Married At First Sight UK’s Brad is kicked off the show after exhibiting controlling and ‘toxic’ behaviour towards Shona
Brad Skelly has been kicked off of Married At First Sight UK after he displayed ‘controlling’ and ‘manipulative’ behaviour towards wife Shona Manderson.
The model, 27, has come under fire for his treatment of the 31-year-old Performing Arts teacher, with show experts having to intervene as they warned his behaviour could become ‘dangerous’.
Fans even went as far as to slam Brad for being ‘controlling’ after he spoke about ‘allowing’ Shona’s feelings in Wednesday’s episode.
Now it has been confirmed by Channel 4 that the show’s producers have finally put their foot down and have axed him from the series.
A Channel 4 Spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘The couple’s exit plays out in the show. It was agreed alongside experts Paul, Mel and Charlene that the intensive Married at First Sight environment was not working for the couple and it was the right time to leave the experiment.
Axed: Brad Skelly has reportedly been kicked off of Married At First Sight UK after he displayed ‘controlling’ and ‘manipulative’ behaviour towards wife Shona Manderson
Shocking: The model, 27, has come under fire for his treatment of the 31-year-old Performing Arts teacher, with show experts having to intervene as they warned his behaviour could become ‘dangerous’
‘The relationships on Married at First Sight UK are closely monitored off screen, by production and an independent psychologist. If any of the relationships develop in a way that is deemed to be potentially unhealthy for either party, we would take expert psychological advice as to whether it was time for them to leave the process.
‘The welfare of all contributors on Married at First Sight UK is our top priority and we ensure that appropriate support is available to contributors at all times during filming, including 24/7 access to a member of the welfare team or psych support.’
Upcoming emotional scenes will see dating coach Paul Carrick Brunson telling Brad and Shona that they must leave.
Speaking to The Sun, a source added: ‘The relationship with Shona was getting toxic. Bosses stepped in before the situation got out of hand.’
It comes after Women’s Aid spoke out about Brad after he shocked viewers with actions such as telling Shona to ‘shut up’ and claiming ‘he allows her’ to feel emotions.
In a statement to MailOnline, the charity shared: ‘It is really important that the experts on the show called this out as controlling behaviour and challenged Brad’s view that it was acceptable to say that he had the right to “allow” Shona to be angry.
‘TV programmes like these, which are based on the formation of relationships, need to be aware of the dynamics of controlling and coercive behaviour, and always send a clear message that it is wholly unacceptable.’
MAFS UK viewers were initially rooting for Brad and his wife Shona, deeming them to be a great match up at the wedding, but the couple have hit the rocks in recent days.
Manipulative: Fans even went as far as to slam Brad for being ‘controlling’ after he spoke about ‘allowing’ Shona’s feelings in Wednesday’s episode
Fuming: Viewers were quick to take to X, formerly known as Twitter, to fume over Brad’s ‘manipulative’ and ‘controlling’ language
During Tuesday’s episode, Brad told Shona to ‘shut up’ and suggested she was being ’emotionally immature’ after she shared her disappointment about the other couples ‘doubting’ them.
The couple addressed the conflict during the commitment ceremony, but Brad was quick to brand Shona as ’emotionally immature’ before speaking about ‘teaching’ her about her anger.
He shockingly said: ‘Not that I’m in a position of authority or to teach her, but if I allow her to get angry, is she ever going to learn?’
Expert Mel Schilling immediately confronted Brad over his language and interrupted him when he tried to speak on behalf of Shona, while he was also warned that his behaviour could become ‘dangerous’.
And viewers were quick to take to X, formerly known as Twitter, to fume over Brad’s ‘manipulative’ and ‘controlling’ language as they branded his behaviour as ‘disgusting’.
During the commitment ceremony, Brad addressed about their row at the dinner party and shared his belief that they were at ‘different levels of emotional maturity’.
He said: ‘Situations where Shona has felt to get involved when it’s unnecessary, I struggle but we’re at different levels of emotional maturity.’
After prompting from the experts, Shona asked him: ‘Do you think I’m emotionally immature?’
To which Brad replied: ‘I think there’s traits.’
Shona then admitted she didn’t know how to feel before saying her ‘natural human reaction’ at the dinner party was to wonder why other couples were ranking them low in terms of compatibility.
Brad then said: ‘I’m living in my vessel, so all I need to care about is the way internally. This is what I was trying to explain to Shona, they’re so entitled…’
But expert Paul said of Brad telling Shona to ‘shut up’ at the party: ‘You did not allow Shona to exist in her feelings in that moment. I wanted to say Brad chill!’
To which Brad said: ‘Not that I’m in a position of authority or to teach her, but if I allow her to get angry, is she ever going to learn?’
