Filmed in the shower and touching without consent

We Married at First Sight Participants alleged patterns of unsafe behavior on the show, such as a bride being filmed in the shower without her knowledge, the groom touching her without her consent, and production staff blocking exits to prevent actors from leaving the set.

The reality show has been issued with three SafeWork NSW remediation notices after several participants and a viewer at home raised allegations of an unsafe working environment on the show last year.

SafeWork NSW issued three improvement orders as a result of the investigation. Nine

This imprint may disclose details of allegations made against grooms and crew to SafeWork NSW after documents have been obtained under freedom of information laws. These included a status report submitted to Safe Work Minister Sophie Cotsis last year, which said the allegations posed potentially serious psychosocial dangers.

The allegations were investigated after a viewer complained to SafeWork NSW about a groom punching a hole in a wall, raising occupational health and safety concerns for cast and crew. The three participants went on to make a number of allegations against other participants and the crew.

The document describes allegations of “violence and aggression by producers and grooms on the show, including touching the groom without his consent.”

This byline does not suggest that the allegations are true, it merely indicates that the allegations were made and were the subject of a SafeWork NSW investigation. We Married at First Sight It is published by Nine Entertainment, which also owns this imprint.

Nine said it took the safety of participants seriously and cooperated fully with SafeWork’s investigations.

In one incident revealed in the documents, a bride claimed she was filmed taking a shower without her knowledge or consent, and other participants complained about a general lack of privacy, such as production staff having access to keys to apartments at any time and actors not being allowed to remove their microphones when using the bathroom.

Participants told SafeWork NSW they were threatened and intimidated when they tried to leave the production or asked not to be filmed if they were not feeling very well. At least one attendee accused the film crew of physically blocking exits to prevent actors from leaving.

Other allegations include extremely long shooting hours, with breaks of only six or seven hours between takes; being confined to apartments under curfew and prohibited from talking to other participants; and being “baited and harassed” by producers to encourage emotional responses.

As a result of the investigations, SafeWork NSW directed the production to improve reporting of notifiable incidents (incidents involving hazardous events, injuries or deaths), systems for managing physical and psychological hazards and occupational health and safety training.

A fifth investigation into potential psychosocial dangers at the show was launched last year. MAFSs groom Lachlan Rofe died suddenly at the age of 47. His death occurred outside of production and there is no suggestion that his death was linked to the show.

SafeWork NSW said all investigations were now closed but compliance was being monitored. Endemol Shine has been contacted for comment.

A spokesperson for Nine Entertainment said the company and Endemol Shine took their obligations to participants extremely seriously and that all contestants had access to a psychologist and outreach resources.

“Our approach is not ‘set it and forget it’ when it comes to the health, welfare and safety of participants. We are constantly looking for ways we can improve our process and support. We review it at the end of each season and make adjustments where necessary,” the spokesperson said.

“We have cooperated with SafeWork NSW’s investigations into Nine and will continue to do so where necessary.”

Cotsis said the SafeWork NSW commissioner would meet with managers at Endemol Shine in the coming weeks to ensure policies were in place to prevent risks to participants.

“These allegations are extremely concerning. The production studio where this program is shot is the workplace of these participants; they deserve to feel safe,” Cotsis said.

The series has faced a number of controversies in recent years, including groom Paul Antoine punching a wall while arguing with his on-screen wife. The incident was openly discussed on the show and was described as toxic and unacceptable by the show’s relationship experts.

This year’s season was criticized by federal minister Tanya Plibersek after participant Tyson Gordon commented that he wanted a submissive and submissive partner. His behavior was also criticized by experts.

“I think the producers of this show really need to think twice before platforming this kind of misogyny,” Plibersek said.

The UK version of the program has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks following the BBC’s announcement. Panorama The claims of two women who claimed that they were raped during the filming of the show were published. The UK program is made by a different company than the Australian version.

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