Fans of Married at First Sight Australia are rightfully disgusted and dismayed after one of the show’s stars was outed as bisexual in front of his entire wedding party.
The premise of the show is pretty straightforward: Random couples are paired up. They meet and get married all on their first date. Then audiences watch as the relationships crumble.
Some of the relationships last longer than others. In the case of 29-year-old Liam Cooper, his marriage appears to be on the fast track to disaster after he was outed to his bride, Georgia Fairweather, when another cast member, Rebecca Zemek, interrogated them about their “non-negotiables.”
Fairweather said her relationship dealbreakers are people who are “judgmental or close-minded.” Meanwhile, Cooper said he was willing to give anyone a shot. To which, Zemek replied, “Sooooo what if they didn’t swing your way? Is that a non-negotiable?”
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“That’s fine,” Cooper said.
At this point, Fairweather started to get suspicious. She looked at her husband and asked, “Are you bisexual?”
And that’s when things got really awkward.
Cooper, clearly uncomfortable, confirmed that yes, he is bisexual, as Fairweather looked around at the wedding guests in complete shock. Afterwards, he told producers, “I can’t believe that that just happened in front of everyone.”
Later in the episode, he and Fairweather had a one-on-one, during which he asked how she was feeling about everything.
“I believe that whatever, like, things that you did before, it all led you to be here today and the person that you are,” Fairweather replied. “So as long as you choose to be with me and we are the people that we need to be […] it doesn’t bother me, honestly.”
Watch.
The scene didn’t sit well with many viewers, who took to Twitter to voice their disapproval of the show’s handling of Cooper’s sexuality…
Are you joking #MAFS ? It’s 2021. I know these people sign up for this show (and obviously I continue to watch it) but to put someone in a position where their sexuality is basically laughed at is NOT okay. #mafsau
— Hayley Willis (@Hayley__Willis) March 15, 2021
It’s the shitty reactions to Liam coming out for me #MAFS #MAFSAU pic.twitter.com/KnauLMk0Cx
— Daisy (@daisyjane____) March 15, 2021
That was disgusting and cringe to watch. The poor bloke. He should never have been outed like that, and for them to then laugh at him the way they did. Very disappointed the way #MAFS set that all up for shock value.
— ʟʏɴᴅᴀ ᴏʟꜱᴏɴ (@Lyndzzz) March 15, 2021
why is everyone staring at Liam like he just said something absolutely horrific? he’s bisexual, move on! #MAFS pic.twitter.com/ajKPxJ4XDU
— alysha (@intosneedy) March 15, 2021
No one should be forced to come out like that on national tv. I want to give Liam a big hug. #mafs #mafsau
— Arianne Rich (@ariannerrich) March 15, 2021
This isn’t the first time Married at First Sight has come under fire for how it treats LGBTQ people.
In 2019, Wil Karroum accused producers of mistreating him during the audition process, asking him “very intrusive” and “severely personal” questions, including interrogating him about his favorite sexual position.
And in 2016, former Married At First Sight star Craig Roach said he felt “emotionally raped” after appearing on the show, describing the whole experience as “downright torture” that left him with PTSD.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Donston
I mean, these are people who are basically set up to marry borderline strangers on TV. It’s really hard to feel any type of way about of them. Most don’t even have the privilege of being really poor folks from third world countries. Most are just desperate to be on TV or desperate to be in any relationship. Also, the dude basically said he didn’t care if he married a woman who wasn’t legit into him. If he wasn’t just looking to be on TV then he just comes off as a “queer” desperate to be in any type of hetero arrangement at any cost. And you can get that off of television screens.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if this was staged. That show (like many “reality” shows) is known to have a lot of scripted and staged aspects. This would just be another example of the media using male non hetero behaviors for sensationalism and drama, which is yawn-worthy at this point.
DarkZephyr
Except from what I read in the article, it sounds like he was legitimately upset that it played out that way.
Donston
I mean, that’s why they call it “staged”. But also, he may not be in on it. The producers could have told them to mention it and then act shocked when he told them. This is all typical of “reality” TV, especially with realities shows of this genre and especially nowadays. Furthermore, the concept of the show itself is deeply problematic and troubling, taking prey on people looking for some TV time and/or people who are just desperate for any hetero partnership.
Chrisk
I think it’s funny they’re acting all shocked that he’s coming out as bisexual as if it’s controversial. At least half the world is. It’s also sexist. If she came out and said she liked women nobody would have batted an eye.
Donston
I don’t know about “half” of the world. I would guess at least 30% of people have some type of dimensions, contradictions or fluidity in their sexuality or where they are in the gender, romantic, sexual, affection, emotion, commitment spectrum. But we have gotten to the point of people needing to stop presenting dimensions as anything but “normal” and pedestrian, especially for “queers”.
The shock is corny and disappointing but also really predictable. Which is why it comes off staged.
WSnyder
Most. Insipid. Show. Concept. Ever.
