MAFS Australia's Tyson Gordon Addresses Backlash Over Controversial Remarks
Married at First Sight Australia's Tyson Gordon has become one of the most controversial grooms on the popular reality television show. With his love of Donald Trump, right-wing views, and vocal criticism of 'wokeism', it is not surprising that he has rubbed many viewers the wrong way. However, his specific criticism of his wife Stephanie Marshall for not being 'submissive' enough sparked significant outrage among fellow cast members, relationship experts, and the audience alike.
Clarifying the Controversial Terminology
Since leaving the show, Tyson has conceded that 'submissive' was not the correct word to use. He now says he wishes he had instead stated he was looking for a more 'traditional' wife. In a recent appearance on the Dangerous Ideas with Deano podcast, Tyson elaborated on this point.
'Obviously that word submissive does come up a lot in the show. I do feel like that was a word I shouldn't have used at the time,' Tyson explained. 'That word does get mixed up. I mean, there's so many different definitions of the word submissive. The Oxford Dictionary has one definition. AI has another definition. Google has another definition. You can look it up for yourself. A lot of different definitions there.'
Allegations of Producer Manipulation
Tyson has now insisted that how he came across on the show was actually manipulated by producers. He claims they were the ones who first introduced the word 'submissive' to him during filming.
'The word submissive actually got brought in by producers, not me,' Tyson claimed. 'So they pulled me aside and they asked me how things were going with Steph and I at our wedding. And they said, 'Do you reckon she's submissive or do you reckon she's masculine?''
He further alleged that producers also prompted his comment about Stephanie giving 'woke vibes' when she walked down the aisle. 'I watched the first episode and I was like, 'Geez, why'd I say that?'' Tyson recalled. 'But then I remembered it was the producer that said, 'Does she give you woke vibes? What kind of vibes? Does she give you woke vibes?'' Tyson said he went along with the suggestion because he 'thought it was funny' at the time.
Defending His Character and Intentions
Tyson strongly defended his character against accusations that his comments indicated problematic attitudes. 'For me, what I should have done is use the word traditional. Traditional is more what I'm after. I'm not after a certain 'subservient dog',' he stated.
'Everyone keeps saying, I give 'DV tendencies', if you will. Which just isn't the case. I've never hit a woman before in my life. I never would hit a woman,' he insisted. Tyson added that he has a lot of respect for women, noting that his mother and sister are the most 'loveable' people in his life.
Criticism of Reality TV Tactics
Tyson concluded by criticizing the production methods used on the show. He insisted that 'a lot of what is said here is manipulated by the producers, and they love the rage bait', adding that he 'unfortunately fell into that trap'. After persistent questioning from the podcast host, Tyson maintained that 'submissive' is not a word he used independently during the show and that he would instead refer to his ideal partner as being 'traditional'.
The controversy highlights ongoing debates about authenticity, editing, and producer influence in reality television programming, particularly on highly dramatized shows like Married at First Sight Australia.
