of the MAFS Australia series. After the 2025 season, most of the Season 12 cast had many stories about the producers and fellow cast members that changed the public’s views on the show and ethics of reality television. Although it claims to be a social experiment aimed at forming successful relationships, Married at First Sight has pushed the boundaries of reality television through the emotional control of the cast and narrative manipulation by producers. The public is questioning how far is too far when it comes to producing a drama-filled series at the expense of the cast’s wellbeing.
The producers of MAFS have expressed that their production team have a “strong duty of care” for the participants and are quite supportive of the system they provide3. However, many cast members in previous seasons have spoken out about the behind the scenes of filming to be quite poor. Tahnee, a previous MAFS cast member, explained that before entering the actual dinner party, the cast were to sit in tents that separated each couple. If a couple were fighting, they had to sit by themselves in their own tent4. They were not allowed to use or bring their phones and were not allowed to speak to other couples. They were only left with a couple of colouring books, magazines, some fruit, and a small number of bags of snacks5. They were to sit in the tents for hours before they were able to film and participate in the actual dinner party. Once they were able to film, they were provided with a very little amount of food during the filmed dinner which was always cold by the time they got to eat6. As a production team, Channel Nine have the responsibility of following and providing a duty of care for the cast members while creating episodes for reality television. So, why isn’t the production team following ethical standards? Actors are given substantial fresh meals when they are on set. Why is the MAFS cast not allowed the same in between filming times and at a dinner party?
Cast members also shared to the public that the filming process of the dinner parties took six to eight hours. Sometimes it lasted the whole day and finished the next morning7. The time it took to film the dinner party episodes was based on the amount of drama that was happening at the dinner table. Samantha from Season 9 of MAFS shared on TikTok her experience when filming a dinner party episode. She explained that the head producer came into the room while the cast was filming a calmer dinner and said they will not be leaving until some drama happens8.
Based on the previous cast members’ shared experiences, these conditions of the filming process are not good for their overall wellbeing. Not eating enough during the day and staying up to film until the early hours of the next morning is not the safe or adequate duty of care for the cast that the production team claims they have provided. Cast members would be extremely tired from the long day and desperate for a substantial meal. Producers should know better and follow their duty of care and treat each cast member like real people. This truly shows that the MAFS production crew value the quality of the drama and storylines for the series rather than the wellbeing of the cast members who are giving them with the best they can. The cast members are not actors. They are not on this show to create drama, they are on the show to participate in the social experiment to find a partner. Producers should recognise this and be more understanding and cut them some slack. They are only human.
The head producer comes out and she goes, “how are you guys going?”. We’re like “oh we’re having a great time… we’re fine!”. She was like “well I’m bored. And Australia is gonna be bored… you guys are not leaving until something exciting happens!”
-Samantha Moitzi, TikTok video
If you think this was pushing the boundaries, producers also set a curfew for cast members at the apartments. Tahnee from Season 10 explained that the cast were not allowed to see each other off camera, apart from their partner, as it could influence and alter storylines during production.9 The cast had gone against this rule during Tahnee’s season and were then given a 9pm curfew. The cast had to be inside their own apartments by this time every night when they were not filming.
Tahnee had also explained the choices used by the production team to edit the MAFS episodes. Audiences have seen many cast members from previous seasons being cast as the “villain” of the season or more dramatic during events then how the event seems. The Season 10 participant says this is from the editing technique known as “Franken-biting” or “Franken-grabbing”10. This is where editors use different audios from a cast member’s dialogue and merge them together to form one sentence. An anonymous editor stated that using the “Franken-biting” editing technique helps audiences understand and see storylines and the participants’ opinions more clearly11. So, when audiences see a cast member talking on camera and then it cuts to some other footage while the same dialogue is being heard, the dialogue is most likely being edited and manipulated.
Editors also use different forms of background music in the editing process. The music is used in order to make the audience feel a certain way about the cast member in that situation in the episode12. For example, tense or dramatic music can be used when couples or other cast members are having an argument, or silly-sounding music when someone makes a very bizarre comment or are in a funny situation.
All these editing techniques can have some benefits for cast member but mainly drawbacks. Participants are perceived differently by the public based on how the production team choose to manipulate them in the editing process. Some members are chosen the have the “villain edit” which can lead to very poor and negative outcomes after the season has aired13. Editors seek out the most dramatic situations and dialogue in the filmed footage and manipulate it into the storyline of the episodes14. Although changing narratives about cast members and situations, can create more drama for reality television, it is not good for the casts’ wellbeing outside of the show. Cast members are not on the show to create drama, and yet the producers feel the need to edit the footage in a way that could attract audiences. Knowing that the public views them differently compared to who they actually are in real life, can lead to outcomes such as negative comments towards them. Cast members have experienced worse outcomes as well.
During the time the MAFS is being aired to the public, the production team and Channel Nine gain access and take control of the cast’s social media accounts. The contract provided by Channel Nine and the MAFS production team have set certain clauses relating to social media in order to prevent any anti-production comments by the cast15. This is also to avoid any cast member from leaking information or spoilers when the season is being aired. Cast members are provided a selection of images, candid shots, and videos from the episodes. They are instructed by the production team to make content from it and write the captions to post them16. But here is the catch, the production team must approve the content being posted and have set rules when it comes to the cast creating captions. They are not allowed to talk about any other couples or individual cast members that will spoil the storyline of an episode or the whole season17. The issue with this is that the posts must relate to the upcoming episodes storyline, but the cast does not know what storylines are being aired to the public until after the episode.
