MAFS star Nathanial blasts show as a ‘sham’ and says it ‘doesn’t care about real love’

Married At First Sight star Nathanial Valentino has sensationally hit out at TV bosses blasting the show as "a complete sham".

The 36 year old, who was seen marrying Ella Morgan, 29, in an episode earlier this week, has also claimed in an interview with the Sunday Mirror that contestants are "manipulated" by MAFS employees who are trying to stir up trouble.

And the events manager says the show has no interest in couples really finding love, despite what we see on TV.

Viewers were left rooting for Ella and Nathanial – who initially seemed like a match made in heaven – after they met for the first time at the altar on the second episode of the show, which aired on Tuesday, 19 September.

The pair were seen exchanging vows in front of their family and friends, with Ella – who's trans – breaking down as she spoke hers, and Nathanial – who's pansexual – encouraging her to get through it.

Yet the pair soon came to blows during their honeymoon in Mexico, with them engaging in an explosive argument. They were seen having a number of heated discussions, as Ella pushed Nathanial to show her affection and reveal whether he was sexually attracted to her.

He explained he needed to form a friendship first, telling the cameras that he had an issue with her behaving one way on camera and another when it's just the two of them. They ended up having a screaming match, as Ella called Nathanial a 'p***k'.

Now Nathanial has revealed to the Sunday Mirror that he quit the show early and lifted the lid on what he says goes on behind the scenes.

He said: “Pretty much from the start it was a complete sham. I told producers that I wanted to marry a man, or a woman with a very masculine energy, because that’s normally who I go for. Then I was told they matched me with a lovely girl who was transgender. My first reaction was ‘no’ because I felt that just wasn’t me, and I told them so.

Nathanial went on to say he was told that if he didn't take part, it would ruin Ella's story, so he agreed, but that he had "deal-breakers" which were for his partner to not smoke or work in the sex industry. Yet before they went on honeymoon, he discovered she worked as a stripper, and she also smokes.

He also claimed that the brides and grooms were fed scripted lines by a team from the show known as The Story, designed to cause conflict, saying: “Another occasion, a producer told me I wouldn’t be asked about my family. Not long after, Ella asked me why she was being encouraged to ask me about my family.

"That was the kind of manipulation that went on. The Story were like goblins whispering in people’s ears. I’d be having a great conversation with Ella, she would be pulled away and, five minutes later, we’d have an ­argument about the exact same thing."

He alleges that one couple was so broken down by this kind of manipulation, he saw someone have a panic attack in their hotel room.

Nathanial appears to be a pro when it comes to reality TV having also appeared in Geordie Shore: Hot Single Summer in 2021, and E4's Young Free and Single in 2015. If that wasn't already notable, he also made an appearance on Lateysha Grace’s spin-off show Million Dollar Baby.

He opened up further on how he grew close to another female contestant on MAFS, but felt "strangled" when she reportedly spoke to producers about it and they said it wouldn't be believable as "Nathanial is gay."

“At that point I knew I had to get out," he said. "I felt I was being strangled and it brought out an ugly side of me. I knew I was going to tear the place down, so I quit."

Channel 4, which makes MAFS, responded to the claims by saying: “Nathanial entered this with full and informed consent and was provided with more information than we would ordinarily share, to make him aware that his bride was trans.

“The matching process entails a detailed interrogation of participant’s preferences and none of these would be overlooked when deciding who to pair them with. The welfare of all contributors is our top priority and we ensure support is available before, during and after filming – including 24/7 access to welfare or psych support.

“The show is an unscripted reality series which follows real events as they naturally unfold and is in no way scripted.”

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