Married At First Sight Australia subject to SafeWork NSW investigation following ‘unsafe’ allegations

Former Married At First Sight Australia contestants have come forward with complaints about inappropriate behaviour alleged to have taken place on the set of the 2025 season.

The popular TV show was issued three SafeWork NSW improvement notices after three contestants and a viewer at home raised allegations about unsafe and non-consensual behaviour, according to documents obtained by the Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday.

The viewer complained to SafeWork NSW about a groom punching a hole in a wall, raising work, health and safety concerns for the cast and crew.

Some of the alleged incidents include a bride being filmed in the shower without her knowing, non-consensual touching by a groom, and production staff blocking exits to prevent cast members from leaving the set.

Other participants complained about privacy issues, including staff having keys to their apartments and not being allowed to remove their microphones while in the bathroom.

Participants told SafeWork NSW they were threatened if they tried to leave the set or when they asked not to be filmed if they were feeling sick, according to the documents.

At least one individual alleged the crew would block exits on the set to prevent contestants from leaving.

Other allegations included in the documents describe long filming hours, being confined to apartments under curfew, being banned from speaking to other participants, and being “baited and harassed” by producers to trigger emotional responses.

The West Australian does not suggest the allegations are true, only that they have been made and were the subject of a SafeWork NSW investigation.

A Nine spokesperson said: “Nine and Endemol Shine Australia have welcomed working with SafeWork NSW and have engaged fully and transparently with them. Participant welfare is always the primary consideration in every work health and safety decision we make.”

After the allegations came to light, former Perth MAFS bride Beck Zemek, who was on the 2021 season, said she was in no way shocked by the claims.

“I’m not shocked by any allegations,” she told The West. “The environment you are placed in is toxic. My season was filmed in Covid so they used that as an excuse as to why we could never leave our apartments. They do it so you don’t talk to others though and realise they’re setting up drama between you all.

“It is the most unsafe place for any woman and it’s led by a woman!!! Disgusting behaviour. I remember even one of the cameramen making comments all the time about how I looked.”

The mother-of-one who left her MAFS husband Jake Edwards and is now engaged to builder Ben Michell said she believed the show should be taken off air “until they can give a guaranteed safe workspace”.

It comes after MAFS UK came under fire in recent weeks after BBC’s Panorama aired allegations from two women who claimed they were raped during the filming of the show.

The UK version is made by a different company from MAFS Australia.