ABC host Michael Rowland has aimed fire at Nine’s hit reality show Married At First Sight, calling out the show for being “the absolute cesspit of TV”.
The ABC News breakfast host aired his thoughts this morning following last night’s explosive episode, which saw controversial contestants Martha and Cyrrell pour red wine on each other.
Rowland said: “I’ve never understood the appeal of this show. I fully appreciate it’s watched by gazillions, and well done Channel Nine for sustaining it, but this is a show that destroys relationships; it doesn’t celebrate relationships.”
Despite last night’s part one finale episode attracting a national peak audience of 2.9 million viewers according to OzTAM numbers, many people agreed with the ABC host, calling the show “irresponsible garbage” and “putrid”.
100%. It is irresponsible garbage. The fact that they try to justify it by saying it's a "social experiment" undermines both the idea of marriage, and the social sciences. Its popularity is incredibly depressing.
— Matt Bevan (@MatthewBevan) April 7, 2019
Agree wholeheartedly. You cannot on the one hand believe there should be no bullying in schools and call out gaslighting and bad behaviour against women, and simultaneously watch this and say ‘but it’s my guilty pleasure’. This show is putrid.
— Julia Zemiro (@julia_zemiro) April 7, 2019
Some viewers even took a shot at Nine, saying the network needs to be held accountable for creating more online “bullying” and “endangering” lives for profit.
https://twitter.com/SamAel13632955/status/1115024334702108672
In other MAFS news, contestant Martha has revealed on air this morning to KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O that she’s received death threats following last night’s episode.
She said: “The amount of death threats and violent threats that I received, I actually said to Michael [her “husband” on the show], ‘I’m actually scared now’.
“Last night was a new level.”
Meanwhile, last night’s episode has also been called out due to an apparent editing fail as keen-eyed viewers noticed contestant Dan Webb apparently whispering into a microphone in his collar.