Channel Nine has dumped a groom from the next season of Married At First Sight Australia and scrubbed him from the show after social media videos resurfaced of him making homophobic and misogynistic comments.
Simon Blackburn (pictured) featured in an early trailer for the reality dating show’s 2022 season, the Daily Mail reported.
However a spokesperson for the network confirmed he’ll be edited out after the vile social media rants came to light online.
“When unacceptable social media content was discovered in relation to Simon Blackburn we immediately took steps to remove him from the program,” the Nine spokesperson said.
Blackburn reportedly filmed his wedding and honeymoon with his “bride” on the show, according to the Daily Mail.
However she reportedly discovered the offensive videos during filming last month.
She alerted producers and Blackburn was immediately asked to leave the show. Producers later matched the woman with a new groom.
During one Instagram livestream, Blackburn describes homosexuality as “filth”.
“You might as well just jump in a box, you’re gonna get AIDS,” he said.
“If you are gay, you are gonna get AIDS. It’s just disgusting. It’s like filth, it’s actually filth. That sexual orientation is f__king filth.”
On TikTok, Blackburn also made comments denigrating women, repeatedly calling a female ex-partner a “c__t”.
Married At First Sight contestants disgusted by rants
On Instagram, former Married At First Sight and Bachelorette contestants reacted with disgust as Simon Blackburn’s videos circulated online.
Blackburn appeared to address the drama in a post on his Instagram, captioned, “Leave the past in the past”.
“To clarify, I haven’t posted on TikTok in six months,” he said.
“All videos of me are reposts or screenshots of lives from last year! Not my current thoughts or mindset!
“No further comment will be given! I’ve got Covid, let me rest!”
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He can always get a new job at the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) as their formal spokesperson and get paid $1,000,000 a year.