Two of the men Married At First Sight UK have left viewers enraged after they body shamed their new wives. Caspar Todd and Adam Nightingale sparked controversy after they made comments towards Emma Barnes and Polly Sellman on the show, having been matched by dating experts Paul C Brunson, Mel Schilling and Charlene Douglas in the social experiment to find true love.
Polly, 28, made her feelings known when she stormed out of the first dinner party after Adam made comments about her figure. In emotionally charged scenes, the 33-year-old barber told Polly that she wasn’t his type, just minutes after meeting her at the altar because he has high standards and is looking for a ‘petite brunette’ resembling actresses Megan Fox or Michelle Keegan.
He previously said, ‘She really fancies me and I want to be attracted but I can’t. She’s not my type. We get on like a house on fire but I feel bad for her.’
Viewers called him ‘delusional’, with many watchers supporting Polly. One online commenter said, ‘The sheer breathtaking audacity of 4/10 Adam with his ridiculous bowl cut thinking lovely 7/10 Polly isn’t good enough for him as he wants Megan Fox.’ Another remarked, ‘You’re way too smart and attractive for him. The experts did you wrong.'
Adam was equally cutting on their honeymoon in Trentino, Italy, when he told Polly to ‘not get too excited’ after he gave her a kiss on their wedding night.
Meanwhile, Emma was left in tears after her partner Caspar made mean remarks about how he didn’t find her attractive, adding that the sales manager reminded him of his sister. ‘I’m a size 14. I’m not a f***ing monster,’ she told him.
Viewers were not impressed with the 34-year-old gardener. One said, ‘Not Caspar commenting on Emma’s weight when he said himself, he’s always been made to feel like s**t about his body! This man went from a green flag to a red flag in two episodes, that must be some kind of record.’ Another commented, ‘I'm a 14 and listening to you makes me feel so much better about myself! I honestly think he’s punching too, you need a better hotter husband.’
Caspar – who said that Cameron Diaz is his celebrity crush – said about his match, ‘Emma is full of energy, big smile, really big laugh, beautiful dazzling woman… but if I’m being completely honest, she very much reminds me of my sister, who I hate.’
The show’s experts have come under scrutiny over the poor matches in the latest series. Caspar told them, ‘I don’t understand and I don’t get it and it’s really frustrating because this is my life you’re f***ing with.’
One viewer said, ‘This season’s matches on MAFS UK is a hard watch. Just lots of stunning women having to beg for average men to like them while taking completely unnecessary constant hits on their self-confidence in the process.'
Shereen Low is a Senior News and Entertainment writer for Grazia UK.