Lawyer of alleged Married at First Sight UK rape victim hits out calling for show to be cancelled
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing
A lawyer representing one of the victims alleging she was raped by her on-screen husband in Married at First Sight UK has called for the show to be cancelled, saying she thought the programme was now 'utterly untenable'.
Two brides from Married at First Sight UK have claimed they were raped during filming of the show, and a third has alleged sexual misconduct from her onscreen husband.
One of the women alleging rape is going by the name 'Lizzie' to protect her anonymity, and she claims her onscreen husband raped her and threatened to throw acid on her.
She is being represented by barrister Charlotte Proudman, who appeared on Good Morning Britain this morning (19 May) to argue that MAFS UK shouldn't come back.
The barrister said: "I think it’s utterly untenable for the show to carry on, I mean it’s effectively airing rape and domestic abuse in some cases allegedly.
"That cannot be right that viewers are actively, potentially watching those relationships unfold for sensationalisation and titillation.
"Surely the priority should be on protection and safeguarding the contestants and it just isn’t working."
'Lizzie' told the BBC Panorama documentary The Dark Side of Married at First Sight she 'froze with fear' at the alleged attack and had fingerprints visible on her body from where she was grabbed.
She claimed: "We were in our apartment, on the sofa, and he tried to have sex with me. And I kept saying no, that I didn't want to do it.
"But he kept saying, 'You can't say no, you're my wife'. And he just did it anyway."
She also alleged that her husband gave her bruises during sex as she 'kept saying stop', and that he had told her off camera that he and a former partner had been 'violent' towards each other.
Proudman told the documentary there was: "A lack of curiosity, a lack of the ability to ask important questions and the failure to implement basic safeguarding measures."
A legal representative for the show's production company CPL said they spoke with the onscreen husband and he said he'd been the victim of violence, and when they discussed it with Lizzie she told them she didn't feel at risk.
CPL's representative claimed Lizzie had told them the bruises were the result of rough but consensual sex, and the comment about throwing acid was a passing remark and not a threat, they said they acted immediately once the woman said she felt unsafe.
Legal representatives for her onscreen husband have denied all the claims against him.
Also featured in the documentary was Shona Manderson, who decided to forego her anonymity to claim her onscreen husband Bradley Skelly had ejaculated inside her without permission.
Manderson claims they'd agreed to use the pull-out method, saying: "I was shocked, I was confused, we said we weren't doing that."
She says she later went with a welfare producer to get a morning-after pill, and CPL's lawyers said the couple spoke to them a few days afterwards and claim Bradley said he'd been wearing a condom and Shona had said she didn't have an issue with it.
Legal representatives for Skelly later told Panorama he had not been wearing protection.
In a statement to the programme, Skelly said he categorically denies ;any allegations of sexual misconduct, or that he was controlling'.
In his first post on Instagram since the allegations emerged, he posted a quote about the definition of the Latin term Amor Fati, which can be translated as 'love of one’s fate'.
The post read: "Amor Fati. The discipline of embracing every event as necessary for your path."
About a week after leaving MAFS UK, Shona discovered she was pregnant and had an abortion, saying she was unsure if the pregnancy had been caused by the alleged event of him ejaculating inside her without permission.
The couple separated after six weeks.
A third bride going by the name of 'Chloe' for anonymity claimed she had told Channel 4 and CPL after filming but before airing that she had been raped.
Legal representatives of her onscreen husband say he challenges details of her account.
Priya Dogra, chief executive of Channel 4 said: “I want to express my sympathy to contributors who have clearly been distressed after taking part in Married At First Sight UK. The wellbeing of our contributors is always of paramount importance.
“It would be wholly inappropriate for me to comment on what are very serious allegations made against some MAFS UK contributors.
“Those allegations – which I understand are disputed by the contributors accused – are not something that Channel 4 is in a position to adjudicate on.
“We are also mindful of our ongoing duty of care to all contributors, and the need to preserve the anonymity and privacy of all involved.
“On the claims that Channel 4 may have failed in its duty of care, I believe that when concerns about contributor welfare were raised, and based on the information available at the time, Channel 4 acted quickly, appropriately, sensitively and with wellbeing front and centre.”
Channel 4 has announced an external review into contributor welfare on the show, and all previous seasons have been removed from its streaming platform.
It said in a statement: "In April, Channel 4 was presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors, allegations that we understand those contributors have denied.
“The channel is mindful of the privacy and continuing duty of care towards all contributors, and cannot comment on or disclose details of those allegations.
“Related to those allegations, Channel 4 was asked to respond to claims of failures in welfare protocols. Channel 4 believes that when concerns related to contributor welfare were raised through existing welfare and production protocols, prompt and appropriate action was taken, based on the information available at the time.
“Channel 4 strongly refutes any claim to the contrary.”
LADbible Group has contacted Channel 4 for further comment.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.
Topics: Channel 4, Married At First Sight, TV
Joe Harker