His decision to finally address these extremely damaging allegations comes three weeks after an on-set source told New Idea that Nine Network forced the Adelaide dad to undergo therapy after he was caught with what is believed to be an illicit substance.
“A bag of [white substance] fell out of Michael’s pocket on set,” the well-placed spy told the outlet. "He was at the pool when it dropped out of his dressing gown and they had to send him away to a third-party counsellor to get help.”
According to the publication's source, many of Michael's co-stars were attuned to the way he acted behind closed doors. To make matters more confusing, his beautiful bride Stacey— who is a mother to two young children— was informed of the incident and chose to look the other way.
“Stacey knew all of this and she was the one saying Hayley was such a bad person… Why would you hang around with someone and keep this relationship and marriage going if you knew they had this lifestyle? She knows what a party boy he is," New Idea's source added.
While Michael wasn't willing to speak out at the time this scandal was first reported, the insider claims he told his MAFS cohort this behaviour wasn't out of the ordinary.
“He said, 'This is how [I] acted beforehand.' What he is doing now… you are seeing the “real Michael”. I don’t believe he is any worse than what he was before the show.”
Of course, Nine have a strict policy when it comes to their contestants' well-being.
The network’s official statement is 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.”
