A former Married At First Sight groom has slammed the ‘restrictive’ contract participants are forced to sign to appear on the reality TV show.
Ben Walters, who was married to Ellie Dix on season 11 of the hit Channel Nine series, took to TikTok on Monday to share the contract, claiming it was ‘the worst in the business’.
‘There is a Married At First Sight mutiny going on right now, and to help their cause, I’m going to expose some of the juiciest parts of the Married At First Sight f***ing contract they would have signed,’ Ben began his long-winded video.
Reading ‘highlights’ from the 40-page document, Ben claimed that participants were essentially signing away their rights to appear on the show.
The contract confirms participants are aware they will be ‘exposed to certain risks including being shown in an unfavourable way’.
Ben also shared that the contract gives producers the right to take over a contestant’s social media presence.
MAFS star Ben Walters slammed the ‘restrictive’ contract participants are forced to sign to appear on the reality show
‘Endemol Shine and Nine each have the right to actively manage and post to your Instagram account,’ he continued reading.
‘You lose your social media, people!’
Ben also shared that contestants also have little say in when, or under what circumstances they will appear on camera.
‘Photographing, filming and recording you, your actions, appearance and voice and sound effects at any time on a continuous basis,’ Ben read from the contract.
‘What does this mean? It means the camera crew can come in at any bloody time – you’re sleep deprived, your mental health isn’t great – they don’t care they’ll burst in and film.’
Ben also took particular issue with a clause in the contract that he claimed absolved producers of any responsibility over adverse effects contestants may experience as a result of appearing in the show.
It reads: ‘You agree to not bring any claim against ESA and/or Nine for any consideration or any entitlement to compensation, loss or damage as a result of any delay, suspension, termination or abandonment of the Program.’
‘Or for any failure to enhance your reputation or any damage or adverse impact to your reputation as a result of or in connection with the Program.’
Ben shared that contestants also have little say in when, or under what circumstances they will appear on camera
The contract confirms participants are aware they will be ‘exposed to certain risks including being shown in an unfavourable way’Â
Ben summarised: ‘Have a read of point 7.2 it means they wash their hands of any responsibility. Is hat having a fair go?’
He continued, taking umbrage with a clause that he said allowed producers to ‘snip it up [footage] for dramatic effect.
‘I’ve saved the best for last,’ he added.Â
‘Bullying behaviour. You can’t bully anyone but isn’t that kind of what. the show’s about? Drama?’
Ben then shared a link to reality show contestant mental health support organisation, The UCAN Foundation, before taking another not-so-subtle dig at the contact.
‘Contracts like this out there and Married At First Sight is by far the worst in the f***ing game to get shafted with a pineapple.’Â
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Nine for comment.
Ben is the host of Get Lost With A Travel Guide podcast, where he interviews guests about travel tips, tourism and culture.
Ben then shared a link to reality show contestant mental health support organisation The UCAN Foundation before taking another not-so-subtle dig at the contact. Ben is pictured with his TV bride Ellie Dix
‘Contracts like this out there and Married At First Sight is by far the worst in the f***ing game to get shafted with a pineapple.’ Ben is pictured with current partner Aileen
TV insiders told Daily Mail Australia last year that Ben’s journey to the altar on MAFS wasn’t his original destination.
‘Ben was tipped to be the next Bachelor,’ one source revealed. ‘He was convinced he had bagged the role and even cancelled several tours and holidays he had planned with friends.’
The plot thickened when, according to insiders, Warner Bros. pulled out at the last minute, leaving Ben’s reality TV dreams in limbo.Â
Following his stint on the 2024 season of MAFS, Yahoo Lifestyle reported that his podcast had achieved middling results since his reality show appearance.
The publication collected data from social media analytics website Social Blade, which showed Ben’s YouTube-based podcast has gained a mere 32 new subscribers in one month.
Meanwhile, the pod was averaging about 490 views per week.
The website estimated that the small number of views would have generated between $0.52 and $8 in ad revenue over that time frame.
