MARRIED At First Sight star Georges Berthonneau has opened up about the duty of care on the E4 show.
The sports rehabilitator, 30, who was matched with Peggy Lawrence on the last series, said he felt supported by the welfare team but admitted there were a few issues he raised with bosses.
Georges Berthonneau has opened up about his experience with the welfare team[/caption]
Georges said would have considered returning to the E4 show for a second chance at finding love earlier this year – but upon reflection he told us: “Hell f****** no would I go back on MAFS.”
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Georges said: “All I would say, the duty of care post show was great.
“I just feel that there were certain welfare officers trying to become producers – they were trying to help produce the show, that’s all I’ll say.”
When asked if he felt supported enough on the show, Georges said: “Mentally yes, I think we had a lot of support.
“I did say multiple times, if guys and girls had an argument, they’d be a lot more welfare officers with the women, which is fine.
“There was always an unequal divide. I’m sure they’ve addressed that because I was very clear with my feedback – it doesn’t have to be 50/50 split, it isn’t about numbers.
“But don’t just leave one welfare officer with the guy and eight with the girl.”
The TV star, who has since found love with a new partner, said he ruled out returning to the show but admitted it would have been a very different experience if he had given it another go.
“I originally said yes and now it would be hell f****** no. I wouldn’t do it again,” he told us at the MAFS launch event last week.
“I would have if you asked me six months ago, I would have said yes and I would have done it pretty much the same and I would have learnt from my mistakes and would have been even straighter talking.
“I would have said it exactly how it was and called everyone out for their BS, if I was the villain, I’d be the villain.”
The Sun have reached out to Channel 4 for comment.
Georges said he is happier than ever after meeting someone new away from the show.
“I am dating someone right now, It’s going really well and that’s all that matters,” he said.
It comes after the E4 show came under fire from a leading woman’s charity for casting a man who has been accused of abuse.
A groom named Alex Henry has been pelted with allegations after the broadcaster shared his promo reel online, with one user branding him a “dangerous individual”.
Women’s Aid have now condemned his involvement in a lengthy statement, saying the decision to feature him is both “disappointing and concerning”.
On the matter, Georges told us: “All I would say, there’s always two sides to the story – the truth and someone is lying.
“I’m sure if the individual was actually being genuine and not doing anything wrong, then there is no reason to get rid of them from the show.
“But only them will know the truth.”
He also added that he hopes this series will not have a show villain like previous series’, saying: “I saw the repercussions of certain people who were villainised when they weren’t really villains.
“There were other people way too protected and did things that I will not repeat because I’m not allowed to repeat and they should have been the villain but they were way too protected.”
Georges was matched with Peggy but the pair split shortly after the experiment ended, despite making it to final vows.
GROOM DRAMA
It comes after, a group of women have clubbed together to ask Channel 4 to reconsider airing scenes including the personal trainer from Birmingham.
They have created a petition, which currently has nearly 2000 signatures.
Despite acknowledging the claims, Channel 4 has confirmed Alex will remain in the edit.
In a statement, Women’s Aid wrote: “We are incredibly disappointed and concerned to hear that producers of Married at First Sight have taken the decision not to remove an alleged abuser from the latest series.
“Having seen the direct impact of abusive behaviours displayed on the show in previous years on survivors, we would have hoped that protection and tolerance levels for abuse would leave no room for perpetrators to be given a platform again, with their actions being televised as “entertainment”.
“Sadly, this decision demonstrates the lack of awareness that the production team still has when it comes to domestic abuse.
“At Women’s Aid we would urge the producers to reconsider how they approach this, for the sake of the contestants to whom they have a responsibility to protect; and to signal to survivors that the entertainment industry takes their experiences seriously.”
In response a spokesperson for Channel 4 said: “The welfare of our contributors is of paramount importance and, as such, we take all allegations of unacceptable behaviour seriously.
“We are aware of a single allegation against a Married at First Sight UK 2024 contributor and we have responded directly to those who came to us with that allegation.
“As part of our responsibility to safeguard our contributors, everyone taking part in MAFSUK undergoes a rigorous vetting process, involving a criminal record check and multiple psychological evaluations, before they can be cleared to take part.
“The DBS (criminal record) check carried out on the contributor raised in the allegation was returned clean. We cast contributors based on the information we are legally able to access and we continue to review this process to ensure checks are as thorough as legally possible.”
Georges was matched with Peggy Lawrence on the show[/caption]
