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Married At First Sight UK has been hit with controversy after the show’s welfare and editing process were criticized.
Gemma Owen, 31, has said the show is ‘ruining lives’ April Banbury, 33, is in therapy following her marriage to George Roberts, 40, who has been arrested on harassment charges and several cast members have slammed the show’s latest edit .
But Thomas Hartley, 31, who arguably came across as one of the most explosive characters on the show, has nothing but positive words to say about his experience.
EXCLUSIVE: ‘People just can’t hold a mirror up to themselves’: MAFS UK star Thomas has defended the show’s welfare team after co-stars claimed the program ‘ruined lives’ and criticized ‘misleading editing process’
Speaking to MailOnline, Thomas said: “I think people are quick to say that this show is over-edited, but you have to remember that sometimes you’re filmed 15 hours a day and they just cut it short.
“You are responsible for everything that comes out of your mouth. Well-being is there to be kind, tolerant, pick up the pieces and accept you.
“I was trolled and I accept that, I was a nightmare and you must own your s***.”
Thomas added that now that the show has been on the air for a few years, people should now know exactly what they’re letting themselves in for.
Not involved: George Roberts was arrested on suspicion of controlling and coercive behavior
He said, “You know what you’re getting into and you know what to expect because you’ve seen the show before.
“You go through rigorous checkups, talk to doctors and experts, and it’s a month of things you go through.
‘People just can’t hold a mirror up to themselves. You have to own what you do.’
Thomas even praised the show and his husband Adrian Sanderson, 37, for actually improving his mental health and teaching him about himself.
He said: ‘I feel in such a good place now and that has a lot to do with the show. I give E4 all the credit and in the grand scheme of things 16 out of 20 contributors would say positive things.”
“Adrian and I have a great relationship and we talk every day and see each other regularly and make plans. I absolutely love that man. I think he’s coming out of his shell more as the series progresses.”
On screen: The 40-year-old was arrested last Thursday and his wife April Banbury is now in therapy due to her time on the show
Gemma Rose, with whom Thomas remains good friends, claimed the show is “ruining lives” after being dumped on the show by her husband.
Gemma said she felt suicidal after E4 “shamed” her and ignored her concerns about her match with “aggressive” husband Matt Murray.
The salon owner told MailOnline that she suffered from “multiple panic attacks”, exhaustion, and believes she was “forced” by producers to stay on the show, despite telling her several times that she wanted to go home.
She claimed she felt “scared” and “vulnerable” for being married to tattooed barber Matt, 32, who she said “lied” about her “masturbating in a restaurant” to blame his own “toxic behavior.” blur.
The mother of two says the show that aired the fake storyline she enjoyed herself in a restaurant “deathed” her and she will discuss her complaint with the broadcaster further.
She explained: “I feel like Matt made me feel ashamed, I feel like the experts did too.
‘I was disgusted’: Gemma Rose says she felt suicidal after E4 ’embarrassed’ her and ignored her concerns about being matched with ‘aggressive’ husband Matt Murray
‘He has the same sense of humor as I do and made similar comments on the wedding day, which didn’t make the cut.
“He asked me, ‘Do you like rough? I’m going to choke you in the bedroom.’ It was made to look like he was the victim when he just didn’t find me attractive.
“Matt made that up to ward off what he was doing in that restaurant, which got aggressive, pushed a chair back and stormed off. It clearly didn’t happen.
“I defended myself more than once and said that’s not true, but it didn’t make it because the storyline was too good.
“I was told it wouldn’t be put in the final edit and I was disgusted when it did. E4 is not allowed to manipulate such a storyline, so I will continue with it.’
Gemma, who is from Devon, married Matt at first sight while filming the series in April, and says she believes welfare should have “removed” her from the process for fear of her husband’s actions.
‘I didn’t feel safe’: Gemma told MailOnline she suffered from ‘multiple panic attacks’, exhaustion, and believes she was ‘forced’ by producers to stay on the show with husband Matt (pictured), despite being with several occasions had indicated that she wanted to go home
Thomas said ‘Gemma was real invested in the process she was heartbroken
“She should have left it a little longer to let the story play out before jumping on it and saying the edit was wrong.
“Fair enough if you believe that, but people love her now and it’s balanced with a TV show.”
In addition, George was arrested on suspicion of controlling and compulsive behavior.
The 40-year-old was arrested last Thursday but can still be seen on pre-recorded shows with him and his TV wife April.
Last month, The Sun reported that three of George’s exes had filed complaints about his alleged behavior, but the showmakers ignored their warnings.
Father-of-four Roberts, a financial adviser, denies any wrongdoing and has been released on bail by Scotland Yard.
The Met Police told MailOnline: ‘A 40-year-old man was arrested on Thursday, September 29 by Met agents in Worcestershire on suspicion of coercive and coercive behaviour.
Unimpressed: Kasia London has revealed she confronted show bosses after being edited to look sex-crazed
He was taken to Worcestershire Police Station and then released on bail pending further investigation.
“This follows an allegation of coercive and coercive behavior and harassment reported to the Met on Monday, Sept. 26.”
George’s “wife” April, a clothing designer from Hampshire, is undergoing therapy after her time on the series.
On Instagram, she said: “The trauma caused by this show has made me re-evaluate things.
“I really do and I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve been seeing a therapist ever since.”
In addition, cast member, Kasia London, 36, has criticized the show for making her sex-crazed on the show, in tandem with Kwame Badu, 42.
She told The Sun: “They pretended I was the one chasing Kwame, but it was the other way around. In the scene where I said, “I’m ready,” it was from another interview when I said, “I’m ready to move in” with my husband.
“But it seemed like I said I was ready to jump into bed with him. I have discussed this with a top executive.’
The owner of the body contour clinic continued: “For the cameras, he tried to make it clear that he didn’t want to get intimate with me, which is actually a bit of an insult. But the truth is, my husband tried. In fact our bed was a tent a few times. LOL.’
His happy time: Thomas praised the show and his husband Adrian Sanderson, 37, for actually improving his mental health and teaching him about himself