Married at First Sight UK 2022‘s George Roberts has been arrested under suspicion of abuse and coercive control.
The 40-year-old TV groom was arrested in Worcestershire on September 29, the Met Police confirmed to The Sun.
“He was taken to a police station and bailed pending further enquiries,” the statement read. However, the financial adviser continues to be featured on the seventh season of MAFS UK.
On the show, fans have followed Roberts’ tumultuous marriage to Ms Great Britain, April Banbury, who said the “revelations” of her TV husband’s abuse have “knocked [her] for a six”.
“My head is spinning too much,” she told the outlet.
A spokesperson also told the publication that Roberts “categorically denies” the allegations that he was abusive.
“As a father of daughters, he finds these accusations deeply upsetting and does not condone abuse nor behaves in that way,” they said.
“These allegations were never brought to his attention, investigated or taken further by the police for good reason as they are simply not true.”
George Roberts’ Ex-Girlfriends Previously Raised Concern About Him Starring On Married at First Sight UK
Roberts’ arrest comes after several former girlfriends expressed their concerns that a “known abuser” would be featured on Married at First Sight UK 2022.
Chatting to The Sun, three exes claimed that showrunners ignored their warnings about his behaviour, despite separately making complaints to the police.
“I contacted Married at First Sight, [channels] E4 and All4 and the producers to tell them he was a known emotional and mental abuser of women,” one woman said.
Another revealed: “I’m so shocked to see he has been given a platform on a TV show. I messaged Married at First Sight. I said I reported him to the police.
“They asked for additional information, which I gave, and I never heard anything further.”
The three women, who dated Roberts after he divorced his first wife, reportedly told police that he “love-bombed” them.
This came from gifts and affection before his behaviour became “coercive and controlling”.
Has Channel 4 Said Anything About George Roberts’ Arrest and His Role In Married at First Sight Uk 2022?
While Channel 4 has yet to formally address their participant’s arrest, an insider told The Sun it has become “a nightmare”.
“This has been rumbling on for a while, but now the police are involved, so many involved in the show thought surely they would have to pull it off air — or at the very least re-edit it,” they said.
“This has become a nightmare for the network, who didn’t know about allegations in his past before.”
Since the arrest, fans have called for Roberts’ removal from the show.
One wrote online: “I am watching #MAFSUK and it’s hard to watch George give advice knowing he’s since been arrested for coercive control. I wonder why they didn’t re-edit.”
“This is absolutely disgusting that Channel 4 continue to show episodes of Married at First Sight with George Roberts after he has been arrested,” another raged.
April Banbury Has Spoken About Her “Traumas” from TV Marriage to George Roberts
Even though MAFS UK 2022 is only halfway through its run, Banbury has indicated that her marriage to Roberts is short-lived.
Taking to Instagram in late September, the 33-year-old said she’s been “seeing a therapist” following her time on the show.
“The traumas that have been brought on from this show have made me re-evaluate things,” she penned in a since-expired Story. “I really have, and I’m not ashamed to admit this; I have been seeing a therapist ever since.
“They have helped me overcome a lot from the show, and I am grateful for that.”
Meanwhile, a source close to Banbury told The Sun: “April is having a very difficult time at the moment.
“She doesn’t want to ever see him again.”
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 220 of 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.
