Married At First Sight star Steve Burley insists Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson are madly in love

Married At First Sight Australia season seven participant Steve Burley has insisted that controversial couple Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson are madly in love. 

The pair, who are appearing on the current season of the reality show, have been plagued by rumours that Bryce, 31, is ‘gaslighting’ and ‘abusive’ towards Melissa, 31. 

However Steve, 52, says he’s such good friends with Bryce and Melissa that he joined them at Melissa’s family home to watch their wedding episode air – and he has a very different view of what their relationship is really like behind the scenes. 

Fine? Married At First Sight Australia season seven participant Steve Burley has insisted that controversial couple Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson are madly in love. The pair, who are appearing on the current season of the reality show, have been plagued by rumours that Bryce (right) is ‘gaslighting’ and ‘abusive’ towards Melissa (left) 

Speaking on the Dangerous Ideas with Deano podcast, hosted by another former MAFS star, Dean Wells, 43, Steve said the pair are ‘connected’ and happy. 

‘I went to Melissa’s family’s home to watch the screening of the wedding. I was with Melissa, Bryce and Melissa’s family. I have never seen anybody, or as a collective, as a family, so well connected, as Bryce and Melissa were.

‘They were super emotional with things that they were watching, because in my opinion, they’re so in love with each other.

Happy: Speaking on the Dangerous Ideas with Deano podcast, hosted by another former MAFS star, Dean Wells (right) Steve said the pair are 'connected' and happy.

Happy: Speaking on the Dangerous Ideas with Deano podcast, hosted by another former MAFS star, Dean Wells (right) Steve said the pair are ‘connected’ and happy.

Steve said: 'I went to Melissa's family's home to watch the screening of the wedding. I was with Melissa, Bryce and Melissa's family. I have never seen anybody, or as a collective, as a family, so well connected, as Bryce and Melissa were'

Steve said: ‘I went to Melissa’s family’s home to watch the screening of the wedding. I was with Melissa, Bryce and Melissa’s family. I have never seen anybody, or as a collective, as a family, so well connected, as Bryce and Melissa were’ 

‘I can tell you know I have been out with Bryce and Melissa several times since the show went to air, and deadset, they are 100 percent locked in together, trust me.’ 

Steve went on to say that Melissa is no wallflower, and can stand up for herself when she needs to. 

‘There is no way Melissa is a hostage, I can assure you. If Melissa wants to stand up and say her piece, she will stand up and say her piece, because I’ve heard her say it. All it is, is what you’re seeing on TV, it’s heavily produced,’ he insisted. 

Steve added: 'They were super emotional with things that they were watching, because in my opinion, they're so in love with each other. I have been out with Bryce and Melissa several times since the show went to air, and they are 100 percent locked in together, trust me'

Steve added: ‘They were super emotional with things that they were watching, because in my opinion, they’re so in love with each other. I have been out with Bryce and Melissa several times since the show went to air, and they are 100 percent locked in together, trust me’ 

Steve said Steve went on to say that Melissa is no wallflower: 'There is no way Melissa is a hostage, I can assure you. If Melissa wants to stand up and say her piece, she will stand up and say her piece, because I've heard her say it,' he insisted

Steve said Steve went on to say that Melissa is no wallflower: ‘There is no way Melissa is a hostage, I can assure you. If Melissa wants to stand up and say her piece, she will stand up and say her piece, because I’ve heard her say it,’ he insisted 

Dean also offered his opinion, adding: ‘I find it condescending and disrespectful that all these women are getting online and saying, “Oh that poor girl, she doesn’t know what she’s doing, this guy’s taking advantage of her”. Putting it all on him.

‘She’s a grown woman, you don’t know what happens behind closed doors. She’s even said that several times, “You guys don’t see what happens with us behind closed doors.” She defended him, defended their relationship. Give the woman some credit.’

It comes after season eight of Married At First Sight received a record number of complaints. 

Complaints: It comes after season eight of Married At First Sight received a record number of complaints. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has received a total of 54 official complaints so far. ACMA revealed some of those were about Bryce and Melissa

Complaints: It comes after season eight of Married At First Sight received a record number of complaints. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has received a total of 54 official complaints so far. ACMA revealed some of those were about Bryce and Melissa 

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has received a total of 54 official complaints so far – a record number for the watchdog.

‘A significant proportion of the complaints alleged the program included personally abusive interchanges between participants through gaslighting, social, verbal and mental abuse and that the program perpetuated and promoted the theme of domestic abuse,’ an ACMA spokesperson told The Daily Telegraph in a statement. 

ACMA revealed it had at that time received 14 complaints about this year’s season of MAFS, and four of those were about Bryce and Melissa.  

Claims: Additionally, a Change.org petition is demanding Channel Nine issue an apology for airing 'triggering' scenes involving the 'gaslighting' groom and his long-suffering wife

 Claims: Additionally, a Change.org petition is demanding Channel Nine issue an apology for airing ‘triggering’ scenes involving the ‘gaslighting’ groom and his long-suffering wife

Additionally, a Change.org petition is demanding Channel Nine issue an apology for airing ‘triggering’ scenes involving the ‘gaslighting’ groom and his long-suffering wife. 

The petition, which has already received 2,500 signatures in under 24 hours and now has over 14,000, is also calling for Nine to acknowledge its alleged ‘failure of duty of care’ towards Melissa.

‘This season of Married at First Sight Australia features a couple, Melissa and Bryce, who portray an excessive amount of DV signs which are not being handled by the network appropriately,’ the petition states. 

Petition: The petition, which has already received 2,500 signatures in under 24 hours and now has over 14,000, is also calling for Nine to acknowledge its alleged 'failure of duty of care' towards Melissa

Petition: The petition, which has already received 2,500 signatures in under 24 hours and now has over 14,000, is also calling for Nine to acknowledge its alleged ‘failure of duty of care’ towards Melissa