The drama Down Under has well and truly crossed the pond, with UK viewers of Married At First Sight Australia erupting in fury over Confessions Week hitting their TV screens.
Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has become a battleground, with #MAFSAU trending as UK viewers vent their frustrations.
This season, it appears, has pushed many over the edge.
‘I’m absolutely done with this,’ one viewer raged, echoing the sentiments of thousands. ‘The way these brides are being treated is appalling. It’s just toxic!’
Social media is ablaze with outrage, as fans condemn what they’re calling ‘disgusting’ and ‘toxic’ behaviour from certain grooms.
Last night’s episode saw tensions reach boiling point during the confessions letter challenge, sparking a wave of furious tweets under the now-ubiquitous MAFS hashtag.
Viewers are particularly incensed by the actions of grooms Tim Gromie and Eliot Donovan, after the PE teacher’s first appearance at a dinner party aired this week, and Eliot ghosted his first bride Lauren Hall— with many accusing them of ‘gaslighting’ and ‘misogyny.’
‘I can’t believe what I’m watching,’ one viewer tweeted, echoing the sentiments of many. ‘This is beyond toxic. E4 needs to put a warning on this show!’
Another wrote, ‘These brides deserve so much better! My heart breaks for Katie. How can anyone treat another human being like this?’
But it’s not all anger. There’s a wave of unwavering support for the brides, with viewers expressing deep empathy and admiration for their resilience.
Katie, in particular, has garnered a strong following like she did in Australia, with many praising her strength in the face of adversity.
‘Are all Australian men like this?’ one concerned viewer questioned, prompting a flurry of responses defending the nation’s reputation.
UK viewers are heaping praise on Jamie Marinos, after she was seen calling out bad behaviour at the season’s first dinner party and speaking up in defence of Katie.
‘Jamie is the hero we all need!’ one fan declared. ‘Finally, someone speaking the truth!’
‘Jamie speaking up was so needed!’ one fan exclaimed. ‘More of that, please!’
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Jamie reflected on the moment she slammed Tim in front of the group.
‘I just knew it with this man. Women’s intuition is real. And I’m so glad I went as hard as I did. Honestly, I’d go harder,’ she said.
The online backlash has been relentless, with viewers demanding accountability and expressing their disgust at the perceived lack of empathy or self-awareness.
UK MAFS viewers have also labelled groom Ryan Donnelley a ‘walking red flag’, his bride Jaqui Burfoot as ‘confusing’ for ‘fake crying at everything’, Adrian Araouzou as a ‘hypocrite’, and Tim Gromie ‘an industry plant’.
Ryan’s list of his personal achievements read aloud during his wedding to Jaqui quickly had him slammed as ‘a walking red flag’, and an ‘ick.’
‘Ryan is the biggest punish. My GOD. This man can’t acknowledge anything he’s done where he’s been in the wrong, he’s misogynistic and he is A W******,’ one UK fan fumed.
‘I feel if I spent 15 seconds with him my IQ would drastically drop, and I’d spend the whole time calling his a** out.’
‘Is anyone else giggling at the fact that a Red flag like Ryan is wearing a red shirt,’ another added.
While a third commented: ‘To be fair on Ryan he set a record for getting me to dislike someone so quick not even Elliot or Lauren done it that quick.’
Meanwhile, Adrian giving Awhina a hard time for her admission to cheating on a previous partner before defending his own past infidelity with the classic ‘We were on a break.’
‘I think that’s a “yes, I’ve also cheated” from the extremely arrogant and gormless Adrian,’ one viewer wrote.
‘Awhina says she’s cheated on a past partner and he says its unforgivable & then we find out he has basically done the same,’ agreed another.
The hashtag #MAFSAU has been trending fiercely throughout the week, a testament to the show’s vice like grip on the UK audience.