Tanya Plibersek blasts MAFS groom Tyson Gordon over his ‘obedient’ woman comment and criticises Channel Nine for airing his sexist views

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As someone who follows social trends and their impact, I have to say I was really disappointed to see the behavior of Tyson Gordon on Married At First Sight. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek rightfully called him out on it – his actions were clearly sexist, and it’s important we don’t normalize that kind of treatment. It’s good to see public figures speaking up when they see something unacceptable.

The Minister for Social Services, a 56-year-old Member of Parliament, posted a video clip online from the reality show Married at First Sight. The clip featured Tyson, age 30, expressing a desire for a submissive partner and drawing a comparison to controlling behavior.

Plibersek started by saying that this behavior is precisely what they’re working to eliminate when discussing coercive control – it’s a clear example of someone trying to control another person.

‘The fact that this is being mainstreamed on a really popular show is really disappointing.’

She believes the producers of Married at First Sight need to be more mindful of the messages their show sends to viewers.

She strongly criticized the show’s creators for giving a platform to hateful views about women, suggesting they should reconsider their choices.

The groom is known for publicly sharing his strong opinions against what he considers ‘woke’ culture.

Okay, so Sunday’s episode? Seriously?! Tyson just kept digging his heels in, saying exactly what he thought, and it was WILD. Poor Stephanie was totally shocked, and even the experts looked like they didn’t know what to say! I honestly couldn’t believe he just went for it like that. It was amazing… and a little terrifying, honestly.

The groom started the day off badly by making a remark that didn’t reflect well on his partner.

Tyson explained to the experts that he felt unsupported by Steph, noting she tends to be reserved. He added that he understood this might be because she didn’t want to come across as confrontational, possibly due to being a woman.

Steph wasn’t having it at all. She directly told Tyson that any problems in their relationship weren’t related to her being a woman.

Steph explained that she didn’t believe her gender was the issue. She believed she possessed the qualities Tyson was looking for – she’s driven, ambitious, and family-oriented, checking many of his boxes. However, she felt he disliked those qualities, finding them ‘too masculine’ for his preference.

Tyson then accused his TV wife of ‘talking down’ to him in a ‘pretentious’ manner.

But according to relationship expert John Aiken, Tyson’s behavior towards Steph was actually far more problematic.

John confronted the groom, reminding him that he’d called the woman a ‘temporary wife’ at the dinner party. He also mentioned the groom had said he might cover the entire dinner cost if he grew to like her, and that he felt she acted too much like a man.

Tyson confessed he was struggling in the relationship because Steph wasn’t as compliant as he preferred, and this was causing him significant distress.

‘[I’m attracted to] The more easy-going type, who is not constantly talking down to me. When someone is constantly in your face trying to challenge you, it comes across as very domineering. It is masculine in my eyes!’ Tyson bluntly said.

I feel undermined because she’s very traditionally feminine, which is different from how I’m used to. I was raised with traditional gender roles – my dad worked while my mom stayed home to raise us.

Relationship expert Mel Schilling challenged Tyson’s expectation of having a completely submissive partner. She explained that he seemed to want someone who would always prioritize his needs, and the show’s experts weren’t comfortable supporting that dynamic.

Mel called Tyson’s demands ‘concerning’. 

Mel explained, “You’re describing wanting a partner who will passively submit to your will, not someone who will assert their own needs or expect a balanced relationship. You want someone who will prioritize your desires above everything else.”

Despite the tension, the couple agreed to give their relationship another go.

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2026-03-05 05:34