The other couples looked visibly shocked by his comments while expert Mel confronted Brad over his remarks and cut him off when he tried to speak for Shona.
When asked if she felt like he was trying to teach her, Shona said: ‘Yeah, he’s like my teacher.’
‘He will obviously try and explain what he feels, but then it comes across sometimes as cold and stern,’ she added.
‘Controlling’: While discussing their row at the dinner party, Brad was quick to brand Shona as ’emotionally immature’ before speaking about ‘teaching’ her
Awkward: Shona told how she does feel like Brad is her teacher and told how she feels he is ‘above’ her sometimes, with the experts warning them that could be ‘dangerous’
Expert Paul insisted: ‘A teacher-student relationship never works as a romantic relationship.’
Mel then asked: ‘Shona, I’m interested in your perspective on that, does he preach to you?’
However Brad started to reply as he said: ‘I guess you could-‘ but Mel cut him off as she said: ‘I’m asking Shona.’
When asked if she felt ‘equal’ to Brad, Shona then said: ‘I feel like sometimes he is above me, but that’s just me in life.’
Brad was then warned about using language like ‘allow’, to which he replied: ‘100 per cent, I feel like that is what I want to do, I want to allow her to have the space.’
But the experts hit back with: ‘You don’t need to allow her to do anything, she’s your equal… she’s an independent thinker and she’s got a lot to bring to the table. We’re calling this out because these are the kinds of pattern that can become dangerous.’
While Brad took the feedback on board he later blamed show producers for portraying him as a ‘narcissist and bully’, insisting that he is no way controlling.
Addressing his Instagram followers on Wednesday, Brad shared: ‘It can be very easy for people to have an opinion on a situation they’ve never been in themselves there’s a lot of factors at play.
Awful: It comes after Women’s Aid spoke out about Brad after he shocked viewers with actions such as telling Shona to ‘shut up’ and claiming ‘he allows her’ to feel emotions
‘For one there were plenty of scenarios where me and Shona conversed with others and weren’t all over each other physically and weren’t arguing. There was a lot more going on, however, it’s all that shown of us because it makes great television
‘Everyone’s engaged, everyone has an opinion on me already, not so much on Shona.
‘You’re not seeing the whole picture so it’s one of them where it can become a very challenging and suffocating and testing environment for everyone involved.’
Admitting he was ‘frustrated’ with the process, he continued: ‘If you’re with someone you’re not clicking with there’s frustrations and things come to the surface and I hold myself completely responsible.
‘I take full responsibility for my actions, all the time for everything I do in life I take full responsibility but it’s things leading up to certain situations
‘There’s comments about me being narcassistic, a bully and things like that and that’s really not who I am. Everyone that knows me physically can tell you I’m not that person the painting is developing to be – but I’m getting that’s what shown.
‘It doesn’t disregard my actions being what they’ve been but everything I’m doing is with the intention to help – there’s never any malice at all.’
Doubling down, Brad continued: ‘I’m not a controlling person at all – anybody who knows me personally knows I don’t have one controlling bone in my body.
Bad edit: While Brad took the feedback on board he later blamed show producers for portraying him as a ‘narcissist and bully’, insisting that he is no way controlling
‘When I’ve said Shona “you’re allowed to feel” that’s not me giving permission that’s my terminology saying “you’re a human being you’re allowed to feel every emotion the universe gives you”. I can see how that’s come across there’s just a lot of crossed wires.’
Revealing he had sought advice from fellow MAFS stars, he continued: ‘Everybody that I’ve spoke to that’s been in this situation themselves understand that things become a pressure cooker and when you’re prodded and feeling a bit suffocated and you’re tying to roll with it and trying to make things work and things are heated it can – you can really project frustrations and it’s difficult to watch.
‘I’m watching back potentially all of my worst parts that are amplified.
‘I never ever in my life have had the direction where I’ve wanted to make someone feel negatively towards me so me and Shona most definitely still spoke after the show finished and we kept in contact and we get on.
‘You’re watching a television programme, its aim is entertainment so please try not to take it at face value that every person on there is how they are on the outside because with myself that’s absolutely not the case.’
Shona has since revealed how she reacted to watching the scenes back, admitting it made for ‘uncomfortable viewing’ and insisting she ‘will never again put up with this behaviour’.
Sharing a picture of herself on the show, she penned: ‘In this moment I’m trying to be so positive and give it all I’ve got because I’m really trying to believe in us and what I was feeling was so intense and heightened.
‘The last two nights have been hard to watch and I know tonight will be even trickier. I’m aware of the insecurities I have, this experiment really bought them to the surface.