After viewing some of the episodes, cast members have found that the way they have been portrayed incorrect or manipulated by the production team. Some cast members from the 2025 season have gone against the rules and broken their contract by using other accounts to share their sides to the story or the truth about the behind the scenes of filming MAFS. This has led to some storylines being ruined and information, such as text messages mentioned in episodes, being leaked18.
Some viewers have complained about the Season 12 cast spoiling some endings and storylines. However, others have been encouraging more content about the behind the scenes and asking questions during the time the series is being aired. Even though the cast would most likely post content about the secret behind the MAFS production either way, they have received a lot of support from the public. However, in previous seasons, cast members who were edited in a negative light have suffered with many negative actions based on the production team’s manipulations. The MAFS cast have been heavily influenced by the show and the control of Channel Nine, in which their lives outside the series will be changed. People will perceive them as the person on screen and not as the true individual they are in their own life. With Channel Nine’s manipulation of the cast, it is understandable as to why previous cast members are sharing the real stories and raising awareness of the treatment by the production team.
MAFS has brought a rollercoaster of a series to reality television, but also a whole lot of controversy. Behind these drama-filled and episodes brings the reality of creating entertainment for viewers. The behaviour of Channel Nine’s team towards participants and during the entire production of MAFS really shows how they do not follow ethical standards and what their values truly are. After the truth of the behind the scenes has now been told, it is safe to say viewers will have a whole new perspective of this series, future cast members, and reality television as a whole.
- McKenzie, L., & Dales, L. (2017). Choosing love? Tensions and transformations of modern marriage in Married at First Sight. Continuum, 31(6), 857–867. https://doi.org/10.1080/10304312.2017.1334873
↩︎ - Ross, M.-C. (2025, February 26). What MAFS Australia 2025 teaches us about psychological safety and accountability at work. Marie‑Claire Ross. https://www.marie-claireross.com/blog/what-effective-leadership-capabilities-do-mafs-australia-2025-contestants-exhibit
↩︎ - Choy, R. (2025, March 14). 10 behind‑the‑scenes MAFS secrets that’ll change how you view the show forever. Pedestrian. https://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainment/mafs-behind-the-scenes-secrets/
↩︎ - Cook, T. (2025, February 21). I Was A MAFS Bride & This Is What Really Goes On Behind The Scenes. Elle Australia. https://www.elle.com.au/culture/entertainment/mafs-behind-the-scenes-married-at-first-sight-australia/
↩︎ - News.com.au. (2025, March 13). Video shows harsh reality of filming MAFS. news.com.au. https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/married-at-first-sight/controversial-bride-jacqui-burfoot-shares-harsh-reality-of-mafs-dinner-parties/news-story/40a4f580ee0b324db792d42d68d4bf0a
↩︎ - News.com.au. (2025, March 13). Video shows harsh reality of filming MAFS. news.com.au. https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/married-at-first-sight/controversial-bride-jacqui-burfoot-shares-harsh-reality-of-mafs-dinner-parties/news-story/40a4f580ee0b324db792d42d68d4bf0a ↩︎
- Choy, R. (2025, March 14). 10 behind‑the‑scenes MAFS secrets that’ll change how you view the show forever. Pedestrian. https://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainment/mafs-behind-the-scenes-secrets/
↩︎ - Moitzi, S. [@SamanthaMoitzi__]. (2025, February 26). [Should I watch this season?] [Video]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthamoitzi__/video/7475517793220168978
↩︎ - Cook, T. (2025, February 21). I Was A MAFS Bride & This Is What Really Goes On Behind The Scenes. Elle Australia. https://www.elle.com.au/culture/entertainment/mafs-behind-the-scenes-married-at-first-sight-australia/
↩︎ - Cook, T. (2025, February 21). I Was A MAFS Bride & This Is What Really Goes On Behind The Scenes. Elle Australia. https://www.elle.com.au/culture/entertainment/mafs-behind-the-scenes-married-at-first-sight-australia/
↩︎ - Rasker, R. (2025, March 28). Is Jacqui really ‘crazy’? Exploring the editing techniques of shows like MAFS. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-28/franken-biting-villain-edit-mafs/105096902
↩︎ - Rasker, R. (2025, March 28). Is Jacqui really ‘crazy’? Exploring the editing techniques of shows like MAFS. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-28/franken-biting-villain-edit-mafs/105096902
↩︎ - Cook, T. (2025, February 21). I Was A MAFS Bride & This Is What Really Goes On Behind The Scenes. Elle Australia. https://www.elle.com.au/culture/entertainment/mafs-behind-the-scenes-married-at-first-sight-australia/
↩︎ - Rasker, R. (2025, March 28). Is Jacqui really ‘crazy’? Exploring the editing techniques of shows like MAFS. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-28/franken-biting-villain-edit-mafs/105096902
↩︎ - Mason, M. (2025, February 25). What exactly is in the MAFS contract? Peep what contestants sign away when joining the show. Pedestrian. https://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainment/mafs-contract/
↩︎ - Brocklehurst, H. (2024, April 3). Revealed: Who actually controls the MAFS Australia cast’s Instagram posts and captions. The Tab. https://thetab.com/2024/04/03/revealed-who-actually-controls-the-mafs-australia-casts-instagram-posts-and-captions
↩︎ - Brocklehurst, H. (2024, April 3). Revealed: Who actually controls the MAFS Australia cast’s Instagram posts and captions. The Tab. https://thetab.com/2024/04/03/revealed-who-actually-controls-the-mafs-australia-casts-instagram-posts-and-captions
↩︎ - Pritchard, T. (2025, February 24). SPOILERS on spoilers: The Season 12 Married at First Sight cast are going rogue: Is it ruining the show? So Sydney. https://sosydney.au/mafs-2025-going-rogue/
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