Married at First Sight 2025 groom Adrian Araouzou’s old legal troubles have come back to haunt him as concerns are raised about show’s duty of care
BY: Kartya Vucetic
PICS: MATRIX
In breaking MAFS Season 12 news, The Australian has come forward this morning with damning claims against Nine and Endemol Shine. The article comes in response to revelations of domestic violence claims involving current contestant, Adrian Araouzou, back in 2020.
What are the claims?
The 31-year old was facing charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, domestic violence common assault, and resisting police charges. After appearing in court in 2021, he was acquitted on all counts by the magistrate.
A few days after the reported incident, his partner at the time signed a police statement. She stated that the injuries incurred had arisen from a seizure, rather than Araouzou assaulting her. While the woman did have an apparent history of seizures, police at the time were concerned she may have been “too scared to speak”. The Australian reports that her hospital records supported these concerns.
How was it all brought to light?
The allegations surfaced following a leaked email to producers from someone believed to be a friend of the woman. In the email, the acquaintance questioned the production company’s duty of care on set, and how Araouzou could be selected to be a groom in the first place. Producers have since launched an internal review into the matter. Nevertheless, Araouzou firmly denied the accusations on Tuesday evening, responding with a statement said through his lawyer.
“Any suggestion of physical assault is categorically denied. I had my day in court, I was found not guilty and the application for an AVO was dismissed. Any allegation otherwise is completely baseless and highly defamatory”
How do producers move forward?
As a contestant who was found not guilty of these allegations, The Australian’s commentary potentially raises a more significant question. That is, where should producers be drawing the line when it comes to background checks and due diligence of contestants.
At the end of the day, Arouzou was found not guilty of these accusations in a court. That certainly should count for something if we are to place any faith in the legal system? Nevertheless, the inherently complex nature of domestic violence cases raises a question as to whether Nine and Endemol Shine should be taking a more conservative approach to their duty of care.
This isn’t the first time producers have engaged with contestants who have had complicated legal scorecards, and it’s unlikely to be the last. The scope of duty of care entrusted to production has constantly been shrouded in grey within the industry. Perhaps the best approach moving forward is more codified practice as the matter now enters the court of public opinion.
MAFS 2025 first dinner party filming on 6 August 2024 Pictured: Awhina Rutene and Adrian Araouzou MAFS 2025: Adrian Araouzou & Awhina Rutene move into the apartment on 7 August 2024 MAFS 2025: Awhina Rutene and Adrian Araouzou pictured in Double Bay filming a date on 29 August MAFS 2025: Awhina Rutene and Adrian Araouzou pictured in Double Bay filming a date on 29 August MAFS 2025: Adrian Araouzou arrives for dinner party filming on 2 September 2024
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