Proudmans acts for Married at First Sight contestant who alleges she was raped
- May 19
- 2 min read
Dr Charlotte Proudman, founder and in-house counsel at Proudmans, featured in the BBC Panorama investigation revealing that two women allege they were raped and another alleged sexual misconduct while filming Married At First Sight.
Proudmans represents Lizzie, a former MAFS contestant who alleges that her on-screen husband raped and abused her.
Speaking to LBC, Dr Proudman described the revelations as “the tip of the iceberg” and warned of the dangers of reality dating programmes when welfare teams fail to properly safeguard contributors.
The so-called welfare team on the show appeared to lack the training and expertise to identify what Proudmans’ lawyers recognised as clear signs of domestic abuse. At Proudmans, we specialise in identifying the often complex dynamics of abuse and understanding the profound impact these experiences have on victims.
She reported the abuse to the production’s welfare team and psychiatrist but the episodes still aired. These episodes have only been taken down today. The show did not do enough to protect her. Allegations of domestic and sexual abuse should not be dismissed, let alone for the sake entertainment. This was a failure to implement basic safeguarding measures.
Reality television producers have a duty of care to carry out extensive background checks on contributors. Lizzie disclosed to the welfare team that her on-screen husband had described a previous relationship as “mutually abusive”. This was a serious warning sign that was overlooked. Sensationalism and ratings were (in our view) prioritised over Lizzie’s safety and wellbeing.
The decision to air footage of Lizzie and her on-screen husband despite her allegations is deeply troubling. Entertainment should never come at the expense of women’s safety. The broadcast retraumatised Lizzie and compounded the harm she had already experienced.
As a trauma-informed practice, we understand the complexities of trauma caused by domestic and sexual abuse and provide outstanding support to our clients throughout their journey. We are also experienced in handling high-profile cases with sensitivity and whilst protecting anonymity.
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