Married at First Sight Australia star Lauren Dunn has revealed a moment from Sara Mesa and Tim Calwell’s cheating scandal storyline that never aired.
Sara and Tim had a turbulent journey on the most recent series of the social experiment, with their relationship coming under particular strain when it was revealed that Sara had met up with her ex behind Tim’s back.
The couple decided to continue their relationship at final vows, before announcing their split after the show ended.
Speaking to Popsugar Australia in an Instagram Reel, Lauren lifted the lid on a moment from the show’s “infamous” dinner party that she wished had made it to screen.
“The entire table took their opportunity to start yelling at [Sara] and having a go at her, which to me was insane – because most people didn’t say a word to any of the guys when something came up – but as soon as it was Sara, everyone jumped down her throat,” she recalled.
“I kinda stood up at the end of the table with her, when you see her in that scene and she’s doing this [gestures Sara’s animated hand gestures as she confronted the group].”
Lauren claimed that the rest of the cast’s microphones were muted while Sara was answering the group back, adding that she wasn’t “yelling at everyone” during the dinner party scenes.
She went on to explain that she convinced Sara to leave the table, adding that their interaction didn’t make the final edit. Lauren believed that this decision was made because show bosses didn’t want the audience to turn on her for defending Sara.
“They muted the rest of the table’s mics to make it look like she was yelling at everyone, which was not the case,” she claimed.
“I actually ended up pulling my mic off, she pulled hers out and we stormed out, and I was the one that was kind of like, ‘Let’s get the f**k out of here’.
“They didn’t show any of my reactions, they didn’t show me speaking, and I think they did that because [the] god fairies in the editing room were worried that if I was kind of defending her too much, then the audience would turn on me.”
She concluded: “I wish that they showed me defending her, because that’s what should’ve happened from everyone else.”
Digital Spy has reached out to representatives for Married at First Sight seeking comment.
After the scenes aired, Sara described the situation as “an emotional cheat” on Tim.
Speaking during a radio interview on Nova 96.9’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie, she added: “I definitely take on board that what I did was wrong. And I think one of my major regrets was not being more apologetic and not consoling Tim right then and there…
“I think I went into defence mode, which obviously wasn’t the best thing to do. I obviously should have just apologised straight away but I felt absolutely caught off guard.”
Throughout her time on the show, both Lauren and her groom Jono McCullough were regularly caught up in explosive arguments within the group.
The pair parted ways during their final vows after it emerged that Jono had been texting co-star Ellie Dix whilst with Lauren.
Jono and Ellie later confirmed their relationship at the show’s reunion dinner party.