A few weeks after the Married At First Sight Australia finale, Alyssa Barmonde has opened up about the “bullying culture” allegedly encouraged by the Channel Nine producers.
The single mum became known by fans for her frequently said line “I have a child,” but now she claims MAFS producers have “spun” her edit.
Alyssa didn’t want to see any other episodes after the couples retreat!
(Image: Nine)In an interview with Confidential, Alyssa suggested the dynamic between herself and former ‘husband’ Duncan James varied with time on-and-off camera and the “context” of all their problems were removed, including not hearing from Duncan all weekend when they weren’t filming.
Alyssa confessed she stopped watching after the couples retreat because she “could see what the edit was.”
.png?resize=380%2C285)
.png?resize=380%2C285)
“He didn’t want to spend time with me,” she began telling Confidential. But on camera, “said my availability around parenting my son wasn’t enough time for him. So which is it?”
She said her edit has been “spun.”
(Image: Instagram)“Everyone who’s a single parent knows the time is going to be limited, until you evolve the relationship enough to introduce your partner.”
“It’s interesting how they spun that.”
She now wants to speak her truth, but Alyssa still doesn’t have access to her social media accounts until after MAFS finishes airing in the United Kingdom.
“They’re protecting the show and the narrative they’ve created, rather than letting me have my own voice.”
The edit has reportedly made her vulnerable to online bullying as strangers send “vile” messages to her and Alyssa only wishes Channel Nine had a better strategy to mitigate bullying other than the onsite psychologist.
“It’s unreal, some of the messages people send to me on my personal phone number and business accounts,” she said.
“You can chat about your opinion of me in this highly edited show in person and on social media, but if you find my number, and write up the most vile message I’ve ever seen and hit send, that’s intent to hurt. It’s not on.”
Despite the end result, Alyssa reveals she doesn’t regret participating in the experiment, but she is:
“At a new crossroads in life… What terrifies me is that somebody might go on who doesn’t have the support and years of therapy to fall back on.”
Alyssa further confessed she was “coincidentally” made redundant from her executive assistant position, where she worked for seven years.
.jpeg?fit=94%2C128){kind=avatar}