Difficult: Shona revealed how she reacted to watching the scenes back, admitting it made for ‘uncomfortable viewing’ and insisting she ‘will never again put up with this behaviour’
‘Firstly I didn’t like the feeling that the group were talking about us in a negative way, I admit I want to be liked but I needed validation as deep down in my gut I knew there was truth in what people were saying and I was almost trying to convince myself.
‘I was completely infatuated in that relationship, I got lost and in trying to defend us as a couple I was silenced. I don’t even remember that happening.
‘It’s difficult to see what everyone else could see and what you are watching play out now. It’s uncomfortable to see this from the outside perspective and feeling what arises up for me in witnessing what everyone else could see and now you’re watching it play out just as we watch it for the first time.
‘I could honestly write so much as there are so many factors involved with what goes down within our pairing, a lot of things which happen off camera and things that aren’t aired… the good and the ugly.
‘Most importantly I need to remember how far I’ve come since then. I’ve truly learnt so much on this journey, it’s been a huge lesson for me and it actually has been a very, very happy ending.
‘You grow through what you go through and never again will I put up with this behaviour. Finally, thank you for your support and kind words it means so, so much xxx #mafsuk.’
Married At First Sight UK: Meet the series eight contestants
Name: Arthur
Age: 34
From: London
Occupation: Tennis coach
Why: ‘I’m ready to find the love of my life’
Name: Ella
Age: 29
From: Weston-Super-Mare
Occupation: Clinic Consultant
Why: ‘This experiment is so much more than just me getting married. I see this as a big deal for someone who has transitioned’
Name: Brad
Age: 27
From: Grimsby
Occupation: Model
Why: ‘I trust the experts with all my heart that they have matched me well’
Name: Jay
Age: 31
From: Lancashire
Occupation: Sales manager
Why: Hopefully, they’ve found someone who is right for me and I do have faith that everything happens for a reason’
Name: Georges
Age: 30
From: Surrey
Occupation: Sports Rehabilitator
Why: ‘I said to the Experts that I will give 120%. I trust them and I’m going to trust the process’
Name: Laura
Age: 34
From: Hampshire
Occupation: Finance Manager
Why: ‘I have my fingers firmly crossed for a positive outcome – I don’t want another divorce’
Name: Luke
Age: 30
From: Clacton
Occupation: Sales executive
Why: ‘I’m really open so I know I can make things work and build, I’m just hoping she has the same attitude’
Name: Peggy
Age: 32
From: Kent
Occupation: Technology risk partner
Why: ‘I want that lover and someone who can also be my best friend’
Name: Nathanial
Age: 36
From: Manchester
Occupation: Events marketing manager
Why: ‘I don’t trust anyone but myself, but I hope they’ve done a good job that’s all I can say’
Name: Porscha
Age: 36
From: London
Occupation: Executive assistant
Why: ‘I’m trying not to think too much about the fact that I’m marrying a total stranger because I’ll probably psych myself out’
Name: Paul
Age: 26
From: Chesham
Occupation: Account manager
Why: ‘I hope the experts literally hand delivered my best friend and life partner’
Name: Rosaline
Age: 28
From: Crewe
Occupation: Florist
Why: ‘I’m excited, but I’m also feeling quite nervous. It doesn’t feel real’
Name: Terence
Age: 40
From: Reading
Occupation: Youth Worker/DJ
Why: ‘I’m looking forward to it and I’m excited. The only bit I’m worried about is whether she’ll like me’
Name: Shona
Age: 31
From: Nottingham
Occupation: Performing arts teacher
Why: ‘My happily ever after would be for him and I to go through the experiment and really try and grow together’
Name: Thomas
Age: 27
From: Wiltshire
Occupation: Investment communications
Why: ‘I’m excited to meet this person and see what we could do together’
Name: Tasha
Age: 25
From: Leeds
Occupation: Childcare assistant
Why: ‘I have faith in the experts that I could find the love of my life – the Ant to my Dec!’
Name: JJ
Age: 30
From: Essex
Job: Fashion brand owner
Why: ‘I haven’t been able to find anybody so these guys, when the opportunity came up, it felt right for me’
Name: Bianca
Age: 29
From: Buxton
Job: Hair Extension Specialist
Why: ‘All my friends around me were having babies and getting married and I just kept thinking to myself ‘surely there must be someone out there for me’.’
Name: Jordan
Age: 26
From: Sheffield
Job: Personal trainer
Why: ‘I’ve struggled before, finding that right person.’
Name: Erica
Age: 25
From: Dance teacher
Job: Dance teacher and social media manager
Why: ‘All I’ve wanted is to settle down and have that security, that someone that I can literally spend my life with and have a best friend.’
Source: Read Full Article