MAFS’ Steve Burley was stitched up by producers when they showed Mishel his audition tape – as he insists his comment about wanting ‘a woman in her thirties’ was taken out of context
Married At First Sight’s Steve Burley raised eyebrows when his audition tape revealed he was looking for a woman aged in her ‘mid to late thirties’.
His response was not well received by his 48-year-old ‘wife’, Mishel Karen, who was forced to watch the footage the week before their final vows.
Speaking to Hit Mid North Coast’s Krysti & Bodge on Tuesday, the barbershop owner, 52, said his comments had been taken out of context.
Edited: MAFS star Steve Burley has said his infamous comments in his audition tape about wanting to date a woman in her ‘mid to late thirties’ were taken out of context by producers
Steve clarified that he did not say he wanted to be matched with someone in their thirties on Married At First Sight.
He was actually speaking to producers about his appearance on Channel Seven’s First Dates two years ago and his mindset at the time.
‘I was explaining to the executive producer at the time [of First Dates] that I wanted [a woman in her] mid to late thirties,’ he said.
Awkward: Steve’s remarks were not well received by his 48-year-old ‘wife’, Mishel Karen, who was forced to watch the footage the week before their final vows
‘It had nothing to do with Married At First Sight’: Steve clarified to Hit Mid North Coast’s Krysti & Bodge on Tuesday that his comments were actually in reference to his appearance on Channel Seven’s First Dates two years ago and his mindset at the time
He insisted: ‘It had nothing to do with Married At First Sight.’
Steve admitted he ‘took a little bit of heat’ from his comments but could handle the criticism.
But he did feel was unfair, saying: ‘When they don’t show the full context of it, then it’s not fair on the viewers… and it’s also not fair on myself either.’
Steve added that he’d made it clear from the start of the experiment that dating younger women had not worked out for him in the past and he was looking to date someone his own age.
Setting the record straight: Steve said that he’d made it clear from the start of the experiment that dating younger women had not worked out for him in the past and he was looking to date someone his own age. Pictured in his audition tape
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.
During their final vows on Monday, Mishel accused Steve of ‘wasting her time’ after he repeatedly told her he loved her despite their complete lack of physical intimacy.
‘I have felt the least attractive, least sensual I’ve ever felt in my whole life spending the time with you and listening to you remind me that you have no attraction,’ she said.
Having a whinge: During their final vows on Monday, Mishel accused Steve of ‘wasting her time’ after he repeatedly told her he loved her despite their complete lack of physical intimacy
Walking away, Mishel threw away her wedding ring and said: ‘It’s empowering to take back my strength, to take back my voice as a woman.
‘I actually deserve someone that desires me and wants me. I’m very free now. I feel like, “Oh, drop the ring! I’m free!”‘
Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine
‘I’m very free now’: Mishel tried to portray herself as a feminist hero by dumping Steve