Paul Brunson slams MAFS UK fans trolling him for bringing Matt and Whitney back

Viewers left angry after cheating partners are allowed to continue on the show
Dominique Hines30 September 2022
The Weekender

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Married At First Sight UK's Paul C Brunson has slammed viewers for sending him hateful messages.

Fans targeted Brunson, the show’s “dating expert”, because E4 decided to keep Matt Murray and Whitney Hughes on the show after they cheated on their marriage partners.

He took to his Instagram stories to reveal that he had been bombarded with "more hate and threats than I've ever received in my entire career" due to the decision.

He also revealed it was a "team decision" to bring the contestants back and not entirely up to him.

Both Matt and Whitney had originally been married to other people - Gemma and Duka respectively- but ended up in an affair and asked Brunson permission to explore their romance on the show.

Brunson posted some of the messages he received from angry viewers
Instagram

On Thursday, Brunson, who is also an advisor on Celebs Go Dating, and the expert dating panel decided to grant them permission to remain on the show, as they revealed they were a “match on paper”.

The decision was branded "disgusting" and "unfair" by fans.

In response to the backlash, Brunson wrote: "In full transparency.

"I've worked in TV for 12 years, and in one night have received more hate and threats than I've received in my entire career. I'm good, though.

Matt and Whitney when they were told their romance could be explored on the show
Handout

"Sipping a glass of wine with Jill [his wife] talking about it all."

He continued: "This single night has shown me, like no other, the influence of TV and the truthfulness of this quote."

The quote read: "Always remember that the crowd that applauds your coronation is the same crowd that will applaud your beheading."

Tom Reed, Anna Williamson and Brunson were all part of deciding if Whitney and Matt could return
Channel 4

The TV expert also shared a screenshot of a private message he had received that read: "Really disappointed in you and the show for letting a cheating couple back into the process. Shall stop watching the show now."

One viewer wrote: “Disgusting decision letting Whitney and Matt back into the experiment. It’s disrespectful to those hurt, the process, and the other couples.

“They shouldn’t get away with their vile behaviour towards other humans”

Gemma Rose and Matt Murray split shortly after their wedding day
E4

Revealing that he had received "thousands of these messages", he then explained his reasons for allowing the new couple to continue on.

He said that the topic was "hotly debated and not unanimous."

He added that "as experts and production, we are collectively a team, and if the majority wants to move in a direction, we all move."

He added that he "respects" viewers' decisions to stop watching the show.

Gemma and Duka, the ditched exes, made the decision to leave after the commitment ceremony, in which Matt and Whitney expressed their desire to continue on in their new relationship.

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