Thomas Hartley from Married At First Sight UK has faced criticism by his co-stars after “sickening” comments he made about them on a recent podcast appearance.
The Liverpudlian was never shy when it came to calling out his fellow cast mates on the series and frequently found himself involved in arguments and at the centre of controversies. OK! reported that since the show has ended, Thomas has been settling into life on the celebrity circuit, quitting his job as a mental health nurse to pursue a career in entertainment.
Appearing on the What’s Happenin’ podcast this week, Thomas was typically outspoken and made a number of outlandish claims about his co-stars before joining in on jokes about two of them, which mentioned their late parents.
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In one audio clip, Thomas can be heard telling his side of the story on a scene from episode one, which saw him quiz Jenna Robinson on her decision to walk down the aisle alone. Jenna, who together with Zoe Clifton is one half this year’s last couple standing, revealed that her dad has passed away.
As they discuss the scene, one of the podcast’s hosts then makes a joke – which OK! has chosen not to repeat – about the body of Jenna’s late dad being brought to the wedding.
Everyone can then be heard laughing and making more horrendous jokes, before Thomas quips: “I’m getting f**king cancelled, aren’t I?”
He adds of Jenna: “But honestly, she [Jenna] is a nice person, she really is.” Jenna’s wife Zoe shared the clip on her Instagram, writing: “You disrespectful piece of s**t.”
“To slate your own friend and disrespect Jenna is something completely unforgivable,” she continued. “For anyone a little confused, the last post on my story is Thomas talking about Jenna’s dad who she lost during Covid.”
Thomas also made comments about April Banbury and Whitney Hughes, which the two women have condemned. In a second clip from the podcast, one of the hosts describes April’s “energy” as “f**king unbelievable".
Thomas then neighs like a horse, and replies: “She said her mum abandoned her didn’t she…”
“You would do if your kid had an attitude like that though,” one of the hosts says, to which Thomas replies: “Eh no… Whitney’s mum died.” They can all then be heard laughing.
Sharing the clip on Instagram, April wrote: “To come across sickening behaviour from adults is appalling. Laughing over people’s trauma for clout. The industry needs to be careful as to who they give platforms to without damaging their names also, by supporting and promoting bullying.”
Whitney also shared the audio in response to a fan question about why she’s blocked some of her fellow MAFS stars on social media.
She wrote on her Instagram Story: “Whilst the show was on air some of the cast were sharing hurtful things that trolls had posted about me despite the friendship that we had built after the show.
“That and disgusting behaviour like this is why I have blocked half the cast and why I turned down flying for the MAFS Christmas Special.
“I’ll never willingly put myself in the company of anyone who will say anything to gain followers or press.”
Thomas has issued an apology for the podcast and claimed he has asked for it to be taken down.
His apology was posted on Instagram Story, with the Pussycat Dolls’ track Buttons playing in the background.
He wrote: “I sincerely apologise for any offence I caused on the podcast. It wasn’t right and I did ask for it to be removed and it wasn’t.
“I take full responsibility and honestly completely regret the situation and what I said.
“I am honestly so sorry for any pain caused to anyone. I did ask for tem parts to be removed. There’s no excuse. I was out of order massively. I will live eternally with regret.”
OK! has contacted Thomas’s representative for any further comment.
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