Married at First Sight Australia’s Tyson responds to backlash over homophobic comments

Married at First Sight Australia groom Tyson Gordon has addressed mounting backlash after footage from his audition tape revealed a series of widely criticised comments about gay men.

The controversy erupted after the episode aired on 8 April, when Tyson and his on‑screen wife Stephanie Marshall viewed each other’s audition tapes as part of the show’s ‘Crash Course Week’. In the clip, Tyson expressed discomfort around gay men and same‑sex marriage, claiming he disliked feeling sexuality was being “pushed in [his] face”. He also said he didn’t like gay men approaching him, adding: “I’m not gay. That’s on you guys, whatever you do behind closed doors.”

Stephanie, visibly shocked while watching the footage, confronted Tyson directly afterwards, questioning whether he actually liked gay people. She also challenged his belief that gay men might be hitting on him, prompting an awkward exchange between the couple. Tyson attempted to defend himself by claiming he did, in fact, “like gay people”.

Despite the backlash from viewers and criticism from fellow cast members, Tyson has insisted he is not homophobic. He told the Daily Mail he anticipated being portrayed as the “villain”, claiming producers had warned him he would likely become one of the show’s most controversial participants. Tyson further stated that since the show aired, he has received “some support” from members of the gay community.

However, other cast figures have publicly condemned his comments. Sam Stanton, one of the show’s gay grooms, called Tyson’s remarks “oppression” and “homophobic”, adding that suggesting LGBTQ+ people should exist only “behind closed doors” is unacceptable. Tyson has rejected labels of homophobia or misogyny, arguing he is simply a “realist”.

The backlash adds to an already growing list of controversies surrounding Tyson, whose conservative views and comments on topics including gender roles and women’s “body counts” have sparked widespread criticism throughout the series.