Married at First Sight Australia 2024‘s Ellie Dix‘s workplace has been targeted by trolls following the bride’s controversial on-screen behaviour at the Reunion.
After secretly texting each other behind Lauren Dunn‘s back, Ellie and Jonathan debuted their relationship during the two-part Reunion.
Viewers took to social media to call the couple out, with many voicing that thought they were worse than villains Jack Dunkley and Tori Adams.
However, per the Gold Coast Bulletin, some netizens have taken it too far, threatening to boycott the business Ellie works for.
The Coastal Clinic Plastic Surgery at Southport and Aesthetics Clinic at Varsity Lakes, both owned by Dr Drew Cronin, have been targeted since Ellie, who’s a cosmetic injector at the Varsity Lakes clinic, was found at the centre of controversy.
“We have ten staff, two surgeons and three subcontractor injectors who currently work out of our business,” Dr Cronin explained to the outlet.
“Unfortunately, because of how people have reacted to what one of those sub-contractors has done six months ago, all 15 of those people are being unfairly targeted.”
Dr Drew Cronin says the Married at First Sight backlash has been ‘SCARY’ and ‘CONFRONTING’
Dr Cronin admitted that the trolling has been “scary and confronting”, with 13 one-star Google reviews popping up between both clinics since the April 7 episode.
Staff have also received “abusive phone calls” of a “harassing and bullying nature” and have been “threatened” online.
“People who have never been patients in our clinic… feel entitled to make permanent one-star reviews based on their disagreement with the actions of one subcontractor aired on television,” Dr Cronin told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
“What they don’t realise is they’re hurting and attacking an entire group of people who are completely separate to any actions taken by anyone on that show.”
Dr Cronin also outlined the long-term impacts of these negative reviews.
“In 20 years, potential patients will still see those reviews online,” he explained.
“If people are trying to attack Ellie for something they’re upset about in the moment, that affects the entire business, and everyone associated with it, permanently.”
Dr Drew Cronin expresses concerns about Ellie’s welfare amid MAFS backlash
Dr Cronin also expressed his concerns about the welfare of Ellie and his staff following the MAFS backlash.
“We’ve had people contact us wanting to know when Ellie will next be in the clinic. Presumably, so they can confront and either harass her or assault her,” he explained.
“These staff are lovely people who probably don’t even watch MAFS. They’re copping the abuse because they answer the phones.”
He added: “We’ve had comments [online] saying no one should come to our business because Ellie works out of here.”
Dr Drew Cronin will continue to support Ellie amid the backlash from MAFS
However, Dr Cronin insisted that he would be protecting Ellie at all costs despite the trolling.
“To suggest that you can instantly fire staff because of what they’ve done in their personal lives is ridiculous,” he said.
Ellie has been a contractor at the Varsity Lakes clinic for 12 months, and she’s provided “excellent service” without “any issues”.
This comes as Ellie’s bestie revealed that the bride was “traumatised” amid backlash from her cheating scandal.
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.
