EXCLUSIVE: Married At First Sight contract reveals how participants sign their lives away for TWO YEARS - as they are banned for dating or putting on weight and must agree to their 'sensitive information' being exploited
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Daily Mail Australia has exclusively obtained a copy of the 'participation agreement' signed by Married At First Sight's season five cast - and it's very strict indeed.
Not only did contestants agree to have their 'personal and sensitive information exploited' by Channel Nine and Endemol Shine Australia, they were also prevented from speaking out against the network or producers.
The 36-page legal document further states that contestants can't put on any weight or profit from their fame in any capacity. They are also banned from dating for one year after the show ends.
EXCLUSIVE: The Married At First Sight contract reveals how participants sign their lives away for TWO YEARS - as they are banned for dating or putting on weight and must agree to their 'sensitive information' being exploited. Pictured: The MAFS season five cast
Some of strictest conditions in the contract - which the 2018 cast are obliged to follow until March 2020 - regard the contestants' dating lives after the show.
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The participants are not permitted to use any dating apps for 12 months, unless they obtain 'prior written approval' from producers or Channel Nine.
The contract specifically names Tinder as one of the prohibited dating apps.
Strict rules: As of March 21, 2018 (when the MAFS season finale aired), contestants were banned from using dating apps, appearing on other shows, speaking to the press or obtaining managers for 12 months. Pictured: An extract from the season five 'participation agreement'
No makeovers allowed! The contract states that participants must not 'materially alter their appearance' - which 'includes without limitation hair colour and weight' - for 12 months
Following their rise to fame on the show, cast members are banned from obtaining celebrity management or pursuing careers in showbusiness.
Further stipulations restrict contestants from appearing on rival television networks, obtaining any work in the media or speaking to the press.
Sharing sponsored posts on Instagram or endorsing any product, especially for financial gain, is also strictly prohibited.
Back to the day job! Following their rise to fame on the show, cast members are banned from obtaining celebrity management or pursuing careers in showbusiness. Pictured: A promotional image for MAFS season five, featuring Tracey Jewel and Dean Wells
'We basically signed our lives away to these people and now they've blocked us and won't let us go': Nasser Sultan, pictured with Gabrielle Bartlett, has said he wants out of his contract
Contestants profiting at all from their appearance on MAFS is forbidden.
'You must not give or receive any money or other valuable consideration in connection with your appearance on the program,' the contract states.
During the 12 month 'term', cast members also must not 'materially alter their appearance', which 'includes without limitation hair colour and weight'.
Interestingly, the contestants are banned from engaging in any 'hazardous or dangerous sports' for one year.
Silenced: The season five cast also agreed that once their series had ended, they would not 'publish any negative or derogatory' comments about the show, producers Endemol Shine Australia or Channel Nine for 12 months
What? Another clause in the contract states that producers can 'exploit' any 'personal and sensitive information' in any way
In regards to the aftermath of Married At First Sight, the conditions of the participation agreement are even stricter.
The season five cast members each agreed not to bring any claim against producers or Channel Nine for 'loss or damages', no matter how badly the show impacted their reputation.
Another clause in the contract states that the stars' 'personal and sensitive information' can be 'exploited' by TV executives however they wish.
When it comes to the production, contestants also signed away their right to 'dispute' how footage is edited to portray them a certain way.
Furthermore, they are not allowed to publicly make any 'negative or derogatory' comments against producers, the show or Nine - not even to defend themselves.
'[The producers] and Nine's decisions on all aspects of the Program are final and there is no right of appeal,' the contract states.
Relating to their 'marriages' on the show, the cast accepted that the relationship experts, producers and Nine 'do not guarantee the success of the match'.
That's not very romantic! The show's producers 'do not guarantee the success of the match'
Long-term commitment: The 'participation agreement' binds all stars to production company Endemol Shine Australia for 12 months from the date the finale aired, on March 21, 2018
Locked in: After this expires, they are then 'committed' to Channel Nine for an additional year under an 'extended period', meaning they are still under contract until March 21, 2020
Notably, it states that the relationship experts - John Aiken, Mel Schilling and Dr Trisha Stratford - 'are engaged to provide services' to Channel Nine and Endemol Shine, not the participants.
If any of the stars breach the contract, one clause states that '[financial] damages may not be an adequate remedy'.
The 'participation agreement' binds all participants to production company Endemol Shine Australia for 12 months from the date the finale aired, on March 21, 2018.
After this expires, they are then 'committed' to Channel Nine for an additional year under an 'extended period', meaning they are still under contract until March 21, 2020.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.
Backlash! The contract was leaked to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, after it was revealed that Married At First Sight's official Instagram account had blocked the season five cast
The contract was leaked to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, after it was revealed that Married At First Sight's official Instagram account had blocked the season five cast.
Stars including Nasser Sultan and Tracey Jewel were outraged by the social media snub, considering they all remain legally bound to the network.
Tracey Jewel called the mass Instagram blocking a 'slap in the face' on Wednesday.
'Personally, I think they're scared of us lifting the lid on what really happened behind the scenes. It seems the can of worms is now opened!' she said.
'I think they're scared of us lifting the lid on what really happened behind the scenes': Tracey Jewel (pictured) was outraged after realising she had been blocked
In an exclusive statement, Nasser said: 'We basically signed our lives away to these people and now they've blocked us and won't let us go.'
Davina Rankin, who was given a particularly brutal 'edit', added: 'To be honest, MAFS is just a load of bulls**t, it's not this pretty little fairy tale that the public thinks it is.'
When contacted for comment on the Instagram blocking, a Channel Nine spokesperson said the network was now focused on the upcoming sixth season.
They added that there was 'nothing unusual' about the decision block former contestants.
Hitting back: Davina Rankin, who was given a particularly brutal 'edit', said, 'To be honest, MAFS is just a load of bulls**t, it's not this pretty little fairy tale that the public thinks it is'
