From exposing Married At First Sight producers’ dirty tactics to accusing Channel Nine of covering up unfathomable scandals, many of this season’s contestants have been running amock since the show hit our screens in February.
WATCH: MAFS’ Chris and Hayley have wild night out with Natasha and Josh
But as more worrying details surface about how the cast is really treated behind the scenes, there’s one contestant standing by the network— Hayley Vernon. Chatting candidly to WHO online about her experience on MAFS, the bodybuilder confirmed the show’s producers do everything they can to help those who might be struggling, revealing clinical psychologists and MAFS producers are available around the clock.
“There is adequate help and guidance,” said Hayley, who has already been embroiled in multiple scandals since the show aired. “I do think there was ample help and that’s coming from someone who used to have to use professional help to get my mind better. It is not fair to blame Channel Nine, I am not up for that.”
WHO reached out to Nine for comment, with the network providing a statement that reads as follows: “Nine takes its obligations in respect to the health and wellbeing of the participants of this program extremely seriously. All participants have access to the show psychologist during filming, during broadcast and once the program has ended. Nine has arranged an additional service for participants should they like or need further individual and confidential psychological support. This service gives participants access to psychologists who have been specifically engaged to support those involved in the program in relation to their experiences. This service is a dedicated helpline from which participants can also arrange face to face sessions and is an ongoing service available to them all after the series has ended.”
When asked why she thinks her co-stars have shown blatant disrespect by publicly bashing the network, Hayley has an inkling many of them are starting to panic with how they’re being portrayed, leaving them no choice but to pass the blame along.
“I think a lot of people are watching it back and they are a little bit humiliated or embarrassed about what’s happened,” she insisted. “Production wasn’t perfect and we weren’t perfect but to put the onus back on them and say it’s their fault is unfair.”
The recovered drug addict also said her television husband has no right to blame the show for his abhorrent actions, insisting they didn’t coherence or convince him to use her toothbrush to clean their dirty toilet, rather he did it on his own accord.
“They couldn’t help David was an absolute turd and decided to film it on his production phone,” the fuming reality TV sensation said of the now infamous scandal. “They didn’t put him up to that, nor did they play with people’s mental health.”
Hayley also dispelled rumours the show’s producers pit contestants against each other in an attempt to start drama, confirming they do, however, like to stir the pot.
“I do know that certain situations are stirred up a bit more. I am a louder person so I am a little bit more provoked than others but it never happened to me. I have such a big voice and if they were to do that or ask me [to start drama] they’d know that it would get out.”
While she maintains she’s no longer in contact with her truck driver husband, nor does she forgive him for all the times he wronged her, Hayley does regret hooking up with Michael Goonan. Discussing the brutal cheating scandal that has been a major storyline this season, she wasted no time slamming the successful businessman.
“You have to understand that I hadn’t had a drink for quite some time before going onto the show. I was drunk when I kissed him… It really was just a drunken kiss,” she said of the scandal their co-star Vanessa Romito exposed to the press last month. “He was just being a boisterous boy thinking he was some macho man. I actually think he is a weasely salesman.”
She continued: “He has an answer for everything. I don’t think he has depth or substance and I don’t get along with people who can’t own their truth.”
As we know, Hayley has been extremely honest about the chain events that led up to her kiss with Michael, as the controversial groom continues to claim the night was all a blur due to his level of intoxication.
“It wasn’t just one kiss,” Hayley also revealed in an episode of A Current Affair last week. “It wasn’t this big in-depth thing. I walked into a room. He had his Tommy Hilfiger top on walking around like the alpha male that he thinks he is. And we macked on. We went from chair to chair to chair. We went out. Kissed. It wasn’t just one kiss. It was happening for the night.”
After coming clean and telling Michael’s wife Stacey Hampton what she’d done, the reaction to the scandal was mixed. Many viewers commended the MAFS star for owning up to her mistakes, while others focused on branding her a “cheater”. Thankfully, she doesn’t mind either way, telling WHO the negative criticism doesn’t bring her down.
“I have gone through a lot of shit in my life and I am used to coming out the other end. This too shall pass and nothing is permanent. It shouldn’t define you. Everyone has bad days and good days, but if you think of the bad days, the world is going to look like a pretty negative place.”
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
