Married at First Sight UK’s Jess Potter has addressed rumours that she’d cheated with another partner, saying they’re ‘complete nonsense’ and that she wishes she’d never taken part in the show.
Although the latest season of the reality TV series wrapped up a couple of weeks back, a number of cast members have made cheating claims in recent days between other contestants.
That includes Thomas Hartley, who suggested that the ‘Harry Potter fan’ had ‘slept with people from the cast’ in a recent Instagram live with comedian Kane Brown.
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He also alleged that it was a woman, therefore implicating Jess as she and her TV husband Pjay Finch were fans of the fantasy franchise - although he pointed out that it was just ‘a rumour’.
Speaking exclusively to Tyla, Jess has now shared her side of the story, describing the rumours as 'complete lies’ and that she’s ‘over the drama and the online bullying that some people are doing’.
“Coming out of the show, I’d had enough from people watching it and giving me death threats,” she explained.
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“There are a lot of people who are trolling us, and I understand that’s going to come from people who aren’t in the show.
“But when it’s coming from cast members it’s upsetting because I’ve never had a falling out with anyone.”
As for the rumours, Jess said they are ‘utter nonsense’.
“I didn’t even spend much time on the show, let alone to be able to have an affair,” she said.
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“He [Thomas] even said this is just a rumour. Well if it’s just a rumour, don’t bring it up unless you have the facts right.”
While it’s all well and good cast members bringing the tea, Jess continued: “When other people's mental states, like myself, have been affected then it's just bullying.
“It just makes me think, has no one learned anything from Caroline Flack?”
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The 31-year-old went on to explain that she doesn’t have MAFS in her social media bio and she makes a point of not following any of the other couples or looking at posts about it online.
“I didn't want anything to do with the show when it finished because it was a horrible experience for me.”
Jess said she was having panic attacks and went to therapy when the series aired as a result of the online bullying she received.
“People criticise what you look like, where you come from - everything about you gets scrutinised and it’s very difficult.”
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The dental hygienist didn’t even watch the episodes when they came out, saying that she and her new partner made her house a ‘MAFS-free zone’ as it’s her ‘safe space’.
“But when people start bringing stuff up, especially when it's live, it's really affecting me again,” she continued.
“So that's why I just wanted to make a point - stop talking about people and just focus on your own life. It’s not fair.”
In terms of safeguarding, a topic of contention in reality TV shows, Jess said that producers did get in contact with her amid the recent claims to check in and let her know they would speak to certain cast members to find out what was going on.
“But there's only so much people can do,” she added. “You can tell someone not to do something but that doesn’t mean they’re not going to.”
Even though she was only at the MAFS apartment for less than a week, with everything that has unfolded over the past couple of months, Jess firmly stated: “If I could go back, I wouldn’t have taken part in the show.”
Earlier this week, fellow MAFS star Gemma Rose announced that she had pulled out of the upcoming Christmas reunion special due to issues with the editing.
The hairdresser and business owner has been vocal about the fact that she’s unhappy with how her story with TV partner Matt Murray was portrayed, telling her followers on Instagram: “It’s not fair, this narrative that’s been created of me.”
She slammed producers for what she described as ‘unacceptable’ editing, and just like Jess, she highlighted other issues seen in other reality TV shows.
“Have we learnt anything from Love Island?” she asked. “False versions of serious situations and changing the storyline so dramatically... RUINS LIVES."
When asked about the editing, Jess explained: “They have the narrative they want to play in the show.
“There were a lot of things that were left out of mine and Pjay’s story… it didn’t make sense. They made it look like we had a horrible time but then we only had good things to say about each other.”
Thankfully Jess has managed to move on with her life and she is happy in her new relationship. But as for the Christmas MAFS reunion, it’s safe to say she definitely won’t be attending.
Tyla has contacted Channel 4 for comment.
Topics: Married At First Sight, UOKM8, TV And Film, Celebrity
Daisy Phillipson