WTF do people even watch this sh*t?
exgoalie
Thank you for putting it so well. There really is NO SUCH THING as “reality” shows.. these things have more writers than fully scripted dramas! And, these jerks that go on these shows are fame/money/attention whores! Such crap and BS. They aren’t “forced” to reveal anything as they put themselves into these, as you rightly called them, insipid shows. They freaking get what they deserve. Marry strangers on tv??? Wtf!
Mr. Stadnick
This is what happens when the lowest common denominator has been reached.
Cam
I’m tending to agree with @Donston about it being staged.
Reality shows ask pretty intrusive questions before they bring someone on. It seems very possible that production knew he was bi, leaked it and told her when to question him about it. Also, this show has already gotten into trouble for mistreating other LGBTQ people so it wouldn’t’ be a surprise that they had no problem embarrassing the guy by outing him without warning.
darklight413
It’s what people waste their time with. I hate reality tv. You have to have a really big void in your life to find this crap entertaining.
Andrew
Previous ‘contestants’ on MAFS have confirmed the show is not only staged but edited to make a scene look more outrageous than it actually is. Oh and they are not actually married. Not into these shows at all but I can understand why some people watch them, you just need something mindless to relax from some days. My relax is Disney teen shows. Sonny…with a Chance is my fix.
1898
this show exists, and yet gay people get blamed for “making a mockery of traditional marriage” lol
Mister P
If this keeps up the pope is going be against all marriage. Then what will the cake bakers do?
gevorg
xmeet.fun <- the best project for single men who are looking for partner for sex!
Catholicslutbox
Honestly, some of these people are acting as if it’s a big deal. It’s not like he was instructing people to pretend to be Uber food delivery drivers, like Cade Maddox, so you can travel and who’re around.
The whole premise of the series is meant to be a mockery of marriage and the people that appear on it. They chose to appear on it because they want to boost their clout and Instagram following knowing full well that the producers with f them over the first chance they get.
tjack47
Vapid
ShaunNJ
So while the Catholic Church decides it’s necessary to label gay marriage a sin, shows like this, the Bachelor/Bachelorette, multiple-married Republicans and “celebrities” like the Kardashians, and the “Housewives” on Bravo all treat marriage like a game for attention and ratings.
LGBT people are still fighting to fight for equality around the world; even here in US there’s always some politician trying to derail our lives. These “reality shows” are disgusting.
gjg64
Thank god the US isn’t the only country with idiotic shows for its idiot citizens to appear on.
bear.tony
I accidentally saw this scene while channel surfing, can’t understand why people choose to watch this garbage, the acting is bad, it’s badly scripted and yet it’s popular. The only fame most of these people will attain is they are a bunch of sluts.
SFMike
Can’t feel sorry for this guy that signs up to be a media whore on TV. He deserves all that he gets from his poor decision.
dhmonarch89
so- I guess she was more closed minded than she wanted her mate to be….
AUGUSTALLEN28
No, She was actually very accepting. And came to realize that regardless of sexual identity,he wanted to marry her.
Donston
The more I watch the clip the more it seems like he told the producers that he’s a homo who wants to settle in a hetero commitment. Their questions just seem random and don’t make much sense unless one of them was told that. Either that, or the whole thing was staged, and everyone was in on it. Isn’t this the finale? Seems like it was manufactured to be some “big reveal” in the finale and test whether they would go through it or not.
Some people become more hyper-sexual, nympho, sexually sensitive, fetish driven as they get older. Some become more turned on by random body parts and sexual extremes than actual people as they get older. Some people become more masculine or feminine as they get older. Some folks lose their sex drives as they get older. All of this is especially more common in folks who have dealt with sexual abuse in their childhoods or sexual assault at any time. None of this is a “cure”. But some are taking their natural dimensions, fluidity, contradictions, traumas, mental health issues and attaching religion to it in order to make money, get attention and shame “gays”. Some don’t even attach religion but still exude internal phobias and anti-gay perspectives. And then there are the basic “gay” heterosexuals who just don’t want to be “gay” no more. And then there are people who will do anything just to be on TV and get some attention (which might be the situation here).
All of this shit and shenanigans is part of the reason why I try to undermine the power of identity politics, the hyper focus on sex and people’s sex lives, and the hyper focus on who is “straight” or “gay” or “bi”. We’re in 2021, and they’re still using being DL or “outing” guys for shock value and entertainment.
cc423
If you agree to have to have your shit laid bare on reality tv, do not be surprised when your shit gets laid bare on reality tv.
Michael
Wow, he’s bisexual. 10% gay, 10% straight, 80% in between. Trust me, “straight” guys are NOT that straight.
Donston
What does any of this have to do with this topic? Furthermore, you don’t know his dimensions. You don’t know anyone’s dimensions. While breaking down sexuality and orientation by percentages is just dumb. People are not math problems or diagrams. Sexuality encompasses so much (the types and rates of attraction, arousal, desire, enjoyment, passion, fetish, behaviors you will or won’t indulge, general sex drive). Fluidity or contradictions frequently come into play. The gender, romantic, sexual, emotional investment, commitment spectrum is wide and varied. And everyone is motivated by different shit and has their own psyches.
