Adrian Araouzou, one of the grooms in the latest series of Married at First Sight Australia, faced three charges of domestic abuse before joining the show. He denied any wrongdoing and the charges were dismissed in court in November 2021, but his stint on the reality show has sparked concern about the MAFS vetting process. The team behind the show were allegedly unaware of the allegations until a viewer made brought them to light.
The three charges Araouzou faced included assault occasioning bodily harm, domestic violence common assault and resisting police. The police were allegedly called when neighbours said they heard screaming from his home.
However, Araouzou's then-partner reportedly signed a form confirming that their injuries were the result of a seizure and not an assault. They said, 'I am horrified Adrian has been accused of being a perpetrator of domestic violence, as this is the furthest thing from the truth. I want the matter dropped, so that Adrian and I can move on.'
Last year, the MAFS star told his legal team: 'Any suggestion of physical assault is categorically denied. I had my day in court, I was found not guilty and the application for an AVO was dismissed. Any allegation otherwise is completely baseless and highly defamatory.'
Questions surrounding the show's vetting process come as another contestant, Paul Antoine, was not made to step down from the show after punching a wall following an argument with his on-screen wife, Carina Mirabile.
Channel Nine, the Australian network behind MAFS Australia and the production company Endemol Shine Australia responded via a joint statement. 'Nine and Endemol Shine Australia has treated this matter extremely seriously. Our first priority at all times has been the wellbeing and safety of the participants and after extensive consultation with Carina, she wanted to remain in the experiment with Paul. We continue to provide support for Carina and Paul.'
The Daily Mail has since reported that the network held an 'emergency meeting' about Araouzou's past allegations after a viewer spotted him on the show and sent them an email detailing their concerns. However, they decided to let him remain on the show.
Adrian and his partner Awhina Rutene made it to the final vows, but ultimately decided to part ways, before changing their minds and opting to give it another go. However, things did not last between the pair. Rutene is now dating Billy Belcher, another contestant on the show, and Araouzou is currently single.