Married at First Sight Australia 2022‘s Domenica Calarco and Ella Ding have responded to the backlash following their controversial podcast episode with 2024 stars Jack Dunkley and Tori Adams by doubling down.
The former MAFS brides interviewed the controversial couple on their Sit With Us podcast in May.
However, fans were shocked when the self-proclaimed “feminists” sided with Jack after some of his awful behaviour, including telling Jonathan McCullough to put a “muzzle” on his wife, Lauren Dunn.
In the comments section on a video of the commentary on their Instagram, FBOY Island host Abbie Chatfield slammed them for “victim-blaming” Lauren before advising them to take the episode down.
Taking to their Sit With Us Facebook group, Domenica and Ella broke their silence by defending their harmful behaviour and calling Abbie out in return. And you’re gonna want to buckle up for this one!
Domenica Calarco and Ella Ding claim their controversial interviews are their most successful
Instead of apologising for spreading harmful ideals about men’s violence, the podcast duo confessed that their controversial interviews were their most successful ones.
“We don’t do these interviews to make everyone happy… We purely do them because we have a platform where we can,” Ella wrote. And just ‘coz you have a platform to spread misogyny doesn’t mean you should!
The former TV bride explained that Sit With Us allows problematic people to share their perspectives because things can be manipulated behind the scenes.
Things went from bad to worse when Ella admitted that the podcast numbers go “through the roof” when allowing horrible people to get air-time, which is why they continue to give the likes of Harrison Boon a platform.
“Numbers don’t lie, and the numbers are the highest so far with Jack and Tori,” she wrote. Sickening.
Ella Ding claims Sit With Us ISN’T problematic before SLAMMING Abbie Chatfield for being pro-vax
Ella then claimed that Sit With Us isn’t “problematic” despite repeatedly giving controversial people a platform (and defending them).
“We all see things differently… doesn’t mean I support, condone or agree with any of their behaviour,” she wrote, presumably referencing Jack and Tori’s appearance on her podcast.
Ella, who’s also claimed that mindfulness can cure terminal illnesses, then slammed Abbie for being pro-vax.
“I’m pretty sure the majority of what Abbie discusses is problematic too,” she claimed.
“But I’m not going to go for her when she’s pushing vaccines, and my husband’s heart condition was accelerated because of it, and another best friend is now on medication for the rest of her life, too.”
And that’s enough internet for today!
Married at First Sight‘s Domenica Calarco defends having Jack Dunkley on the podcast
Domenica then took to the comments, defending the decision to platform Jack on the podcast.
“Our opinions of [Jack] were based on what we were watching, and damn straight were we angry,” she wrote. “Of course, the way he acted was completely wrong, he’s apologised and wishes he never said and did those things.”
She then claimed that everyone makes mistakes. However, Jack’s was unfortunately on the national stage.
“I’m not making excuses for him AT ALL. I’m just saying that being able to give the ‘villain’ a space to speak isn’t necessarily a bad thing,” she finished.
She also left a similar comment elsewhere, claiming that having Jack and Tori on the podcast was “in NO WAY doubling down or [agreeing] with the things they said and did”. And sure, Jan.
In a separate comment, Domenica explained that there is a difference between “blaming the edit” and “context.”
She stated that Jack admitted his “muzzle” comment was wrong. However, on the podcast, he was merely trying to elaborate on the context behind it.
“There wasn’t the clarity in having the context at the time, which [by] no means makes it right. He’s allowed to say what he wants about the edit. You don’t have to believe it, and I don’t either,” she penned.
And it sounds like a lot of words…
Domenica Calarco says she’ll NEVER have Olivia Frazer on her podcast, despite advocating for ‘villains’
After stating that Sit With Us gave “villains” a “space to speak,” one fan asked if Domenica would ever interview her arch nemesis, Olivia Frazer.
“It will never happen,” Domenica responded. “I wouldn’t be able to be in the same space as her and articulate my words. I have a lot of trauma when it comes to her.”
And it sounds like they’ll only let the villains be heard when it suits them… What about all of the women who experience trauma when they hear Jack speak?
MAFS’ Domenica states the word ‘MUZZLE’ is never okay, despite providing a platform for it to be brought up repeatedly
Despite giving Jack a platform to continue spreading harmful ideals, Domenica asserted that the word “muzzle” is “never okay”.
“We never accepted that the comment was ever okay,” she said. “This type of language will never be okay. We made that perfectly clear in the interview.” And is “perfectly clear” in the room with us right now?
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