The Block executive producer hits back at viewer complaints about contestant conflicts: 'I don't believe it amounts to bullying'

An executive shaper from The Block has slammed viewers who declare alleged 'bullying' connected this year's series.

Producer Julian Cress dismissed immoderate inappropriate behaviour betwixt contestants and expressed his displeasure pinch assemblage members for making specified claims.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has received 28 reports concerning nan 2023 play of The Block, now successful its 19th season.

In an question and reply pinch TV Tonight, Cress vehemently denied immoderate insinuation that contestants person been bullied and criticised those who person utilized nan word connected societal media. 

'We needed beardown personalities. We needed a spot of psychological warfare. I would opportunity that my expectations for each of that were dramatically exceeded,' he said.

'I spot that group propulsion astir words for illustration bullying connected societal media. They were referring to Leah calling a assemblage firm gathering and asking Steph why she didn’t get her begetter inducted. 

'It does not magnitude to bullying successful my opinion. I understand that group take sides pinch personalities successful nan show. But I’m not happy erstwhile contestants get accused of bullying erstwhile they didn't,' he added.

During nan series' broadcast, galore viewers person singled retired 'mean girls' Kristy and Leah for their behaviour towards their co-stars.

But nan executive shaper firmly expressed his belief that thing will travel of nan ACMA investigation prompted by instrumentality accusations.

'Bullying is abhorrent, and cipher should ever tolerate bullying successful nan workplace,' Cress said. 

'I don't for illustration it erstwhile group propulsion that connection astir arsenic an accusation. In that case, I don't judge that thing that Leah aliases Kristy aliases immoderate of those group did connected nan show amounts to bullying.'

The shaper besides claimed that while nan play mightiness beryllium considered bad behaviour betwixt participants, it is not bullying but 'conflict.' 

'It’s group talking s**t astir different group down their backs, which is what reality tv has been since Survivor and Big Brother premiered 23 years ago,' he observed.

This isn't nan first clip a reality show being investigated for allegations of bullying. 

In 2021, ACMA initiated an investigation into whether Married At First Sight violated nan Commercial Television Code of Practice owed to instrumentality complaints astir nan airing of 'gaslighting' and 'abusive' scenes involving Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson.

It has been a contentious twelvemonth for The Block, pinch nan show making headlines earlier this week amid allegations that nan bid had to acquisition last-minute 're-editing' up of nan final's auction.