Mel Schilling has addressed the abuse she received earlier this year after a Change.org petition calling her to be sacked from the Nine Network was created.
The Married At First Sight expert took to Instagram to discuss the hate she received, calling the bullying “hate-filled” and “painful.”
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Schilling shared a photo of herself with her daughter, Maddie – who she shares with her husband, Gareth – on her shoulders.
The MAFS star wore a “kind is cool” T-shirt, in support of an anti-bullying group Bully Zero.
“Earlier this year I had a small taste of bullying myself. It was intense, hate-filled, personal & painful … but it only lasted one week,” the mother of one wrote in the caption.
“It really made me think about people, especially kids who experience this type of abuse day-in-day-out, and the impact it has on self esteem.”
The relationship counsellor also opened up about how she had lost her cousin Nick to suicide and claimed to have first-hand knowledge of “how it shatters families & communities.”
“Personal abuse like bullying has the power to tear down every fibre of strength & resilience — and it must stop,” the 46-year-old wrote, encouraging her followers to reach out if they’re being bullied.
In February this year, the petition calling for Mel to be sacked from the Nine Network over ‘double standards’ reached over 68,000 signatures.
Mel was criticised for reprimanding Bronson Norrish for calling Ines Basic the c-word after he endured days of abuse from her during their honeymoon.
“When you use language like that in relation to a woman, how do you expect her to respond to you? A tip from me to you: Don’t use language like that if you want any chance of a relationship,” Schilling told him.
Viewers were enraged by her words, as Basic’s abusive behaviour towards him during their wedding and honeymoon was ignored.
The Change.org petition requested that Mel be either fired or forced to issue a public apology.
The petition read: “Married At First Sight’s so-called expert Mel Schilling lashed out at Bronson for using foul language. This so-called psychologist is a biased feminist who has made it clear that she thinks it’s okay for a woman to behave the way Ines does.”
“Bronson has been a victim of [Ines’] verbal and emotional abuse all week, and the second he decides it’s enough, “expert” Mel comes in and says he shouldn’t be using that language,” it continued
“The thing is, Ines is exactly what he said, a nasty, abusive piece of work. Mel needs to make a formal apology or be sacked from the show. The show doesn’t need a one-sided feminist as an ‘expert.'”
At the time, Channel Nine issued a statement in regards to the petition saying:
“There were 12 women in the room that night and a man used language that was highly insulting and inflammatory in reference to his wife.”
“Mel acted in the only way appropriate by calling out the language – language that is not ever considered acceptable anywhere, anytime.”
“We are shocked at the backlash Mel has received for defending another woman.”
