Spoiler alert. Parts of this story relate to events that have not yet screened on New Zealand television.
It all seemed to start off so well for Married at First Sight Australia hopefuls Lauren Huntriss and Matthew Bennett.
Matthew, who admitted to being a 29-year-old virgin, bonded quickly with Lauren and they ended up consummating their marriage on the last night of the honeymoon.
Things seemed to be progressing nicely. But then Lauren admitted to Matthew that she used to be a lesbian and that she wanted him to be more dominant in the bedroom. There was talk of swinging. The word “threesome” was used.
And then, during the second commitment ceremony (due to air in New Zealand on Sunday), they decided to leave the experiment after Matt admitted that he wasn’t attracted to his wife.
But according to Lauren, all was not as it seemed.
In an interview with Jackie O and Beau Ryan on KIISFM, Lauren has come out swinging at the hit TV show that made her famous… and all without permission from the television network.
Defying their orders to stay silent, Lauren spoke out to give her side of the story and defend her reputation.
“At the moment the public have only seen Matt’s side of the story. I feel like I deserve to say my side,” Lauren said. “I definitely looked like the bad guy in this relationship. I just want to clear all of this.”
And clear all of it she did.
One of the most talked about topics to come out of the Lauren/Matthew storyline was the fact that Lauren “used to be a lesbian”. But now, the makeup artist wants to set the record straight.
“With the lesbian thing, I’m just going to clarify that,” she told Jackie and Beau.
“So initially my answer was, when I was about 18 to 20 I had a bad experience with a guy and I just hated men as a result. And so I dated only women. That’s what I said. That was it.
“My producer was like, ‘Fantastic. Great. However, we’re going to get you to re-enact that, say it again but use the word “lesbian”. I was like, “I am not okay with that. I do not want to use that word. I do not label myself as a lesbian. It didn’t feel right.”
WATCH: Lauren reveals she was a “lesbian.” Story continues below…
As for the swinging, Lauren told the co-hosts that producers used manipulation and editing to make it sound like that’s what she wanted.
“So I was talking to Matt about some of my friends who are married and are into swinging… Everyone in relationships has different desires and needs… but it’s not for me.
“I was never, ever proposing to Matt that we swing or have threesomes.
“All I asked from him was to be more dominant and show me more affection and that that wasn’t asking for too much,” Lauren said.
“I completely understand how it’s been taken out of context and people have misunderstood what I’ve said. But you guys have to understand I was getting frustrated at this point and I was almost testing him in a way.
“In hindsight I know that’s not okay and I regret obviously saying that,” Lauren said.
Another issue Lauren had was her over-arching story line – or lack thereof. She felt that she was merely the bride married to a 29-year-old virgin and it was about his experience.
“We all have a role to play, this whole story with Matthew and I, was about Matthew and his virginity.
“You could see it from day one. It was all about him. His struggles, his issues, his self-development.”
It’s not the first time producers have been accused of manipulating contestants to ramp up the drama.
Last year’s participant Nasser Sultan penned an open letter to this season’s brides and grooms, warning them to be wary.
“They’re clever,” he said of the show’s producers. “You’re probably in the midst of being manipulated right now and have no idea. All I can say is: just go along with it.”
Former groom Jono Pitman, who was married to Clare Verrall in season two, said “They’re always fishing for one-liners. My famous line was, ‘She wasn’t what I ordered’ when my partner, Clare, was walking down the aisle. “They got me to say it a thousand different times.”
Now to Love has reached out to Endemol Shine, producers of Married at First Sight, for comment.