Channel Nine reality show Married At First Sight did not breach the Commercial Television Code of Practice, an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found.
Three episodes that aired in March 2021, two classified PG and one classified M, were assessed and ACMA ‘found no breach’ had taken place.
A spokesperson said ‘the content could be accommodated within the respective classifications’ and that the adult theme in the M-rated broadcast was ‘handled with care, extensively critiqued and adequately contextualised’.
Channel Nine reality show Married At First Sight did not breach the Commercial Television Code of Practice, an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found. The investigation was prompted by complaints about the relationship between participants Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson, which some claimed was abusive
The investigation was prompted by complaints about the relationship between participants Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson, which some claimed was abusive.
Ruthven and Rawson, who are still together a year after filming the show and recently welcomed twins, maintain their relationship is not abusive.
The media watchdog was not tasked with ruling whether or not the couple’s relationship was abusive, nor was it asked to evaluate whether Nine or production company Endemol Shine had failed in their duty of care towards certain participants.
It was only asked to assess whether the episodes complied with the requirements of the Commercial Television Code of Practice.
An ACMA spokesperson said: ‘Following viewer complaints, the ACMA assessed whether three episodes of MAFS that aired in March 2021 complied with the requirements of the Commercial Television Code of Practice. The ACMA assessed two episodes classified PG and one classified M. The investigation found no breach and that the content could be accommodated within the respective classifications.
Three episodes that aired in March 2021, two classified PG and one classified M, were assessed and ACMA ‘found no breach’ had taken place. The watchdog said ‘the content could be accommodated within the respective classifications’ and that the adult theme in the M-rated broadcast was ‘handled with care, extensively critiqued and adequately contextualised’
‘In the case of the PG-classified episodes, the ACMA found that themes within the programs, including social conflict, were carefully handled, and included extensive critiquing and positive aspects of the relationships. This resulted in the overall impact of the content not exceeding mild impact.
‘In the case of the M-classified episode, which is intended for mature audiences, the ACMA found that an intense adult theme explored in the program was handled with care, extensively critiqued and adequately contextualised.
‘The ACMA acknowledges the classification provisions in the code are not specifically designed to deal with some of the concerns raised by complainants.
‘Classification provisions deal with the way in which certain themes are treated and the impact of that treatment on the program audience. The code does not deal with matters relating to the licensee’s treatment of contestants, which was the focus of some viewer complaints.’
Ruthven (left) and Rawson (right), who are still together a year after filming the show and recently welcomed twins, maintain their relationship is not abusive
Back in April, Channel Nine apologised to viewers who made complaints, but insisted the episodes did not breach any broadcast standards.
While the network said it was sorry for how the show made some viewers feel, it noted ‘we do not consider the material broadcast [to be] of such a level as to have breached the M guidelines’.
The eighth season of Married At First Sight Australia, which is currently airing on E4 in Britain, was the most complained-about season in the show’s history.
ACMA received more than 50 complaints – a record number for the watchdog.
‘A significant proportion of the complaints alleged the program included personally abusive interchanges between participants through gaslighting, social, verbal and mental abuse and that the program perpetuated and promoted the theme of domestic abuse,’ an ACMA spokesperson previously said.
Back in April, Channel Nine apologised to viewers who made complaints, but insisted the episodes did not breach any broadcast standards. Pictured: a copy of Nine’s letter
Many viewers took offence to scenes involving Rawson and Ruthven.
Additionally, a Change.org petition demanded Nine issue an apology for airing ‘triggering’ scenes involving the ‘gaslighting’ groom and his long-suffering wife.
The petition, which received 2,500 signatures in under 24 hours, also called for Nine to acknowledge its alleged ‘failure of duty of care’ towards Rawson.
‘This season of Married at First Sight Australia features a couple, Melissa and Bryce, who portray an excessive amount of DV signs which are not being handled by the network appropriately,’ the petition stated.
‘There is a clear failure of duty of care to Melissa during filming of the show, allowing her to remain in a toxic and dangerous environment with her partner for the “benefit” of the network.’
‘She is being subject to gaslighting, emotional manipulation, isolation, and countless other textbook signs of a controlling and/or abusive relationship,’ the petition further claimed, adding that the scenes were ‘incredibly triggering and stressful to watch’.
It continued: ‘This petition is for the Nine Network to acknowledge and apologise for letting Melissa go through this and also airing such a horrible relationship on TV without doing anything to showcase that the relationship is clearly not healthy.’
Despite the backlash, Rawson and Ruthven have remained together since the series went off air. They are now parents to twins and engaged to be married.
Earlier this year, a Change.org petition demanded Nine issue an apology for airing ‘triggering’ scenes involving ‘gaslighting’ Ruthven and his long-suffering wife