Relationship experts warned a couple on reality TV show Married At First Sight over a groom’s controlling behaviour weeks before the bride accused him of non-consensual sex.
Three women came forward in a new documentary to talk about abuses by their on-screen husbands on the E4 show, two of them alleging they were raped.
Shona Manderson, who appeared on MAFS in 2023 and was partnered with model Bradley Skelly, said she had an abortion after claiming he ejaculated inside her without permission.
Mr Skelly was kicked off the show after displaying ‘controlling and coercive’ behaviour towards Ms Manderson and their relationship was branded ‘not healthy’ by dating experts.
BBC Panorama’s ‘The Dark Side of Married At First Sight’ showed the moment dating experts Paul C Brunson and Mel Schilling were forced to step in and remove the couple from the programme.
Mr Brunson told Mr Skelly: ‘This is not a healthy relationship and I know you know this, but this is not working, it’s just not.’
Experts separately picked up on Mr Skelly’s controlling manner at the time of the incident on the show, she told the BBC.
Experts had to step in and kick Bradley Skelly and Shona Manderson off Married at First Sight after saying the relationship was ‘not healthy’ and that Mr Skelly was displaying ‘controlling and coercive’ behaviour
Realtionship expert Paul C Brunson told Mr Skelly: ‘This is not a healthy relationship and I know you know this, but this is not working, it’s just not’
She then told how she had to get the morning-after pill with one of the show’s welfare producers.
But Mr Skelly claims Ms Manderson had consented to him ejaculating inside her.
He categorically denied ‘any allegations of sexual misconduct’ or that he was ‘controlling’ in a statement to the BBC.
He said their relationship ‘was based on mutual consent, care and affection.’
The pair tried to keep their relationship going outside the show for five to six weeks before ending it.
Mr Skelly’s behaviour attracted criticism at the time of the airing of the eighth season in 2023 – fans and Women’s Aid accused him of displaying controlling behaviour.
Days after Ms Manderson left the show, she said she discovered she was pregnant.
She said: ‘I made the choice to go through with an abortion. It was really hard.’
But Ms Manderson admitted she did not know if the pregnancy resulted from the alleged incident.
Ms Manderson ‘does not think MAFS UK should be on air at all’ after her experience and was critical of the show’s format on the BBC documentary.
Ms Manderson accused Mr Skelly of ejaculating inside her without her permission and needed to get an abortion afterwards. Mr Skelly categorically denies any sexual misconduct and said Ms Manderson had consented
Two other brides claimed they were raped by their on-screen husbands but were kept anonymous on the documentary.
In a statement, Channel 4 told The Sun: ‘In April, Channel 4 was presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors, allegations that we understand those contributors have denied.
‘The channel is mindful of the privacy and continuing duty of care towards all contributors and cannot comment on or disclose details of those allegations.
‘Related to those allegations, Channel 4 was asked to respond to claims of failures in welfare protocols.
‘Channel 4 believes that when concerns related to contributor welfare were raised through existing welfare and production protocols, prompt and appropriate action was taken, based on the information available at the time.
‘Channel 4 strongly refutes any claim to the contrary.’
Channel 4’s recently appointed CEO, Priya Dogra, told The Sun: ‘It would be wholly inappropriate for me to comment on what are very serious allegations made against some MAFS UK contributors.
‘Those allegations – which I understand are disputed by the contributors accused – are not something that Channel 4 is in a position to adjudicate on.
‘We are also mindful of our ongoing duty of care to all contributors, and the need to preserve the anonymity and privacy of all involved.
‘On the claims that Channel 4 may have failed in its duty of care, I believe that when concerns about contributor welfare were raised, and based on the information available at the time, Channel 4 acted quickly, appropriately, sensitively and with wellbeing front and centre.
‘Nevertheless, because we aspire to the highest standards of contributor welfare, I felt strongly as Channel 4’s new CEO that it was right that we look again at how we handled issues raised at the time and ask whether changes should be made to further strengthen contributor welfare.
‘That’s why last month I commissioned an external review of contributor welfare on MAFS UK. That review will report to me in the coming months.
‘We take these issues very seriously and are committed to ensuring that we continue to lead the industry in our duty of care for contributors.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Channel 4 and CPL Productions for a comment.