Stop with the nonsense. Stop constantly posting about “straight” guys loving homosexual behaviors. Do you actually have anything of value to contribute that’s not about fetishizing “straight” guys indulging homo behaviors or about closet cases?! It’s coming off pathetic.
You probably didn’t watch the show or even the clip. You just wanted to say this dumb shit.
Invader7
Whatever…
WindChime
Any bi guys who have slept with other men on the down low need to be outed so that they can’t fool their girl friends or future wives about their shady behaviors. If the bi guy is unwilling to be honest with the person he is dating, someone else needs to expose his dirty secret.
Donston
That’s a rather basic and almost homophohic way of looking at things. Shit is not always that simple. And not every man is out here trying to “trick” a woman. Also, don’t call homosexual behaviors as “dirty secrets”. Once again, it comes off homophobic. While do you hold those same standards for dudes who have indulged a lot of hetero behaviors but enter a homo relationship? And if a dude wants a hetero commitment despite having some degree of queer-dom or having lived a most “gay lifestyle” he’s going to do so. It doesn’t matter if he’s outed or shamed.
I will say that if this scenario was not at all staged or scripted, it does seem as if he was indeed trying to “trick” her into marriage because he was desperate for be in any type of hetero commitment. Like, he wanted to avoid a typical courtship and hurry up the aisle. On the other hand, the dude has “gay face” and is semi fem. So, I’m doubting the girl had no clue. And these are people getting arranged on TV and are practically marrying strangers. It’s hard to feel any way about any of them.
I also don’t think this dude ever said he was “bi”. Social media just gave him that identity, because social media loves to hype “bi guys” and loves to give out bi identities, even if the subject doesn’t embrace it.
Josh447
Agreed. And your statement isn’t homophobic at all. Whoever came up with that idea is protecting right off the rails, again.
Straight forward thinking is refreshing here. Keep it up.
Cam
No surprise, WindChime makes a comment, and one of it’s other screenames “Josh” comes in to back it up. Hi Monkey1, Roy Ajax, Caddy, etc..
You are one of the most insecure trolls I’ve seen. You constantly need to have a different screename come in to tell you how great your first post was.
Josh447
Agreed. And your statement isn’t homophobic at all. Whoever came up with that idea is protecting right off the rails, again. Straight forward thinking is refreshing here. Keep it up.
Morg
Sanctity of marriage right?
Josh447
Projecting
RyanMBecker
I have absolutely no sympathy for anyone who appears on that show (or any “reality” show). And rather than blaming the show, blame the viewers for funding the show, and the contestants for supplying the show with morons to exploit. So if publicity-whoring gays/bis consent to being exploited, that’s their perogative. As for the LGBT community, where is GLAAD et al to tell gays to not participate in this exploitation?
RyanMBecker
PS – Yes, I know that GLAAD is not in Australia. I was making a general criticism about how gays tend to embrace the “reality” genre. One of the worst was a show where Paris Hilton was supposedly looking for a new BFF (after her well-publicized split with Nicole Richie). A main contender was a blonde gay twink who basically cried his way through the show. Every time he failed at some exploitative task, he’d give some tearful excuse and Hilton would keep him on for further humiliation. It was disgusting.
For those who accuse me of hypocrisy: No, I do not watch these shows. I maintain an LGBT media archive so I have to analyze and comment on media before I file them away. More often than not, I do not watch the shows fully, and in this case, I don’t even know who won.
And in case anyone cares, I’ve watched over 5000 gay porn videos (including every Sean Cody and Corbin Fisher video through 2019). Well, at least 5 mins of each, enough for analysis and categorization. And got paid for it. Such was the life of a undergrad and grad research assistant in a porn project.
RyanMBecker
While this is probably fake-ish (e.g. they knew the guy was bi through the audition questionnaire), it reminds me of a real interview that aired on Good Morning America. Several years ago, there was a hostage situation at a bank. In a one-on-one interview with George Stephanopoulos, one of the male hostages kept saying things like, “That’s when I texted Michael.” (I forget the actual name) Stephanopoulos finally asked, “And who is Michael?” That was followed by an awkward silence until the man finally managed to say, “He’s my partner.” This occurred way before marriage equality so it was still a shock to most Americans. If I’m not mistaken, Stephanopoulos kept his composure although I suspect he felt awful knowing he just outed someone on national TV.
For what it’s worth, several gay friends claimed that it was no surprise to their Gaydar™ although I suspect that it was wishful thinking. Other than being cute and well-groomed, I didn’t see anything obviously gay. Then again, I don’t have Gaydar™.
If I can find the footage (I maintain an LGBT media archive), I’ll upload it again on YouTube.
trojanboy
Running on empty.
Preppy1000
It’s staged. Nobody seemed particularly shocked at the reveal.
gregg2010
The awesome sanctity of marriage. Yes, these traditional sham marriages are probably just fine with the Catholic Church. But if two gay people should marry for love, why, it’s an affront to the religion and a big no-no according to the Poop. You just can’t make this stuff up.