Married At First Sight Australia star Tahnee Cook has revealed the ‘awful’ experience she had during intimacy week in the 2023 season of the series.
The reality TV bride, 31, told ABC’s 7.30 she felt ‘pressure’ to be intimate with her on-screen husband Ollie Skelton due to ‘the nature of the show’.
She also referred to the recent sexual assault accusations surrounding MAFS UK and said she was not surprised to hear about the scandal.
Two women from the UK iteration of the show have accused their TV husbands of rape, while a third accused her partner of sexual misconduct.
These allegations have been denied by all three men.
‘I can see exactly how the situation can, I guess, set up something like that,’ Tahnee said of the show on Friday.
Married At First Sight Australia star Tahnee Cook, 31, has revealed the ‘awful’ experience she had during intimacy week in the 2023 season of the series
‘Given the nature of the show, you do feel the pressure to… progress quite quickly in the relationship, whether that is intimacy, whether that is connecting with that person.’
Tahnee said three weeks after her mock nuptials with Ollie, producers put the couple through an ‘awful’ workshop during intimacy week.
She said the workshop, which ‘thankfully never got aired’, involved Tahnee lying on the floor and doing breathing exercises while Ollie stroked a feather over her body.
‘I had to lie on the floor, and [Ollie] was putting the feather around me in front of the instructors, the production [crew]. I hated it. It was really uncomfortable,’ she said.
Tahnee said she and Ollie were also gifted various sex toys by experts, which left her feeling ’embarrassed’.
‘Everyone had costumes and it just was a bit… that is not what I think is intimacy and what… I would want in terms of growing in a relationship,’ she said.
‘So I remember I was like, “I don’t want to show this on camera. That’s embarrassing.”‘
She went on to say that her overall experience on the show was positive, and insisted Ollie never did anything untoward.
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The reality TV bride, 31, told ABC’s 7.30 she felt ‘pressure’ to be intimate with her on-screen husband Ollie Skelton due to ‘the nature of the show’
However, she added that the pressure put on couples to be intimate on the show can create a problematic environment.
A Nine spokesperson has said the broadcaster and production company Endemol Shine Australia ‘take their obligations in respect of the health, wellbeing and safety of participants extremely seriously’.
‘No participants are expected to do anything they are not comfortable with, and they retain the right to make their own choices at every stage,’ they said.
‘All participants have access to psychological support and welfare resources during and after filming and broadcast of the program, for as long as it is needed.
‘Intimacy week is one of several themed weeks across the series, and like every task on the program, it is entirely voluntary.
‘Sometimes participants choose not to take part in certain tasks, which is reflected on screen.
‘Intimacy week is designed to help couples explore their genuine feelings around emotional connection, trust, romance and physical closeness, just as any couple would when navigating a new relationship.
‘Intimacy week tasks can be as simple as looking into your partner’s eyes, a hug or planning a date night.’
She also referred to the recent sexual assault accusations surrounding MAFS UK and said she was not surprised to hear about the scandal
‘Whether or not a couple’s relationship already includes sexual intimacy, or if they agree that they wish to introduce it, this is for them not the production to decide,’ they continued.
‘During intimacy week, couples are supported at every step, on and off camera, and not only when support is asked for.’
It comes amid the turmoil of two former MAFS UK participants claiming they had been raped by their on-screen husbands, and a third woman claiming she had been the victim of sexual misconduct.
The Metropolitan Police last month called for any women with allegations linked to the show to get in touch with them.
A spokesperson for the force said: ‘We are aware of media reporting relating to allegations of rape and sexual assault following the airing of a television programme on Monday, 18 May.
‘At this time, we have not received any criminal reports in relation to this matter. We will be making approaches to the relevant production teams to ensure that anyone they have spoken to is aware of how to report any criminal allegations to police.
‘We continue to encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault, no matter how long ago it happened, to get in touch with us.’
Among the alleged victims is Shona Manderson, who says she got an abortion after her on-screen husband, Brad Skelly, took things ‘too far’ during sex and ‘a boundary was crossed’ when he ejaculated inside her without permission.
MAFS UK’s Shona Manderson, who has waived her anonymity, alleged that Bradley Skelly engaged in a non-consensual sex act while they filmed the Channel 4 show, a claim he denies
Waiving her anonymity, she described how she ‘completely lost her light’ during filming, which saw experts raise concerns about Brad’s alleged ‘controlling’ manner towards her that saw them ultimately be asked to leave the show.
Two other female contestants reported being raped by their on-screen husbands, with one allegedly informing both Channel 4 and the production company only for the episodes to be aired anyway.
The other described being left with bruises from the alleged assault and said her partner also threatened to have acid thrown at her.
All the men have denied the allegations against them.
The women say the show, produced by independent firm CPL, did not do enough to protect them and that welfare protocols were not sufficient.
Shortly before the Panorama episode aired, Channel 4 announced it had commissioned an external review into contributor welfare last month.
‘In April, Channel 4 was presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors, allegations that we understand those contributors have denied,’ a statement from the broadcaster said.
‘The channel is mindful of the privacy and continuing duty of care towards all contributors, and cannot comment on or disclose details of those allegations.
‘Related to those allegations, Channel 4 was asked to respond to claims of failures in welfare protocols.
‘Channel 4 believes that when concerns related to contributor welfare were raised through existing welfare and production protocols, prompt and appropriate action was taken, based on the information available at the time.
‘Channel 4 strongly refutes any claim to the contrary.’
Priya Dogra, chief executive of Channel 4, said: ‘I want to express my sympathy to contributors who have clearly been distressed after taking part in Married At First Sight UK. The wellbeing of our contributors is always of paramount importance.
‘It would be wholly inappropriate for me to comment on what are very serious allegations made against some MAFS UK contributors.
‘Those allegations – which I understand are disputed by the contributors accused – are not something that Channel 4 is in a position to adjudicate on.
‘We are also mindful of our ongoing duty of care to all contributors, and the need to preserve the anonymity and privacy of all involved.
‘On the claims that Channel 4 may have failed in its duty of care, I believe that when concerns about contributor welfare were raised, and based on the information available at the time, Channel 4 acted quickly, appropriately, sensitively and with wellbeing front and centre.’
Meanwhile, lawyers for CPL, the independent production company that makes MAFS UK, have strongly rejected the allegations.
The company said its welfare system was ‘gold standard’ and industry-leading, adding that it acted appropriately during these cases.
