In brief
A complaint from a former contestant has triggered a police inquiry into Married at First Sight Australia, with Labourie offshore revelations of undisclosed partner histories. Channel Nine admits to being aware of the investigation and points out that Endemol Shine Australia has not yet commented. The show suffers additional fallout from a BBC Panorama report that highlighted rape allegations in the UK edition, prompting Ofcom and Channel 4 to launch reviews and pull the series from streaming services. As New South Wales authorities refer the case to Western Australia, industry insiders warn that the format may confront renewed backlash if proper safeguards remain unenforced.
Police in New South Wales have opened a probe into the popular reality series Married at First Sight Australia following reports that the show shared inappropriate material with participants.
The investigation began after a complaint was filed by a contestant who said the production team publicly disclosed private information about him. Channel Nine confirmed awareness of the inquiry and urged callers to direct questions to the producer, Endemol Shine Australia.
This comes on the back of a BBC investigation that exposed nine former cast members who said they were not informed that a chosen partner had a history of drug use and violent offences. The Australian media watchdog slammed the breaches as "serious and disturbing".
The show has faced global scrutiny, with the British edition already subject to a Panorama raid that reported rape claims from two women. Channel 4 is now pulling its UK episodes and awaiting an Ofcom review that is expected soon.
Endemol Shine Australia has so far declined to comment, while police in New South Wales say they will refer the matter to the Western Australia force for further action, citing a pattern of alleged misconduct.
Industry experts say if the emerging cracks are not addressed, the format may face a new wave of backlash that could threaten the franchise’s future.
