Married At First Sight Australia’s Ellie Dix has been grappling with the fallout from the online backlash she’s faced due to her involvement with co-star Jono McCullough, leaving her feeling ‘extraordinarily traumatised.’
Initially matched with Ben Walters, Ellie’s journey took a dramatic turn when she embarked on a relationship with Jono, whose marriage with Lauren Dunn had reached its end during the Final Vows. While their romance unfolded off-screen, Ellie found herself at the receiving end of severe criticism from viewers, which deeply affected her.
Expressing concern over Ellie’s well-being, her close friend Tahli Passeri highlighted the distressing impact of the hate and derogatory comments directed at Ellie. Tahli emphasized that Ellie, with whom she shares an 18-year-long friendship, has been profoundly shaken by the negativity.
Addressing the portrayal of events on the show, Tahli underscored the distress caused by the editing of scenes, which misrepresented Ellie’s actions and fueled the backlash. According to Ellie and Tahli, certain scenes, including an altercation during the reunion, were inaccurately depicted.
Clarifying the context of the heated exchange, Ellie revealed that her outburst was directed at co-star Sara Mesa, not Jono’s ex-wife Lauren, as suggested by the show. Ellie recounted that the confrontation stemmed from Sara’s antagonistic behavior towards her, prompting her to respond emotionally.
During the reunion dinner, Sara’s probing about Ellie and Jono’s relationship led to tensions escalating, with Ellie feeling unfairly targeted. While regretting her use of profanity on camera, Ellie stressed that her reaction was a response to Sara’s provocation rather than an attack on Lauren.
Echoing her sentiments on a radio show, Ellie reiterated that her frustration was misdirected towards Sara in the heat of the moment. She acknowledged the mistake of swearing on camera, acknowledging her father’s disapproval of such language.
As Ellie navigates the aftermath of her MAFS experience, she continues to confront the challenges of public scrutiny while striving to maintain her integrity amidst the storm of criticism.
