Married at First Sight contestant arrested on suspicion of rape
A Married at First Sight UK cast member has been arrested on suspicion of rape.
The arrested man and the alleged victim are not being named for legal reasons.
The arrest follows the broadcast of a BBC Panorama programme in May, in which two female cast members accused their on-screen husbands of rape.
A third woman accused her on-screen husband of a non-consensual sex act. All three men deny the allegations.
Scotland Yard said on Thursday (local time) the arrest relates to an ongoing investigation, being led by the Metropolitan Police.
“He has since been bailed while inquiries remain ongoing.”
The force previously encouraged “anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault” after participating on the show to come forward.
The programme, produced for Channel 4 by the independent production company CPL, matches single people before being “married” to each other when they meet for the first time.
‘Not given adequate protection by show’
The three women claimed they were not given adequate protection by the show and that Channel 4 bosses continued to broadcast the episodes despite being aware of some of the allegations.
One woman told the BBC that her on-screen husband had engaged in a non-consensual sex act. She reportedly informed CPL a few days later, after which CPL and Channel 4 decided to remove the couple from the show.
The man denied any allegations of sexual misconduct.
A second anonymous participant alleged that sex with her on-screen husband had turned violent, resulting in her being bruised and threatened with having acid thrown on her face.
Her on-screen husband denied rape or being violent towards her, according to the BBC.
A third participant, who has remained anonymous, claimed her partner had sex with her after she had said no. She claimed to have told the show’s psychiatrist afterwards and that CPL had informed Channel 4 about the allegation.
She also complained directly to Channel 4 about the alleged incident and how CPL had handled it.
‘Comprehensive, robust welfare protocols’
Channel 4 later told her it found that CPL had followed welfare procedures. By the time she received the response, the series was already on air.
After the documentary aired, the broadcaster announced that it had commissioned an external review into contributor welfare on the show. It said MAFS UK was produced “under some of the most comprehensive and robust welfare protocols in the industry”.
“The physical and psychological wellbeing of all contributors is of paramount importance throughout the process. All duty of care processes are regularly reviewed and, where appropriate, strengthened.”
In June, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she was “not satisfied” with Channel 4’s response to the allegations.
She told the Commons: “I know members across this House will be horrified and disgusted at the serious allegations of abuse against women in the TV industry that have emerged recently. Everyone has the right to be safe and treated with dignity.
“My honourable friend has met with Channel 4 recently about the serious allegations that have emerged around MAFS. We are not satisfied as a Government with the response that we have received, and I will be discussing this further with Channel 4 in the coming week.”
Background checks and code of conduct
In May, the culture, media and sport committee wrote to Channel 4 and the media regulator Ofcom to question whether “enough is being done” to “protect people taking part in reality television”.
The committee’s chairwoman, Dame Caroline Dinenage, said the premise of the dating show was “horrifying”.
Channel 4 said the welfare protocols applied to MAFS included background checks, a code of conduct setting out behavioural standards, and “daily contributor check-ins with a specialist welfare team”.
After the allegations came to light in May, Channel 4 said: “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.
“Channel 4 believes that when concerns 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.”
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