Reality TV contestants are warned when they audition that their lives will never be the same again. That’s they’ll be forever publically scrutinised. Many have suffered a form of agoraphobia as a result.
The three judges from Married at First Sight may have thought themselves immune from this harsh public dissection. They were wrong.
This season, we the viewers have truly collectively clicked to the fact that the MAFS judges are nothing more than puppets of produces. But it’s more insidious than that. Their position as ‘Relationship Experts’ makes them dangerous. The sick advice they spew, ostensibly to help the emotionally vulnerable, is clearly read from cue cards and designed to create mayhem and build ratings.
But to their victims it’s an emotional lifebuoy. So this ‘help’ is more than just a disgrace, it’s emotional abuse.
And I don’t know about you but if I see John Aitken, Melissa Schilling, or the Kiwi in the flesh I’ll laugh in their faces. Because they are, quite simply, a joke. They have no professional or self-respect and they should not be allowed to continue to practice.
Who in their right mind would employ such conivors as counsellors?
Certainly not to mend a relationship. The only people who could seek their advice are those;
A) with a brilliant sense of humour – in which case I say carry on, or;
B) seeking pathetic kudos from name-dropping at social soirées – thereby confirming a superficiality that effectively dooms a relationship before it begins.
Most concerning is the human wreckage the experts, as mouthpieces of the producers, have left in their wake.
The first of which is ‘The Virgin’, Matt.
This was particularly concerning. Here we had a man with genuine feelings for a woman who was sexually experienced with a little kink and a highly libido.
Under normal circumstances, a blessing. But here, poor Matt was in completely uncharted territory.
The fissures appeared when Lauren said that Matt should be wanting to tear her clothes off and throw her to the bed. Upon hearing this Matt was understandably confused. He’d just had sex for the first time. Of course he hadn’t immediately graduated to being a sexual gladiator. That takes years. But the poor thing assumed that because he couldn’t assume the role of a dominant Christian Gray-like character that he did not have the required feelings to continue the relationship.
This is far from the case. Matt had feelings. They just needed to be nurtured. But what did the MAFS judges do? They tossed him, Lauren and the relationship aside because the producers deemed the storyline had run its course.
Then there’s Heidi, and the judges being complicit in Mike’s steady gaslighting of his partner.
Mike is a self-obsessed borderline sociopath with no empathy for others.
His true colours were revealed many times. The first was on their honeymoon when Heidi poured her heart out about an extremely difficult upbringing, living in foster homes.
Now, from Heidi‘s account this went on for no longer than two minutes – and Mike did not contest that fact.
Mike wrapped up Heidi prematurely with this: “Jeez it’s hot today”.
Okay, so let’s be generous. Let’s say Heidi’s emotional retelling of her childhood went for 30 minutes. Now let’s say an hour. Sure, you’d be fed up, but you’d still respond with a delicate touch not a meteorological observation. Mike’s emotional bludgeoning is not okay. Ever.
And the judges? Well they took Mike’s side, telling Heidi, “It’s important you let go of the past and move on” giving little advice to Mike and his extreme lack of empathy in such a poignant moment.
That was probably the worst but the next two moments also completely suck.
What about Mike using all, that’s all the towels so Heidi couldn’t have a shower! Put yourself in that position. Ghandi would crack the shits. But what did the judges do? They told Heidi that she should ‘get over herself’, not ‘sweat the small stuff’, but worse still, her justified annoyance was the result of ‘self-sabotage’. What nonsense.
So now, not only is Mike gaslighting Heidi, the judges are too. Making a woman doubt herself, her judgement, her instincts. That’s serious stuff.
Now I’m sure there are more gaslights that I’ve forgotten but the aftermath of their the final date on the tall ship was a pearler. To be fair to Mike, I have no doubt this stitchup was suggested by the producers. But an astute, attentive boyfriend would’ve picked up on the mendacity. After Mike took the bait, the produces saw clear to build the storyline by showing earlier edits of Heidi confirming she didn’t like, and felt seasick, on the water. Cut to date’s end when Heidi voiced her concerns at Mike‘s inconsideration. Mike‘s response: to yet again attack, saying Heidi was ‘making too big of a deal of it’.
No Heidi. You’re right. A partner’s consideration of your feelings is grave and should be treated so.
Later, at the dinner party, when Heidi’s gaslighting was complete after she admitted to Mike that she was difficult to deal with, what was the judges response?
Mel Schilling: “That big was big of Heidi to admit”.
No judges. You’re wrong. Mike is a selfish turd who had no regard for his partner’s feelings throughout, yet you allowed Heidi, his victim to blame herself.
MAFS judges, you are a disgrace and when I see you in public I’ll laugh in your face.
Because whilst this series claimed many victims who will forever be social jokes it has claimed the biggest fish of all.
You three.
