The age-old debate about the “villain edit” on reality TV never stops, and with Married At First Sight (MAFS) 2025 contestants like Adrian Araouzou, Morena Farina and Jacqui Burfoot slamming production for the way they were treated, it has brought this debate back up to the surface.
Is there really such thing as a “villain edit”, or is it just bad behaviour being reflected to the masses? Rhi Disljenkovic tells Chattr she doesn’t think producers can force somebody to come across badly on screen.
“I honestly don’t think they would make anyone a villain who wasn’t, because the edit [on MAFS] really was what I saw. And look, I’m not saying this to hurt anybody’s feelings whatsoever. I think a lot of people have said this… a lot of the other cast [members] will say the exact same thing,” she says.
Rhi concedes that parts of storylines can be missed because when you’re filming for long days, the footage has to be condensed into a neat little package for viewers.
“Context is left out of some stories, like there were some things on Retreat, like sequences of events… I apologised sooner than that, I didn’t wait two days,” she explains. “I’m like, well, that wasn’t amazing, but really, the storyline is what happens. It’s what went down.”
However, she is adamant that the edit of MAFS 2025 reflected what she experienced while filming the show. “Villain edits or bad edits? I really don’t agree with that, and I know some people will disagree with me, and they can think what they’d like, but when 80 per cent of the cast are saying the edit is the edit, and it is what it is, well, there’s the answer,” she adds.
Rhi issues a warning to anybody considering applying for MAFS 2026
While she doesn’t think the “villain edit” exists, Rhi still admits the show can be a “bumpy ride”, so anybody applying for MAFS 2026 needs to be “level-headed and really sure of themselves”.
“You haven’t got a lot of flexibility. When you’re on the show, you can’t just go for a walk if you’re filming… but when you’re not filming, you can’t do whatever you want. So the people that have a very rigid life and like things in a certain way, I would definitely reconsider,” she spills.
“I did struggle for the first few weeks. I’m someone who’s extremely active. I like going to the gym every morning [but] sometimes with the hours, you just go to the gym,” she recalls. “There’s a lot of time that you don’t have your phone, so you are left with your thoughts.
“It’s not jail, but yeah, still it is kind of like a lockdown situation where you just can’t do everything you like.”
Future MAFS contestants, take that as your official warning — you’re gonna need a damn good book to pass the time.
You can stream Married At First Sight on 9Now.
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