Married At First Sight star Shona Manderson has broken her silence after her husband Brad Skelly was accused of “controlling” and “manipulative” behavior.
Model Brad, 27, is under fire for his treatment of the 31-year-old performing arts teacher. Show experts were forced to intervene in Wednesday’s episode as they warned his behavior could become “dangerous”.
Women’s Aid praised her decision after he shocked viewers with actions such as telling Shona to keep her mouth shut and claiming he was allowing her to feel emotions.
In a statement to Web, the charity said: “It’s really important that the show’s experts described this as controlling behavior and questioned Brad’s view that it was acceptable to say he had the right to allow Shona to do so “, to be angry.
“Such television shows based on relationship building must be aware of the dynamics of controlling and coercive behavior and always send a clear message that this is completely unacceptable.”
Suspense: Married At First Sight star Shona Manderson has broken her silence after her husband Brad Skelly was accused of “controlling” and “manipulative” behavior
Shona has since revealed how she reacted to watching the scenes again. She admitted it was “uncomfortable” to look at and insisted she will “never put up with this behavior again”.
She shared a picture of herself on the show and wrote: “In this moment I’m trying to be as positive and give everything I can because I’m really trying to believe in us and what I felt, was so intense.” and heightened.
“The last two nights have been hard to watch and I know tonight will be even harder.” I’m aware of my insecurities, this experiment has really brought them to the surface.
“Firstly, I didn’t like the feeling that the group was talking negatively about us. I admit, I want to be liked, but I needed validation because I knew deep in my gut that there was truth in what people and I were saying.” I almost tried to convince myself.
“I was completely infatuated with this relationship, I got lost and when I tried to defend us as a couple I was silenced. “I don’t even remember that happening.
“It’s hard to see what everyone else could see and what you’re watching.” It’s uncomfortable to see it from the outside perspective and feel what comes to me when I observe what everyone else could see and now you watch it play out, just as we see it for the first time.
“I could honestly write so much as there are so many factors that go into what happens in our pairing, a lot of things that happen off camera and things that aren’t aired… the good and that Ugly ones.”
“Most importantly, I remember how far I’ve come since then.” I really learned so much on this journey, it was a big lesson for me and it was actually a very, very happy ending.✨
“You grow through what you go through and I will never put up with this behavior again. “Finally I would like to thank you for your support and kind words, it means so much xxx #mafsuk.”
Difficult: Shona revealed how she reacted when she watched the scenes again. She admitted it made for an “uncomfortable watch” and insisted she would “never put up with this behavior again”.
Shocking: Women’s Aid praised show bosses for their intervention after he shocked viewers with actions such as telling Shona to keep her mouth shut and claiming he was allowing her to feel emotions
On Wednesday’s episode, Brad shocked relationship experts and his fellow newlyweds when he accused Shona of being “emotionally immature,” adding, “Not that I’m in a position of authority or can teach her anything, but if I can allow yourself to get angry.” ‘Will she ever learn?’
Expert Mel Schilling was quick to call out his behavior, asking Shona if he was “preaching” to her and pointing out to Brad that he was using words like “I’ll allow you and allow you to do it.”
She explained: “I want to make sure you are aware of the language you use with her and give her the space to think for herself.” She is an independent thinker and has a lot to show for it.
“We draw attention to this because these are patterns that can become dangerous between two people.”
Charlene Douglas added that it was important for Shona to “actually be able to say that the language makes me feel like a student, but it doesn’t make me feel very comfortable.”
While Brad took the feedback into account, he later accused the show’s producers of portraying him as a “narcissist and a bully” and insisted he had no control whatsoever.
Addressing his Instagram followers on Wednesday, Brad shared: “It can be very easy for people to have an opinion about a situation they’ve never been in before. There are many factors that play a role.”
“For one thing, there were a lot of scenarios where me and Shona were socializing and not physically harassing each other and not arguing. There was a lot more going on, but that’s all we showed because that’s what makes great television
“Everyone is engaged, everyone already has an opinion about me, not so much about Shona.”
“You don’t see the whole picture, so it’s one of those things where it can be a very challenging, oppressive and testing environment for everyone involved.”
Admitting he was “frustrated” with the process, he continued: “When you’re with someone you don’t get along with, frustration arises and things come to the surface and I take full responsibility for that. “
“I take full responsibility for my actions, all the time, for everything I do in life. I take full responsibility, but these are things that lead to certain situations.”
“There are comments about me being narcassistic, a bully and things like that, and that’s really not who I am.” Anyone who knows me physically can tell you that I’m not the person that that is Painting developed – but I understand that this is exactly what is shown.
“That doesn’t discount my actions, but everything I do is with the intention of helping – there is no malice at all.”
Brad doubled down and continued, “I’m not a controlling person at all – anyone who knows me personally knows I don’t have a controlling bone in my body.”
“When I told Shona, ‘You can feel,’ I’m not giving permission, but my terminology is, ‘You’re human, you’re allowed to feel whatever emotion the universe gives you.’ I can see how that comes across, there are just a lot of wires mixed up.”
Poor Editing: While Brad took the feedback into account, he later accused the show’s producers of portraying him as a “narcissist and a bully” and insisted that he had no control whatsoever
Revealing that he had sought advice from other MAFS stars, he continued: “Everyone I’ve spoken to who has been in this situation knows that things become a pressure cooker and when you’re pushed and you feel a little “If you’re going along and trying to make things work and things get heated, it can really cause frustration and it’s difficult to watch.
“I’m potentially looking at all of my worst sides being amplified.”
“I’ve never in my life had the desire to make anyone have a negative attitude towards me, so me and Shona definitely spoke after the show ended and we stayed in touch and got along. “
“You are watching a television show whose purpose is to entertain. So please don’t try to take it at face value that everyone there is the way they are on the outside, because that’s absolutely not the case with me.”