Married at First Sight Australia: Intimacy pressures and consent concerns

By Melissa Polimeni

7.30

Topic: Television

Thursday, 4 June 2026, at 5:40 pm

Tahnee Cook was on season 10 of Married at First Sight Australia.

Tahnee Cook was not surprised by rape allegations on the UK version of the show.

Tahnee said she could see how the situation could happen.

Two women accused their on-screen husbands of assault on the BBC's Panorama.

Family and domestic violence support is available.

The men denied the allegations, and Channel 4 took down all episodes.

Tahnee felt pressure to progress in her relationship on the show.

Tahnee was 27 when she married on the show.

Tahnee thought about what she was signing up for on the show.

Tahnee wasn't having luck with dating and saw the previous season.

Tahnee didn't think much about the show before going on it.

Tahnee is seen with her husband, Ollie Skelton, on Instagram.

Three weeks after the wedding, the couple did an intimacy workshop.

The workshop had weird breathing exercises and was uncomfortable.

Tahnee had to lie on the floor with her husband and instructors around.

The couple got intimacy props delivered to their apartment.

The experts gave them a gift, which was sex toys.

Tahnee didn't want to show intimacy on camera and felt embarrassed.

Tahnee almost reached a breaking point when producers pressured her.

Tahnee says the producers created a dangerous environment for women.

The couple swap challenge was done for the first time and last time.

Tahnee didn't want to stay with another husband for three nights.

Tahnee thought the challenge was a joke.

There are blurred lines on consent on the show.

Loni Fagel is a trauma therapist who worked on a similar show.

The audience wants to see couples being intimate on the show.

Loni says the show's format can create pressure for intimacy.

Loni thinks 'Intimacy Week' should be investigated.

Loni is a trauma therapist in the United States.

Loni says everything should be taken seriously and investigated.

Tahnee had a good experience overall but thinks the show's format is a problem.

Tahnee believes the pressure for intimacy can blur the lines of consent.

Tahnee thinks the show's format needs to be reviewed.

'Intimacy Week' is one of many themed weeks on the show.

Former producer Alex Funnell agrees the show's format raises red flags.

Alex asks if consent under duress is really consent.

Alex says consent can't be given under pressure.

Alex cringes at the thought of 'Intimacy Week'.

Alex thinks the show forces people to create intimacy.

Alex worked on seasons 9 and 10 of the show.

Alex says there needs to be an audit on the intimacy side of things.

Alex thinks introducing an intimacy coordinator could help.

There is a house producer on-site, but a psychologist is only available by phone.

Tahnee thinks more could be done to support the couples.

Participation on the show is entirely voluntary.

7.30 asked Nine and the production company about 'Intimacy Week'.

Both declined requests for an interview but released a statement.

The statement said the health and wellbeing of participants are taken seriously.

No participants are expected to do anything they're not comfortable with.

Intimacy Week is one of several themed weeks and is entirely voluntary.

Couples are supported at every step, on and off camera.

Watch 7.30 on Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30 pm on ABC iview and ABC TV.

Contact 7.30 for more information.

Do you know more about this story? Get in touch with 7.30.

Thursday, 4 June 2026, at 5:40 pm

Thursday, 4 June 2026, at 7:43 pm

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Married at First Sight Australia: Intimacy pressures and consent concerns

By Melissa Polimeni

7.30

Topic: Television

Thursday, 4 June 2026, at 5:40 pm

Tahnee Cook was on season 10 of Married at First Sight Australia.

Tahnee Cook was not surprised by rape allegations on the UK version of the show.

Tahnee said she could see how the situation could happen.

Two women accused their on-screen husbands of assault on the BBC's Panorama.

Family and domestic violence support is available.

The men denied the allegations, and Channel 4 took down all episodes.

Tahnee felt pressure to progress in her relationship on the show.

Tahnee was 27 when she married on the show.

Tahnee thought about what she was signing up for on the show.

Tahnee wasn't having luck with dating and saw the previous season.

Tahnee didn't think much about the show before going on it.

Tahnee is seen with her husband, Ollie Skelton, on Instagram.

Three weeks after the wedding, the couple did an intimacy workshop.

The workshop had weird breathing exercises and was uncomfortable.

Tahnee had to lie on the floor with her husband and instructors around.

The couple got intimacy props delivered to their apartment.

The experts gave them a gift, which was sex toys.

Tahnee didn't want to show intimacy on camera and felt embarrassed.

Tahnee almost reached a breaking point when producers pressured her.

Tahnee says the producers created a dangerous environment for women.

The couple swap challenge was done for the first time and last time.

Tahnee didn't want to stay with another husband for three nights.

Tahnee thought the challenge was a joke.

There are blurred lines on consent on the show.

Loni Fagel is a trauma therapist who worked on a similar show.

The audience wants to see couples being intimate on the show.

Loni says the show's format can create pressure for intimacy.

Loni thinks 'Intimacy Week' should be investigated.

Loni is a trauma therapist in the United States.

Loni says everything should be taken seriously and investigated.

Tahnee had a good experience overall but thinks the show's format is a problem.

Tahnee believes the pressure for intimacy can blur the lines of consent.

Tahnee thinks the show's format needs to be reviewed.

'Intimacy Week' is one of many themed weeks on the show.

Former producer Alex Funnell agrees the show's format raises red flags.

Alex asks if consent under duress is really consent.

Alex says consent can't be given under pressure.

Alex cringes at the thought of 'Intimacy Week'.

Alex thinks the show forces people to create intimacy.

Alex worked on seasons 9 and 10 of the show.

Alex says there needs to be an audit on the intimacy side of things.

Alex thinks introducing an intimacy coordinator could help.

There is a house producer on-site, but a psychologist is only available by phone.

Tahnee thinks more could be done to support the couples.

Participation on the show is entirely voluntary.

7.30 asked Nine and the production company about 'Intimacy Week'.

Both declined requests for an interview but released a statement.

The statement said the health and wellbeing of participants are taken seriously.

No participants are expected to do anything they're not comfortable with.

Intimacy Week is one of several themed weeks and is entirely voluntary.

Couples are supported at every step, on and off camera.

Watch 7.30 on Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30 pm on ABC iview and ABC TV.

Contact 7.30 for more information.

Do you know more about this story? Get in touch with 7.30.

Thursday, 4 June 2026, at 5:40 pm

Thursday, 4 June 2026, at 7:43 pm

Promotion

Top Stories

Topic: Monetary Policy

Topic: Crime

Analysis by Courtney Gould

Topic: Tariffs

Topic: Courts

Top Stories

Topic: Monetary Policy

Topic: Crime

Analysis by Courtney Gould

Topic: Tariffs

Topic: Courts

Just In

Topic: Universities

Thursday, 4 June 2026, at 7:48 pm

Topic: State and Territory Government

Thursday, 4 June 2026, at 7:09 pm

Topic: Crime

Thursday, 4 June 2026, at 7:42 pm

Topic: Agricultural Crops

Thursday, 4 June 2026, at 6:42 pm