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Seven faces backlash over MKR contestants reportedly filmed during a sex act without their knowledge

Buzzfeed News has reported two contestants on the upcoming series of My Kitchen Rules: The Rivals were filmed during a sex act without their knowledge. When the couple confronted the camera operator, it is alleged he promised to delete the footage, but failed to do so.

The footage was reportedly watched at Seven’s Eveleigh studios by staff members months later and was readily available on the network’s servers.

Two contestants of the upcoming The Rivals MKR format have reportedly been filmed without their knowledge by Seven

A Seven spokesperson said the contestants had been filmed in accordance with their contracts.

“My Kitchen Rules: The Rivals is a family-friendly cooking show broadcast in prime time. All filming was done in accordance with contestant contracts,” said the spokesperson.

However, that isn’t what Buzzfeed is reporting occurred. A Seven staffer who spoke to the outlet said the footage was clearly filmed without the knowledge of the two contestants, who were on a couch at 5am engaging in a consensual sex act. The footage was shot from behind a railing by a camera operator, not by one of the stationary cameras used in the home, Buzzfeed claims.

The new format for the show, which was designed to give the flagging reality program a boost in 2020, sees fan favourites and ex-winners return to challenge new contestants. The two teams live in two houses and were reportedly told they could be filmed anywhere in the homes.

It isn’t the first time Seven has come under fire for its treatment of contestants on its reality formats.

Earlier this year, an ex-House Rules contestant successfully sued the network for compensation after she was given the infamous ‘villain edit’ on the show.

The future of the My Kitchen Rules: The Rivals programming isn’t yet known and it hasn’t been confirmed if the contestants in question will feature in the show in 2020.

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