Tyson Gordon Tells 60 Minutes His Most Controversial MAFS Comment Was ‘Wrong To Use’

Former Married At First Sight participant Tyson Gordon has backtracked on one of his most controversial moments while appearing on the Aussie reality show earlier this year.

Tyson’s brief stint on MAFS during its 13th season was marked by widely-panned comments about both “traditional” gender roles and his on-screen wife Stephanie Marshall, including an episode on their honeymoon where he declared “want[ed] someone who is submissive”.

Tyson entered MAFS part-way through the season as an intruder. (Image: MAFS/Channel 9)

Tyson copped backlash for the moment both on show and among fans, but he has now walked back the comment during an interview on 60 Minutes Australia, saying he misused the word “submissive”.

“So, submissive was the wrong word to use. Traditional is the word I was looking for and traditional is a word I wanted to use,” Tyson said. When prodded further about what he meant by a “traditional” wife, the MAFS groom said he isn’t “looking for a dog”.

“I’m not looking to put my wife on a leash at all. I don’t expect to chain her up in the kitchen and say, ‘Make me a sandwich’. She’s not just going to be locked up in here all day. It’s nothing like that,” Tyson said.

He went on to explain that, from his perspective, “there’s really nothing wrong with wanting a traditional relationship in this day and age. I think if you can financially support it, then why not?” he said.

*Tyson said “submissive was the wrong word to use” during his 60 Minutes appearance. (Image: 60 Minutes/Channel 9)*

Before 60 Minutes, Tyson was grilled about his views on traditional gender roles by both Stephanie and the MAFS experts, as well Laura Byrne, who called his behaviour “frustrating and really offensive” on the MAFS spinoff series, After The Dinner Party.

Tyson’s behaviour on the show reached the political landscape when social services minister Tanya Plibersek called it “the exact kind of cultural messaging we’re trying to change”.

The groom’s 60 Minutes interview was part of its broader investigation into the trend of Tradwives, which describes women who electively stay home and fulfill traditional feminine roles like cooking and cleaning, and allow their husbands to be breadwinners.

Lead images: MAFS/Channel 9 and 60 Minutes/Channel 9