Reality TV

MAFS’ relationship expert Mel Schilling says it was hard to match groom Dean Wells

Mel struggled with Dean’s strong views.
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Dating and relationship expert Mel Schilling reveals she found it difficult to find a wife for controversial contestant Dean Wells on Married At First Sight.

Dean, 39, holds the expectation he’ll be the leader of a relationship.

“I found it very hard,” Mel, 45, says. “I consider myself a feminist, so looking at a man with views like that, I felt conflicted about it.”

Mel describes Dean’s views as “quite old-fashioned”.

“In my experience, it’s unusual for a guy of that age to be holding those beliefs,” she says.

Dean wants to take charge in a relationship.

Mel adds that she doesn’t think Dean realises how bad he sounds. And because he has such strong views, he’s going to be divisive.

“He’s definitely one who’s going to ruffle some feathers,” she says.

Dean was labelled as “mysoginistic” and “sexist” early on, before the show had even made it to our screens, thanks to a MAFS promo that had him declaring he preferred “girly” girls who knew he was “in charge.”

He said in the video teaser: “I want to be the alpha male and she needs to respect me as the man. I think that’s the traditional role that still exists in a lot of countries in the world and Australia’s lost that.”

The MAFS‘ experts eventually paired Dean with 34-year-old marketing consultant, Tracey, who was after a ‘man’s man.’

We’ll have to wait and see if the tricky match turns into a long-term thing!

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