A note on MAFS

A brief pause for our normally irreverent tone. We’re going to talk about MAFS.

Sunday’s episode reached 3,265,000 Australians, by far the highest rated TV show in the country. 

That meant more than 8% of the population saw a man, who earlier that week punched a hole through a door during an argument with his ‘wife’ be subjected to the most cursory investigation by so-called experts and allowed to continue on the show with no repercussions. 

The backlash has been understandably strong, including a petition campaign launched by What Were You Wearing, a not-for-profit organisation fighting to end sexual violence, which at the time of writing has passed 10,000 signatories.

It was a situation so shocking, it almost completely overshadowed another of the men repeatedly telling his partner what to say.

The superb Women and Girls Emergency Centre provides an excellent summary here.

In 2024, 78 women were killed in Australia due to gender-based violence. In 2023, it was 64. In 2022, 56. 2021 , 44.

MAFS is not the cause of this. But something has to be done. And Australia’s most watched show is not the worst place to start.

For support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.