It's time to take a stance on domestic violence - wipe Chris Mansfield from Married At First Sight

THREE
Married at First Sight New Zealand's Anna Saxton has been labelled the "x rated bride".

OPINION: A picture paints a thousand words, but the words that spring to mind from the picture Three's parent company is painting over its handling of the Married at First Sight domestic abuse allegations are things like, "tone deaf", "blithe" and "ignorant" at best - and sickening at worst.

Earlier this week, Stuff revealed that soon-to-be-on-our-screens MAFS participant Chris Mansfield has an outstanding charge for domestic violence in the US. In June 2009, Mansfield was a no-show at a hearing, and there remains an outstanding warrant against him in America. 

That's serious enough, but what's played out over the past few days in terms of the response from the Married At First Sight broadcaster has made it even worse .

Its refusal to say anything beyond the tersest of statements, saying Mansfield "will not be required by the production or network for any further commitments" is a travesty. 

At its heart, this is about the subtle way Mediaworks appears to be  diminishing the domestic violence blight that's our national and continual shame.

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Married At First Sight contestant Chris Mansfield needs to be edited out of the show's new season.
SUPPLIED
Married At First Sight contestant Chris Mansfield needs to be edited out of the show's new season.

It must be acknowledged here that the full details of Mansfield's alleged offence remain unclear. He has been accused, but not convicted. He reportedly planned to deny the US charge, before he failed to appear in court.

However, Stuff's Homicide Report earlier this year put this country's domestic violence crisis in to the starkest possible context.

Out of 1068 men, women and children killed from January 2004 to March 31, 2019, almost 400 cases, or 35 per cent, involve family violence. 

Half of all women victims were killed by a male partner or ex-partner.

The marketing for Married at First Sight has already begun - but is it time for Three to reconsider the handling of this new season?
SUPPLIED
The marketing for Married at First Sight has already begun - but is it time for Three to reconsider the handling of this new season?

If you look at that context, Three's failure to openly confront the issues raised by Mansfield's involvement speaks volumes.  Combined with this lack of swift and public action is the show's role in arranging a new relationship for Mansfield,  which in itself raises all manner of uncomfortable questions.

Further allegations against Mansfield have come to light, adding more fuel to the unhappy trashfire that's likely to burn until the show airs.

Regardless of your feelings about reality TV, including the reasonable conclusion that it has long since hit rock bottom, something's severely amiss here.

If it had any decency, Three should be spending the weekend doing some soul-searching and deciding what is truly important to it.

Sure, there's been heavy investment in Married at First Sight, advertisers have no doubt paid a premium to be part of it, and Mansfield was part of the initial marketing of the show - but what is the cost to them long term of such a scandal hanging over their heads? 

The cast of Married at First Sight New Zealand 2019.
SUPPLIED
The cast of Married at First Sight New Zealand 2019.

Is it better for Three to air the programme and hope the swirling scandal and non-stop discussion of the furore at watercoolers helps its publicity campaign and the resultant stink is swamped by the number of viewers and subsequent conversations of the brides and grooms?

Or should it boldly expunge Mansfield from the show, delivering one of the strongest and most public denials of a hint of domestic violence ever seen on national prime time TV?

Whether he's guilty or whether he's innocent is no longer the sole driving force in this case. Three should accept that even a hint of turning a blind eye to domestic violence for the glorification of the launch of a new high-profile season of reality TV based on arranged marriages is utterly and grossly wrong.

It should be charging its editors and programme makers to wipe out Mansfield from the face of the upcoming season of the show. 

Your first look at the new season of Married at First Sight NZ.

We've already been told by its PR that Mansfield is surplus to requirements outside of the show, but inside of the show, he should be surplus to being on screen. 

His marriage and the subsequent fallout from it, however dramatic it plays out, deserve no place on primetime TV - or the show's history. He should be struck from the upcoming season of Married at First Sight without delay - and no matter what the cost. 

It's galling to think of the alternatives - such as the producers and broadcaster working out what cliffhangers or what drama can be milked from Mansfield's marriage within the show. And what about his married-to-be partner, what she must be going through finding out all of this now, days before the new series premieres?

A cynic would argue none of this will stop people tuning in - after all, we've already heard about the contestant who has a sex tape, and the participant who lied to get a job with the Queen. All publicity's good publicity as they say.

Not in this case though.

* Darren Bevan is a Stuff journalist, specialising in entertainment.

 

Stuff