Married at First Sight: Laura Byrne talks Danny, Gia, Tyson and what she learned from MAFS: After the Dinner Party
It’s been almost a decade since Laura Byrne first appeared on Australian screens as a contestant on the 2017 season. Licence. This year, she returned to reality TV in a very different capacity.
For the new companion series MAFS: After the Dinner PartyByrne, who co-hosts with Brittany Hockley and Jules Lund, was on the other side of the drama: revealing the biggest moments of the week. We Married at First Sight and interviewing the season’s hottest stars. He was at the center of every discussion taking place in real time, and as a first-time TV show host, he became known for his ability to call out bad behavior and bring empathy and a sense of calm at the same time.
Deputy television editor Meg Watson She spoke with Byrne about her concerns about the series, why she disagrees with Tanya Plibersek’s take on the series, and also why fans who have been “feeding the beast” must now “lead with grace.”
Congratulations on the end of the season! How do you feel now you’re free MAFSs?
I feel great. It’s so nice to see my kids and husband again! It was really full. I feel like I’m stuck on TV even though we only do one episode a week [watching the series]. Also keeping up with all TikTok, social media and media stories. We really wanted to reflect what the audience was saying and thinking about each step of the experiment.
How did the show come about for you?
That’s why he approached me. Britt was also approached. Then we did chemistry tests not only with each other but also with other people. Britt and I have been working together for almost eight years, so it felt like a really organic progression of the work we were already doing. MAFSs A complete overwhelming force. We cover the media cycle all season long and talk about it all the time on our podcast. Uncut Life. For us, this seemed like a bit of a no-brainer.
At first we thought this would be more of a recap show. But all the behind-the-scenes content adds so much more. There is this level of accountability in the way participants tell a story after the show is over. They can’t blame all of their behavior on production or “bad editing”. There were actually much worse things people did off-screen that didn’t work; In fact, it’s even worse than what we air on our show.
The behind-the-scenes video of Danny talking about Bec clearly dropped a bombshell After the Dinner Party. What kind of additional clips didn’t work?
I guess when [any contestant’s] If bad behavior has become established, there is no use in repeating the same bad behavior more often. People already understand. We called for certain participants to avoid congestion.
MAFSs It was a great conversation starter. Uncut Lifebut this series (published by Stan, which owns Nine*) has a relationship with the series itself. Were you worried that you wouldn’t be able to maintain your unique voice and independence when discussing a series that could be so controversial?
The only reason Britt and I said yes was because we were told they were chosen to do the show because they wanted our input, and that was absolutely true. Good or bad. We had every right to challenge the participants, to challenge the experiment in different ways. We could talk about it however we wanted.
My biggest concern about the program wasn’t about protecting my own integrity, it was about the interview portion. We conducted hundreds of interviews Uncut LifeBut I’ve never been in a situation where I had to interview someone whose values I didn’t truly believe in. I went into this job wondering how I would get along with someone like Tyson or Danny. But I actually think that’s what I enjoy most.
I really enjoyed being in situations where there was an argument or argument and figuring out how to navigate those types of conversations with responsibility but also empathy.
That interview with Tyson, in which he talked about wanting a “submissive” woman, was the flashpoint of the series. I think everyone agrees you did a great job holding him accountable. But there was a big debate about strengthening his comments. Even the Minister of Social Services, Tanya Plibersek, intervened in this situation and played the footage of your interview on social media and said that such discourses should not appear on our TV networks. What was your response to this?
I don’t know if I agree with this for a few reasons. I understand why we say this, and I understand why people have a strong reaction to it. MAFSs. But I don’t agree with people saying, “Oh, this encourages bullying or XYZ.” In fact, I think it did the exact opposite. It creates a lot of online conversation around it From where It is problematic behavior.
The reality is that there are people like Tyson who have these belief systems. These are real men who talk like this all the time in everyday life. People date them. They walk among us. The producers don’t have to do a lot of research to find these people. So I think it’s important for a social experiment like this to show the full scope of different personality traits and belief systems. It brings these conversations to the forefront.
I think it helps younger viewers or dating people who watch this understand certain behaviors. It’s like, “Oh, that’s a red flag I’m going to watch out for.” That’s why we can all relate so much while watching MAFSs. Yes, we watch for the drama. But we also connect with at least one couple or experience there.
So where do you think the line should be drawn? Having problematic language or beliefs is one thing, but there are also broader issues such as coercive control. Last season there was also a physical incident where the groom punched the wall. Is there a line as to what should be discussed in this “social experiment”?
Definitely. There is a line and I don’t think that line has been crossed. But also, the script wasn’t written. Production didn’t sit back and say: “This is what’s going to happen.” These shows also have a lot of safety protocols, so I believe they have a duty to take good care of their attendees.
If you had to put a percentage on it now that you’ve met them, how many MAFSs The contestants are there for love and how many are there for drama and fame?
Honestly I don’t know! It’s really hard to say. Sometimes people go to such shows really wanting to meet someone, but if they don’t find a good match, then their return is fame; Something other than that. It’s the next best thing.
We still see incredible relationships like Stella and Filip. They are engaged, they live together and they are very happy. There are many success stories of people who are now married and have beautiful babies, but sometimes they get lost in the drama.
As a former reality star, do you think viewers are too harsh on contestants?
I think viewers see the contestants as two-dimensional people. An edit might portray someone this way. But we are not characters. We are not all bad or all good. This is not available. People are complex. And I think the best part of our show was sitting down and talking about people’s mistakes, their vulnerabilities, and their insecurities.
Audiences love having a villain, and there’s little empathy for the fact that they’re human too. This buildup is far worse than anything that person does on screen 99.9% of the time. Some of these contestants later receive death threats. They are told that their lives are not worth living. There’s nothing anyone has done this season of the show that warrants that.
Sometimes people need to step away and say: OK, you know what? These people have been entertaining us for the last eight weeks. Love them or hate them, you had fun. You watched every episode. You also fed the beast. Leave them alone.
This doesn’t make me want to go on a reality show…
It’s a gamble! For some of these people, like Filip and Stella, truly wonderful things will come out of this, and there will be people whose lives will be changed forever. This year’s contestants are still trying to figure out what life in the washing machine will bring them. And I think we can all lead this with a little kindness on social media.
Will you be back next season?
We don’t know yet! We have no idea if it will be commissioned for next season but yeah, watch this space. People have an appetite for more.
MAFS: After the Dinner Party is currently streaming on Stan*.
*Stan belongs to Nine, who also owns this imprint.
