THE PREQUEL MAFS starts in 12 days. The drama? That started months ago, and we’ve kept receipts…
BY: Kartya Vucetic
Another season of Married At First Sight Australia is almost upon us, which means almost every Australian is preparing to once again pretend they’re “not really watching it”, all while memorising every cast member’s Instagram handle.
But before the dinner parties were filmed, the vows were spoken, and narcissism labels were claimed, there was us, doing what we do best, hiding in a bush and taking notes of all the drama before it hits air.
Reporting to you live, from the literal bushes
Now, we’re not the one’s to spoil a perfectly good party. As to what’s gone down this season, who’s still together, or perhaps better phrased, who’s not, is something we’ll be keeping tight lipped on.
But this season’s drama didn’t wait for episode one. In fact, it’s been quietly unfolding since filming kicked off back in July, with a lot of it projected to never even make it to air. And here’s where yours truly comes in, catching you up on everything that’s gone down during filming before episode one.
The wedding that was filmed and then un-filmed
One of this season’s earliest controversies ironically didn’t happen on-screen at all, it happened off it. Micah Lou and Ankita Karungalekar were reportedly axed from the show entirely before the first dinner party, having their wedding deleted from editing and cast mates told not to mention them at all.
Yeah these pics are not making it anywhere close to screen
So, how did this all happen, you may ask? After all, we witnessed their wedding, and can say with definitive certainty that it wasn’t a chemistry issue. Word on the vine was that Micah’s less-than-husband-material past had begun circulating on TikTok. And to everyone’s surprise, it appears the producers took the unverified claims seriously in the first time in…can I say forever?
It’s not every day a planned couple is removed before episode one, especially when their removal is shrouded in so much drama. These things cost time and a whole lot of money to organise, so it’s clear that something went down that is probably above our pay grade.
Threats to media before the season has even aired
In a move that feels impressively premature, groom Chris Nield has already managed to attract attention for all the wrong reasons, after making threats toward working media and paparazzi.
Believe it or not, but threatening the media usually doesn’t result in great coverage by said media
As we reported at the time, Nield pulled MAFSFunny podcaster Josh Fox aside during a night out at Bondi Icebergs. What initially seemed like small talk quickly turned into an expression of his willingness to “put him in a headlock”. And we don’t mean the loving Tony kind.
Later, proving his commitment to the bit, Nield followed up with a phone call insisting that it wasn’t a “threat” but a “warning”. It’s a distinction rarely appreciated by police officers, courts, HR departments or probably anyone but Chris Nield.
Our spidey senses tell us this man is going to be a problem | Image: Channel 9
According to the official Channel 9 media release, “Chris loves telling people what to do”, so at least he appears to be rather consistent in his shitty behaviour. All I’ll say is that it’s a bold tone to set ahead of a nationally broadcast relationship experiment that relies almost entirely on public (and our) scrutiny, lol.
A double daddy plot twist?!
Literally our faces rn
As if one major pre-season storyline wasn’t enough, this season is also carrying whispers of a double-daddy plot twist, after one groom reportedly welcomed a whole ass child during filming.
Details remain limited, and how (or if) it’s addressed on screen is still unclear, but history suggests producers won’t be able to resist framing it as a dramatic reveal rather than a nuanced conversation
Scott McCristal and the red flags we clocked immediately
You always hear about how important a digital footprint is, and clearly, that’s an online safety lesson that Scott McCristal never got the memo for. Scott has landed firmly on our early watch list, mostly due to the fact that he outright told The Courier back in 2018 that, “tradie work is not for me, I want fame”.
Here comes trouble! | Image: Seven
Between him probably being here for the wrong reasons, his Ibiza-esque Instagram page offering unsolicited tax advice, and a whole lotta jet skis, we’re pretty confident this man’s baseline is just pure chaos.
So, what’s this season shaping up to be?
Blind Freddy could tell you that this next season is about to be an absolute cracker. I don’t know how they do it, but by the grace of god, these producers just keep one upping themselves each year.
The best part? These are just the plot twists happening off air before the show starts again. In other words, by the time the first dinner party rolls around, this season will already be carrying more baggage than most couples manage in a lifetime.
