Married At First Sight has been rocked by explosive claims from “runaway bride” Lauren Bran and truck driver Susan Rawlings.
Over the weekend, the duo broke their gag clause to shine a light on some pretty alarming allegations.
Speaking with Perth Now Susan, who was matched with Sean, alleged producers wouldn’t let her use the bathroom during marathon hours of filming in the boiling summer heat.
“A producer would come out and yell at us saying we can’t go to the toilet,” Susan told the publication, before adding they had to beg for portable air conditioning.
“He said we aren’t school children and that we can hold it. Sometimes I was so angry that I felt like my bladder was going to burst.”
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The 37-year-old claims the cast boycotted speaking to the cameras until they were allowed to go to the bathroom.
Susan also says she was manipulated by the producers to say specific lines off a script.
Susan is shocked no one from the show has reached out to see how she’s coping.
Even more damaging for the reality star was the fact that the producers were apparently the ones telling the psychologists what to say during dinner parties and commitment ceremonies.
“It’s absolutely fake and excruciating to live through,” she explained.
“It’s an absolute sham because we are not talking to the experts and they are not talking with us. They are just pawns in a game.”
“So I’m absolutely furious that no one from the show has ever contacted me to this day and asked if I’m OK or offered me any support.”
The truck driver claims she had to beg for loo breaks and air conditioning.
A spokesperson for Endomol Shine Australia refuted Susan’s story and in a statement said: “All participants are given adequate food, water and breaks and have access to psychological support, which has always been available at any time throughout the show and continues to be.”
“Our production is also in regular contact with the participants and are diligent in reporting any concerns to our psychologist. We take our duty of care extremely seriously,” it concluded.
“Runaway bride” Lauren has also been dishing up some equally worrying tales.
“There’s no support, you’re treated like monkeys, you basically beg to go for toilet breaks,” the mother-of-one explained to news.com.au.
WATCH: Jonesy and Lauren’s fiery reunion in the player below. Post continues after the video…
Boozy benders: Lauren says the cast were plied with grog.
“The filming – because it goes for so long – you’re tired, you’re drunk, you’re not yourself, they get you at your worst. I was boozy, they booze you up. They encourage it. They’re just free-pouring the whole time.”
“At one stage I had someone put a couple of drinks in front of me. And I said, ‘Nah, nah, I’m good, I’m good,’ and they say, ‘Nah, have more to drink.’”
Lauren also claims jugs of water were replaced with vodka and red bull.
The moral of this long-winded and elaborate season of MAFS?
Sometimes (shock horror) reality TV is fake and when you sign your life away to a TV network, you’ll inevitably lose a lot of power.
And others times, you can find love in a hopeless place. Just ask Simon and Alene!
