Former Married at First Sight Australia stars Olivia Frazer and Alyssa Barmonde have hit back at producers’ stance on “villain” edits.
ICYMI: Executive producer and Endemol Shine Director of Content Tara McWilliams recently cast her opinion on why participants tend to use their edits as a scapegoat for their bad behaviour.
Chatting to Yahoo! Lifestyle, the long-time producer claimed the experiment “holds a mirror up” to stars’ true selves.
She also said they can’t “force people to say things”, adding: “If they said it, they said it, if they did it, they did it.”
Taking to Instagram after So Dramatic! reported on Tara’s sentiments, Olivia and Alyssa — who were portrayed as VERY controversial participants — clapped back at the producer.
On her Instagram Story, Olivia, who appeared on the show in 2022, said the producer interview was “the biggest crock of sh*t”.
“They’re only coming out and saying this [prior] to the show (as they do every year) to defend their editing/manipulation/detrimental choices, to coerce the audience into believing their narratives (for ratings), to gaslight participants (both past and present) and to discredit the many voices that ‘the edit’ has crucified,” she wrote.
The 30-year-old went on to say there was a “reason” more participants are coming out of the woodwork to “call out the edit”.
“Please don’t believe [producers’] blatant, agenda-pushing manipulation tactics,” Olivia added. “These are deranged, cruel, sadistic individuals who don’t care for their particpants’ mental health, livelihoods or lives in general.
“Do not trust them, trust their victims.”
Married at First Sight‘s Alyssa Barmonde questions when producers will take ‘accountability’
Sharing screenshots of Tara’s quotes, 2023 bride Alyssa said her comments were “surely” a joke.
Alongside additional screenshots from a Punkee article detailing producer secrets, the mother-of-one said it was “actually so gross” to know how “‘reality TV’ is crafted”.
“How is this celebrated[?] How is this ethical[?] And how are there no standards or protocols or laws around reality TV production[?}” she questioned. “Remember this next time you’re enjoying your fave reality TV show.
“What you’re watching isn’t real.”
In a subsequent Instagram Story, Alyssa continued: “So are they going to take accountability for the poor working conditions they put participants in?
“Will they take accountability for the gaslighting and manipulation they put on participants? Will they take accountability to cut context, stitch together sentences, paste reactions, and bring up triggers, which are learned by the on-set ‘psychologist'[sic]?
She continued: “Will they take accountability for the online bullying and zero support they offer after the show?”
Alyssa concluded: “Keep blaming the victims of your show, babes… Great look for you.”
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