UK organisation Women’s Aid has issued a statement about Married at First Sight Australia 2024‘s Jack Dunkley‘s “harmful behaviours”.
While MAFS‘ 11th season has nearly finished airing in Australia, the series is in its early days overseas, and it’s garnering a sh*t-ton of attention in the UK.
Most recently, Jack’s out-of-pocket comment to Jonathan McCullough, in which he told him to “muzzle” his wife, Lauren Dunn, during a dinner party.
Do you have a tip about MAFS 2024? Email tips@sodramaticmedia.com
After the comment aired in the UK during a recent episode, Women’s Aid — a charity working to combat domestic violence — issued a statement about Jack‘s actions.
“Viewers of reality television, like the MAFS franchise, are increasingly aware of signs of coercive and controlling behaviour, as well as wider topics of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls,” the organisation’s statement to The Tab read.
“Each season, viewers will call out disturbing behaviours by contestants, and it is vital that producers pay attention – not only vetting contestants properly before they start filming, but also intervening when there is controlling or abusive behaviour from contestants, and even removing them from the show when necessary for the safety of others.”
Women’s Aid says Married at First Sight has a ‘responsibility to viewers’ to condemn bad behaviour
Women’s Aid added that MAFS and the broader entertainment community have a responsibility to call out behaviours such as Jack’s.
“The world of entertainment has a responsibility to viewers—including many young viewers who are forming their ideas about relationships—to show that harmful behaviours are not acceptable and that unacceptable behaviour will be addressed,” the report concluded.
Coercive control is illegal in the UK
Coercive control is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation, intimidation, or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.
In 2015, England and Wales became the first nations in the world to criminalize such controlling behaviour within relationships, making coercive control punishable by up to five years in jail.
Last year, Married At First Sight UK star Brad Skelly was removed from the show after concerns over his ‘unhealthy’ behaviour towards his partner Shona Manderson.
MAFS’ Jack Dunkley responds to backlash over ‘muzzle’ comment to Lauren Dunn
After his “muzzle” comment aggravated fans when it first aired in Australia, Jack told 9Entertainment that he felt “instant regret”.
“I was disgusted, obviously. At that point in time, I was a bit of a broken man, and everyone has a breaking point,” he said.
“To Lauren’s credit, she kept on baiting, and she got me there.”
However, Jack continued to display concerning behaviour for the remainder of the experiment, from seemingly offering up his wife, Tori Adams, to the other grooms and allegedly sharing intimate images of an ex with his co-stars.
If you or anyone you know is struggling and needs support, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or Lifeline on 13 11 14, both of which provide trained counsellors you can talk with 24/7. You can also talk to someone from 1800RESPECT via online chat. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
Want even more goss? Listen to the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
Know something that we don’t? Spill the tea here!
Get the tea first! Follow So Dramatic! on Instagram and tune in on Mondays to get your reality tea fix with the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto.
