Married At First Sight’s ‘most hated bride’ Alyssa Barmonde has resurfaced to slam Channel Nine’s first-ever MAFS trigger warning, which aired before Wednesday night’s shocking dinner party.
During the episode, French groom Paul Antoine made the jaw-dropping admission he punched a hole in the door during an argument with Carina Mirabile in their apartment — sparking intense backlash from viewers.
‘This episode contains adult themes and confronting acts,’ the trigger warning read.
Alyssa told Daily Mail that the warning was weak.
‘It’s absolutely disgusting that they can even call that a trigger warning ‘You’re joking right?’ she said.
‘It’s not good enough at all. Adult themes could mean anything. It’s not good enough that he wasn’t instantly removed from the show.’
Married At First Sight’s ‘most hated bride’ Alyssa Barmonde has resurfaced to slam Channel Nine’s first-ever MAFS trigger warning, which aired before Wednesday night’s dinner party episode
‘This episode contains adult themes and confronting acts,’ the trigger warning read before the episode aired
During the episode, French groom Paul Antoine made the jaw-dropping admission he punched a hole in the door during an argument with Carina Mirabile in their apartment , sparking intense backlash from viewers
‘So many people had to watch, film, and edit that before still deciding, “Let’s put this on TV”,’ Alyssa said.
‘If you’ve ever been in a domestic violence situation, or assisted someone in one, then you should know to remove the person from their perpetrator.’
Daily Mail understands during Sunday night’s commitment ceremony the experts will ask Carina to decide whether her husband Paul is kicked off the show.
Josh Fox, who runs the MAFS Funny Instagram account and podcast, launched a petition on Wednesday calling for the show’s producers to reassess how they look after participants.
‘The producers are almost wiping their hands of that decision and going “Carina, you were the victim, are you OK?’ Fox said.
‘That is f**ked. And I personally think it’s time we start naming and shaming the producers.’
The petition has 1200 signatures and counting.
Daily Mail understands during Sunday night’s commitment ceremony, the experts will ask Carina to decide whether her husband Paul is kicked off the show. Pictured: Paul
‘Josh’s petition is a great start but it’s not going to be enough,’ Alyssa told Daily Mail .
‘Something has got be done for this show to either be cancelled, or produced in a completely different, ethical way.’
The single mum from the Northern Beaches, who was matched with Duncan James on the experiment two years ago, weathered intense online trolling following her unflattering appearance on the show.
Alyssa was ‘coincidentally’ let go from her job of seven years and had to ‘flee’ the country to her native Utah after her ‘villain edit’ aired.
‘I still get trolled,’ she said.
‘I got three messages today and my season aired two years ago! It does not stop.
‘MAFS airs in , then in the UK, and then in the US. Then it goes to streaming, forever.’
Domestic violence is now defined in as: ‘Any behaviour that’s violent, threatening, controlling or intended to make you or your family feel scared and unsafe.’
Alyssa Barmonde, who was matched with Duncan James on the experiment two years ago, weathered intense online trolling following her unflattering appearance on the show
Read More
MAFS fans turn against 'Mr Nice Guy' Paul Antoine and want him to be removed from the show
‘Gone are the days where bruises are considered the only proof of DV,’ Alyssa continued.
‘Paul punching a wall near Carina is DV.’
Daily Mail exclusively revealed that Paul had a violent outburst and punched a hole in the wall of their shared apartment after learning that bride Carina had slept with American rapper Quavo before the experiment.
Carina repeatedly apologised, trying to reassure Paul that it was just a fling, but the revelation had already sent him over the edge.
Channel Nine told Daily Mail they are providing support to the couple.
‘Nine and Endemol Shine has treated this matter extremely seriously,’ they said in a statement.
‘Our first priority at all times has been the wellbeing and safety of the participants and after extensive consultation with Carina, she wanted to remain in the experiment with Paul. We continue to provide support for Carina and Paul.’
Speaking to Daily Mail, Alyssa claimed that on-set psychologists are another ‘tool’ that production can weaponise against contestants.
‘What they don’t mention is they use that against participants,’ she said.
‘When you go to a psychologist on set, you’re still mic’d up, and they can use that on the couch. They do it to tick a box, but use it against you on the couch. That’s what they did to me.’
‘If you don’t think this show needs to be cancelled, then you’re an enabler for thinking: 1. This is entertainment 2. MAFS has any sort of duty of care to participants 3. That punching a wall out of anger isn’t violence,’ she added on her social media.
Josh Fox, who runs the MAFS Funny Instagram account and podcast, launched a petition on Wednesday calling for the show’s producers to reassess how they look after participants
MAFS viewers have been left divided on how the series should respond to Paul’s punching incident
Viewers have been left divided on the issue. Some MAFS fans are calling for Paul to be removed from the experiment, or for the series to be taken off air.
Some are enraged that physical abuse is being ‘taken more seriously’ than emotional abuse, and calling for groom Adrian Araouzou to also be removed from the show.
And some are questioning why Domenica Calarco did not face the same consequences when she smashed a wine glass in 2022.
Alyssa said MAFS fans are quick to point the finger at contestants, and each other, in comment sections but that accountability ‘needs to be on production’.
‘By airing scenes like this, they are fuelling this fire. Lighting a match, letting an explosion go off, and walking away,’ she said.