Married At First Sight UK has received heated backlash over its newest bride Ella who is the first transgender contestant to participate in the franchise.
The controversial matchmaking show attracted vile trolls and concerned viewers alike when it announced this year’s big shakeup.
Much of the backlash appeared to revolve around producers opting to keep Ella’s transgender identity a secret from her groom until after their nuptials.Â
While some left hateful comments about Ella’s gender, others were worried for her safety on the series.
‘This is disgusting! They can’t do this to someone without them knowing,’ one person wrote.
Married At First Sight UK has received heated backlash over its newest bride Ella (pictured) who is the first transgender contestant to participate in the franchise
The controversial matchmaking show attracted vile trolls and concerned viewers alike when it announced this year’s big shakeup
‘All for views. How awful of production team to do this to either of them,’ another said.
A third added: ‘What a disgrace MAFSÂ to not disclose this to the groom b4 [sic] and give him a choice. It’s a new low for your show.’
While many of the comments seemed to centre around the groom’s experience, others rallied around Ella and were concerned for her.Â
‘The groom needs to have at least been asked if he is open to a gender diverse bride. It is putting her at a great risk, even if he is on board,’ one wrote.Â
Elsewhere, other viewers doubted MAFS producers would pair Ella with someone who wasn’t open to pursuing a relationship with her.
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Shocked fans of the show took to social media to share their opinions on Ella’s castingÂ
‘I don’t believe for one second that the groom isn’t aware it’s a possibility and they must have agreed they would be happy with this,’ one person wrote.
‘I don’t believe they would drop that bombshell without finding out if a person is happy with it.’
Married At First Sight Australia star Tahnee Cook offered her own experience, saying all applicants are asked if they’re willing to be matched with someone who is trans.Â
She also said that she was ‘pretty disgusted’ with some of the transphobic comments from viewers.
Some viewers doubted that producers would pair Ella with someone who wasn’t open to pursuing a relationship with her
Married At First Sight Australia star Tahnee Cook offered her own experience, saying all applicants are asked if they’re willing to be matched with someone who is trans
Tahnee appeared on the most recent season of Married At First Sight AustraliaÂ
Ella, who branded herself a ‘blonde bombshell with a sense of humour and heart of gold’, said of being the show’s first trans bride: ‘This experiment is much more than just me getting married… I see this as a big deal for someone who has transitioned.’
The clinic consultant from Weston-Super-Mare, will be joined by fellow brides Tasha, Shona, Rosaline, Porsha, Peggy, Laura, and Jay, and grooms Thomas, Terence, Paul, Nathanial, Luke, Georges, Brad, and Arthur this season.
The upcoming season is set to be the longest-ever MAFS UK run, with 36 episodes serialising the romances of the blindly-matched couples.Â
Ella went on: ‘I deserve love because I’ve gone through a lot as a person. I deserve to be happy with someone that loves me, for me, and accepts me because I am fabulous! I was born a boy, I’ve transitioned.’
She emotionally detailed: ‘That’s why I’m very open-minded and just have a lot of fun because I’ve had such a s****y life.’
The upcoming season is set to be the longest-ever MAFS UK run, with 36 episodes serialising the romances of the blindly-matched couplesÂ
The couples will be matched and guided by returning experts Mel Schilling, Paul C. Brunson and Charlene DouglasÂ
The series will follow season six in following the Australian format.
Relationships will once again be put under the microscope at weekly dinner parties, and at the recurring commitment ceremonies, where couples choose whether they want to stay in or leave the process.
All this and more will build to a dramatic series finale: glossy, high-stakes vow renewals during which each couple must decide if they will recommit to their partner or go their separate ways for good.
The couples will be matched and guided by returning experts Mel Schilling, Paul C. Brunson and Charlene Douglas.
