Married At First Sight criticized for ignoring domestic violence

The reality TV show "Married At First Sight Australia" (MAFS) has faced criticism for its handling of domestic violence in its current season. The show has more than two million viewers per episode, but it has only discussed physical violence while ignoring other important issues like coercive control and expectations of male dominance. In a recent episode, groom Paul Antoine admitted to hitting a door during an argument with his wife, Carina Mirabile. While the show's experts vowed to take his behavior seriously, Mirabile downplayed the incident. This sparked a serious discussion about what constitutes normal behavior in relationships. The season also highlighted troubling dynamics between other couples. For example, Adrian Araouzou has a history of domestic assault, although this hasn’t been addressed on the show. His wife, Awhina Rutene, expressed feeling controlled and hesitant to speak her mind around him. Moreover, bride Lauren Hall mentioned her expectation for her husband, Clint Rice, to be "very dominating." This comment was met with support from the show's experts, who failed to challenge these traditional gender roles. Critics argue this reinforces harmful stereotypes about masculinity. The show is seen as having a responsibility to address domestic violence, especially given the scale of the issue in Australia. Many Australians still view domestic violence as a typical reaction to stress. The show's failure to foster an open discussion on gender equality and healthy relationships is seen as a missed opportunity to promote awareness and change. Experts have emphasized the need for a better understanding of how such dynamics contribute to violence against women. By allowing couples with a history of violence to remain on the show, MAFS may unintentionally send the message that abuse is tolerable in relationships. They have been urged to seize the chance to bring more awareness to these issues.