The growing backlash against Married At First Sight‘s most ‘toxic’ couple, Melissa Rawson and Bryce Ruthven, is only pushing them closer together, they say.
Workplace trainer Melissa told TV Week on Monday she and her ‘husband’ have an ‘us against the world’ mentality as they head into their final vows.
She said: ‘There’s not a lot of positivity about our relationship out there, but we’re not letting people’s opinions about our relationship dictate us.’
‘It’s us against the world’: The growing backlash against Married At First Sight’s most ‘toxic’ couple, Melissa Rawson and Bryce Ruthven, is only pushing them closer together, they say
The couple, both 32, agreed to stay together at their final vows – which were filmed in early December and are set to air on the show this week – with Bryce saying it was ‘the happiest day of my life’.
They are still dating as of mid-April, several months after filming wrapped, and have even discussed marriage and babies.
Referring to their tumultuous on-screen journey, the former radio announcer said: ‘After watching what’s happened in the experiment, people are going to find it hard to believe we’ve actually worked out.’
‘We’re not letting people’s opinions about our relationship dictate us’: Melissa said Monday she and Bryce have an ‘us against the world’ mentality as they head into their final vows
Melissa also rubbished claims she’s being ‘gaslighted’ and ‘manipulated’ by her partner, saying: ‘We’ve been told our relationship is unhealthy, but I would forcefully deny that… [This relationship] is probably one of the best things I’ve had in my life.’
The couple also told TV Week they were hoping to get married for real and start a family ‘sooner rather than later’.
So far on Married At First Sight, Bryce has criticised Melissa’s physical appearance, shown little regard for her feelings during arguments, and isolated her from the other couples in the experiment.
Under scrutiny: So far on Married At First Sight, Bryce has criticised Melissa’s physical appearance, shown little regard for her feelings during arguments, and isolated her from the other couples in the experiment. Pictured during filming in Sydney in November
He has also been accused of having a ‘secret girlfriend’ outside of the show.
Even Bryce’s own mother questioned why Melissa was sticking by him during a video call that aired on the show last month.
Meanwhile, almost 15,000 Australians have signed a Change.org petition calling for Nine to apologise for failing in its duty of care towards Melissa.
The petition argues Melissa has been subjected to ‘gaslighting, emotional manipulation, isolation, and countless other textbook signs of a controlling and / or abusive relationship’ at the hands of Bryce.
Debate: Almost 15,000 Australians have signed a Change.org petition calling for Nine to apologise for failing in its duty of care towards Melissa. In response, the network has strenuously denied Melissa and Bryce’s relationship is ‘characterised by domestic violence’
However, Married At First Sight’s executive producer John Walsh issued a statement denying Melissa and Bryce’s relationship was ‘characterised by domestic violence’ and reaffirming that producers always uphold a high level of care for participants.
‘The petition in question does not reflect the nature of Bryce and Melissa’s relationship and at no time did [production company] Endemol Shine Australia or Nine consider Bryce and Melissa’s relationship to be characterised by domestic violence or the like,’ Mr Walsh told B&T on Wednesday.
‘If that had been the case we would have intervened immediately. Our first priority in making MAFS is to make sure all the participants feel they are operating in a safe environment,’ he continued.
Mr Walsh went on to highlight that participants are actively encouraged to report situations where they feel unsafe during filming.
He also listed the ‘rigorous processes’ that are used during filming to protect participants from toxic situations, including giving them access to a dedicated psychologist.
Participants are also provided with access to a psychologist after the show finishes production.