MAFS UK’s Nathanial Valentine slams show and insists he was ‘pressured’ to marry trans bride Ella Morgan
MARRIED At First Sight star Nathanial Valentine has slammed the show for "pressuring" him to marry trans bride Ella Morgan.
Earlier this week MAFS UK fans saw Ella - the show's first transgender bride - and Nathanial tie the knot.
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"My first reaction was ‘no’ because I felt that just wasn’t me, and I told them so.
"But they encouraged me to think about it, saying if I didn’t take part it would ruin this girl’s story.
"And by that point, I had also turned down a work contract because I thought I’d be going on the show. So I agreed.
"My only deal-breakers were that she didn’t smoke and didn’t work in the sex industry."
But Channel 4 confirmed that Nathanial entered the process with all information and insisted participants welfare are top priority.
A Channel 4 Spokesperson said: "Nathanial entered this process voluntarily with full and informed consent, and in this instance was actually provided with more information than we would ordinarily share with cast members, to make him aware that his bride was trans.
"The matching process entails a detailed interrogation of every participant’s preferences and none of these would be overlooked when deciding who to pair them with.
"The welfare of all contributors on Married at First Sight UK is our top priority and we ensure that appropriate support is available to contributors at all times before, during and after filming – including 24/7 access to a member of the welfare team or psych support.
"The show is an unscripted reality series which follows real events as they naturally unfold, and is in no way scripted."
It's only week one and things have already kicked off to an explosive start.
Although Ella and Nathaniel initially seemed to be getting on, earlier this week fans watched as they got into a furious bust-up during their honeymoon.
Now it's been reported that Ella cheated on Nathanial - who identifies as pansexual - with another groom in the series.
"She didn't want to hurt Nathanial or go against the process because being part of the show means so much to her.
"Ella was looking for love and with the other groom, he adores her body and mind, and they had a much better chance of enjoying a long-lasting relationship together."
While on their honeymoon in Mexico Ella revealed concerns that Nathanial was not attracted to her and even branded him a "p****".
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Nathanial then turned on his new wife and accused her of lying about her past as a stripper.
She responded: "I told him I've stripped in the past, it's not something I'm ashamed of. But I am worried that's the reason he's not being intimate."