‘Why are they all white?’ Married At First Sight faces backlash over its lack of diversity among the 2021 cast
- Do you have a tip about a MAFS participant? Email [email protected]
Channel Nine unveiled the first batch of brides and grooms for Married At First Sight’s eighth season last week.
But the casting has already been heavily criticised by fans on social media.
Many viewers have complained that the social experiment appears to lack any real racial diversity, with most of the participants being white.
Dividing opinion: ‘Why are they all white?’ Married At First Sight is facing backlash over its lack of racial diversity among the 2021 cast. Pictured: new bride Rebecca Zemek, 27, from WA
‘Where’s the diversity?!’ Nine unveiled the first batch of brides and grooms for season eight last week, but the casting has already been heavily criticised by fans on social media
Voicing their concerns over the lack of different ethnic backgrounds being represented on the controversial experiment, fans asked: ‘is basically every bride and groom… white?’
‘Why are they all white?’ one user asked, as another added of the brides: ‘why do they all look like the same person?’
Others claimed the apparent ‘whitewashing’ of the cast would lose their loyalty to the program: ‘not gon watch… where’s the diversity?’
‘No way had there been no LGBT people apply or POC or plus size…’ another shared their disappointment.
‘They all look the same’: Some claimed the apparent ‘whitewashing’ of the cast would lose their loyalty to the program. Pictured: New groom Jake Edwards, 32, from VIC
‘Is basically every bride and groom… white?’ Fans questioned why so many of the new TV spouses has fairer complexions
Here comes the bride! In a new trailer, blonde bride Samantha Jayne, 31, is seen walking down the aisle to meet her mystery TV husband
‘No way they didn’t apply’: Not only were some upset by the lack of racial diversity, but also by the apparent lack of ‘plus size’ and ‘LGBT’ stars
Others simply added sarcastically: ‘wow, I just love the diversity you have portrayed here!’
With more bride and grooms to be revealed ahead of the season premiere, it’s possible viewers will be satisfied with the diversity of the mystery new stars.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine, which airs the show, for comment.
‘Wow, I just love the diversity you have portrayed here!’ Others simply sarcastically pointed out the lack of POC in the initial cast announcement
Interestingly, some viewers threatened to boycott MAFS last year due to its apparent type casting.
Disgruntled MAFS fans demanded Channel Nine producers change the format of the reality TV show for season 2021.
In a discussion on Facebook, several viewers said they were sick of seeing ‘plastic Barbie dolls’ only taking part in the social experiment for fame and wanted producers to cast genuine people ‘looking for real love’.
‘I want real people, like when then they first started MAFS. Not attention seeking wannabe social media influencers!’ another added.
Channel Nine recently described this year’s cast as the ‘most genuine’ participants yet, and said that the 2021 series was ‘about finding love, not fame’.
Married At First Sight season eight premieres on Nine on February 22
Coming soon: Married At First Sight season eight premieres on Nine on February 22