Why aren’t we calling out the toxic behaviour of the MAFS women?

Surely Tasha’s unhealthy behaviour ought to be dealt with (Picture: MAFS UK/E4)

At Married At First Sight’s most recent commitment ceremony, you could be forgiven for thinking Paul Liba and Tasha Jay had never had an argument in their life.

Tasha, the 25-year-old childcare assistant, was all smiles and loved-up.

This is despite having just flown off the handle at her husband in the previous episode when he voiced that his mum was upset at her leaving his parents’ home without saying goodbye. And then she got defensive when his friends raised concerns about her behaviour.

So how did the show’s relationship experts – Paul C Brunson, Mel Schilling, and Charlene Douglas – handle the situation?

Their advice was for her to read the room in future so that she can ‘adapt in the moment’. Rather than call Tasha out, Mel then asked Paul to reflect on whether he tells his wife how he feels when Tasha speaks to him ‘harshly’.

Watching this unfold I thought: is that really it? Surely Tasha’s unhealthy behaviour ought to be dealt with. 

It’s just one example of the toxic actions of women in this latest season of the show – and they must be called out on it.

As a disclaimer, the men in this season’s MAFS aren’t perfect either – just look at the manipulative actions and frankly scary Brad who was showing controlling tendencies over Shona, or Luke Worley having to leave the show after he became violent towards fellow cast member Jordan Gayle after an explosive dinner party.

But there’s a double standard here. Why have the men been reprimanded for their behaviour and the women seemingly not?

I believe the interventions have been rather lax when it comes to incredibly concerning behaviour from the women, with the previously-mentioned Tasha, Ella Morgan Clark, and Peggy Lawrence all leaving commitment ceremonies relatively unscathed.

Coming back to Tasha, time and time again this season – whenever she has been held to account for her actions – she has flown into a rage, stormed out, and slammed doors. Don’t even get me started on her bizarre vendetta against latecomer Erica Roberts (who she called a ‘tramp’ for seemingly no reason).

It’s not cute and it’s not excusable (Picture: E4)

There’s having a short fuse and then there’s being unable to face criticism without throwing a tantrum, always cutting down those around her and not taking on board her own responsibility.

All relationships need a bit of fire but Tasha is almost two different people, as she rolls her eyes and puts on a stank face while poor Paul waits for her to cool down. It’s not cute and it’s not excusable – so it should be called out.

Besties with Tasha is the equally problematic Ella, 29, who I had honestly been rooting for at the start – right until she ‘cheated’ on her poor first husband Nathaniel Valentino with JJ Slater.

Cheating seems to be part and parcel of the show nowadays so this was poor form from the two, but mildly excusable because they were in love, right? 

I’m going to say it – Nathaniel dodged a bullet. Ella admitted to saying some really hurtful things to JJ while trashed after a night out.

MAFS, sort your s**t out (Picture: Matt Monfredi / Channel 4)

The 30-year-old fashion brand owner shared how he had been in relationships before where this kind of behaviour had happened, voicing that he was concerned about her and her drinking.

Not pulling her up on her disruptive drinking habits or lashing out at JJ essentially telling him he wasn’t attractive, the experts instead said her unfortunate partner needs to be more reassuring and ‘affirming’ of her.

My jaw hit the floor as Ella was seemingly given a slap on the wrist and told to work on her self-esteem. You’re joking, right? JJ has literally just said this is triggering for him.

The experts didn’t tell her to get her drinking under control, they didn’t tell her not to hurl abuse at her partner, and they certainly didn’t ask her to apologise. In any other circumstance, a person repeatedly going out and getting blathered before coming home and being horrible to their partner would be a deeper conversation at the very least.

Then there’s Peggy and her desperate-to-please husband, Georges Berthonneau.

Upset by his admittedly strange online antics, she kept telling Georges she couldn’t fully trust him, she was embarrassed by his behaviour, and even that people didn’t like him – all the while pecking away at Georges’ self-esteem.

He has tried to show her that he is changing and wants to be better for her, while her entire family blasts him for… not being posh or rich enough, as far as I can see.

Peggy then declared to the experts and fellow couples that she was willing to defy her family’s wishes to be with him – all before berating him once again while on a romantic date in the next episode.

To me, the experts feel woefully unprepared to dole out advice if they’re not going to call out toxic behaviours.

For anyone in doubt – men are also able to fall victim to abusive relationships and it is equally as damaging when they do. Just because the people being harmful are women, it doesn’t mean they get a free pass on unhealthy behaviour.

MAFS, sort your s**t out.

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MAFS, sort your s**t out.