Earlier this month, the Australian rendition of MAFS started airing over in the UK. The series was immediately met with backlash from overseas viewers who took issue with the cast, consisting of Ines Basic, Sam Ball, Jessika Power, Michael Brunelli and more.
Twitter quickly became flooded by negative comments from UK viewers, not unlike the ones that popped up when season 6 aired here in Australia. But it’s one thing to hate-watch a reality show as your guilty pleasure and it’s another thing entirely to actually send death threats to cast members you don’t care for. Unfortunately that’s what’s happened to several members of the cast.
Ines Basic has taken to Instagram to share a disturbing direct message she received on Instagram from an overseas viewer.
The reality star posted a DM convo with a viewer who threatened to fly to Australia and decapitate her.
Credit: Instagram / Ines Basic.
In a subsequent Instagram Story, she advised those watching that these kinds of threats will be forwarded to the authorities. The MAFS star also advised her reality star comrades to do the same.
She writes:
“Hey guys, just to let you know, with threats that severe, they do get passed on to my legal team and the police do trace them. Regardless or not if they are coming from an international IP address or fake account. So for your own good don’t do this because you will be instantly flagged and stopped at the Australian border. I have had to do it already. Also for anyone else with a large platform who receives messages or comments like this – just making sure you are aware of your rights.”
Credit: Instagram / Ines Basic.
Just to clarify, this might not be 100% accurate. Before anyone passes the Australian border (let’s imagine we’re talking in COVID-free times) they need a visa. And one part of obtaining a visa is a character test – basically they want to make sure you’re not going to do anything dodgy when you’re here, which includes engaging in criminal conduct and harassing, molesting, intimidating or stalking another person as big no-nos.
So you could say that sending threatening DMs to someone on social media could affect their ability to enter Australia, however it’s the Department of Home Affairs that deals with visas, not the police.
Ines Basic previously spoke to UK publication The Sun Online about the backlash she was receiving from overseas viewers.
“I’ve always wanted to go to England but I don’t know if I ever will now as I might get fucking stabbed,” she said.
“I want everyone [in the UK] to know I’m a really nice girl, at the time I was just close-minded and it was all filmed two years ago. I couldn’t even be that person again if I tried.”
And she’s not the only one. Sam Ball, one of the guys she shared a relationship with on MAFS, also took to Instagram to post screenshots of the abuse he was receiving.
They’re in the gallery below if you want to suss them out for yourself:
“I’ve had a lot of positives and negatives within this time mostly caused from me doing that silly show and being to optimistic and ignoring people close to me about the possible repercussions of taking part in that experience,” Sam Ball wrote.
“I honestly am the happiest and most positive version of myself that I’ve ever been with people around me that I’ve met and known my whole life or a decent amount of time that understand me and know what I’m about.”
The MAFS star added, “I don’t have anything to prove to anyone nor do I really care, it’s the past but the show is exploding overseas and I feel like you all need to know what the reality tv world is like from MY experience on it as it’s taken lives from suicide along with causing serious mental health issues for many.. It’s hard for some and my biggest issue was dealing with all the media at my house every morning and night following me all day for a photo and the adjustment of being high profile’ (utter bullshit) I’m not here to please everyone or to be a famous influencer.
“I’m just a normal guy that’s shit at using this platform but I have fun with it and give it a go trying to spread postive vibes along with shitty selfies and gym/sunset videos.”
Sam Ball went on to say that “it’s TV and I hope you all enjoy what I tell you and you get a laugh out of it.”
The MAFS star concluded, “I appreciate you all, I’m sorry I don’t reply or see all your messages because there really is so many but just know you are all awesome and If I could physically figure out how to talk to you all and give you all a laugh and some insight I would but I’m not superman haha.”
Help is available.
If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
If you’d like to speak to someone about sexual violence, please call the 1800 Respect hotline on 1800 737 732 or chat online.
Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
