MAFS Relationship Expert Expresses Shock Over 'Boss Babes' Group Behaviour
If you believed previous seasons of the controversial reality television series Married At First Sight had shown everything possible, prepare to reconsider. The upcoming season introduces a group dynamic that has even seasoned experts taken aback.
Unprecedented Group Dynamics Emerge
MAFS relationship expert John Aiken has revealed that the dynamic created by a group of five women this season is completely unprecedented in the show's history. "We've had one or two group rivalries before, but we have never had a group of women who have been very dominating in the group dynamic", Aiken explains.
The expert continues with concern: "They will stand up for one another, at times, and attempt to control the entire experiment, and they come for anyone who stands up to them, both men and women. Some of the language you're going to hear this season, and the behaviour, it's absolutely shocking. We just hadn't seen it before."
Organic Development or Production Strategy?
When questioned whether the formation of the 'Boss Babes' group was organic or a production strategy, Aiken was adamant about its authenticity. "It's organic, absolutely. It always is on the show," he states. "I didn't know this dynamic was going to happen, but when you see it happen, it's kind of like being transported back to high school."
Aiken describes how these women justify their behaviour: "These women will say to me at times, 'I'm a girl's girl John and I'm just speaking my truth', but that doesn't mean that it's respectful, or that what they're doing isn't offensive - but in their mind it's entirely appropriate."
The Evolution of a Television Phenomenon
Aiken has been with the show since its premiere in 2015 and confesses nobody anticipated its current success. "We had no expectations. The show was very different to what was on at the time," he recalls. "You had cooking, singing, dancing and renovation shows, but there were no relationship shows, so we really thought it would be one season and done."
The expert describes the show's remarkable growth: "It surprised everybody that it took off immediately. And then it just grew. It got supersized. It went from six episodes to 40 episodes, from four couples to 12, from being on once a week to four nights a week - it's become this huge juggernaut."
Understanding the 'Social Experiment'
When asked about the show's description as a social experiment, Aiken provides insight: "It's an experiment in that we're putting people together and we're not really sure what the outcome is going to be. What their behaviour is going to be like, what sort of patterns are going to arise - we just don't know."
He notes the unpredictability of participant behaviour: "The participants also don't know how they are going to be on the show. They can tell us, 'John, I am looking for love, I'm ready for commitment' and then in the experiment they are matched with someone like that and they go 'Not only am I not ready for commitment, but I can't stand people who challenge me'."
New Elements for the 2026 Season
This season introduces several new elements including a revised Revelation Week where men and women participate in separate workshops. Aiken explains: "We ask them to give their perspectives on what they want from relationships and how they feel their matched partner measures up in certain areas. The red flags but also the green flags."
Additional innovations for 2026 include:
- The Stan Original series MAFS: After The Dinner Party with exclusive behind-the-scenes content
- The show's first bisexual woman participant
- Enhanced participant support systems
Commitment to Participant Welfare
Aiken emphasises the serious responsibility experts bear toward participants. "I point out poor behaviour, point out patterns of behaviour, and hold a mirror up to the couples," he states. "One of the things that we have really focused on throughout the seasons is providing an intense, high-quality duty of care for the participants."
The comprehensive support system includes:
- Social media training before participation
- Psychological assistance before, during and after the show
- 24/7 support call lines
- Continuous producer monitoring
- Social media protection during broadcast
The Enduring Appeal of MAFS
Aiken reflects on why Married At First Sight continues to rate highly each season: "There's many ingredients for this success. People want to tune in to see if two strangers can fall in love and get a fairytale. People watch it to learn what not to do."
He identifies multiple viewing motivations:
- Singles watching to identify relationship red flags
- Couples seeking to improve their own relationships
- Audiences fascinated by group dynamics and boundary creation
- Viewers interested in expert-participant exchanges
The 2026 season of Married At First Sight premiered on February 2, bringing with it what promises to be one of the most talked-about group dynamics in the show's history.
