Three female contestants from the matchmaking reality show Married at First Sight UK have alleged they were sexually assaulted by their on-screen partners. A BBC Panorama investigation revealed that two of these women claim they were raped during filming, while a third described a non-consensual sex act.
Following these allegations, Channel 4 has removed all previous seasons of the flagship show. It has emerged that the broadcaster was aware of one of the rape claims before the broadcast, yet the woman involved still featured in the series.
Former contestants have claimed there was not enough protection for the cast during the making of the show. A psychologist and executive who previously worked on the production stated that participants are being put in increasingly risky and exploitative situations as the boundaries of entertainment are pushed to keep audiences engaged.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has stated that the claims must be investigated, emphasizing that there must be consequences for criminality or wrongdoing. These accusations have reignited a broader debate in Britain regarding the ethics of reality television.