New Idea

MAFS DEATH THREATS REVEALED

POLICE ARE CALLED AS SAM FEARS FOR HIS LIFE AFTER LEAVING THE SHOW

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Most people choose to become a reality TV star for the perks and instant fame, but for Married At First Sight’s resident villain Sam Ball, life beyond the cameras has been anything but glamorous.

In an exclusive interview with New Idea after dumping Ines and leaving the social experiment for good, Sam says he has been inundated with hate mail from the moment the show first aired.

The Sydney-based tradie claims not only has he received repeated missed and prank calls from strangers in the last three months, but abusive text messages and death threats too.

In fact, Sam says some of the messages have been so distressin­g that he has been forced to ask police for their advice.

“One message said they were going to put a gun to my head, and another said they were going to get someone to kill me,” a shaken Sam reveals.

“It all just sort of happened out of nowhere and it has been quite full on.”

Sam says in one evening alone, he received more than

35 missed calls from a private number.

“There were a lot,” he explains.

When asked how many messages he has received, he simply says, “too many to count”.

“I didn’t know what to do,” Sam continues.

“This wasn’t what I signed up for. I spoke to family and friends and they told me to go to the police and ask them for their advice. I also figured I needed to make some kind of statement about this so that if something does actually happen, the police know about it.”

In images obtained by New Idea, a casuallook­ing Sam is seen entering and leaving

Redfern Police Station in Sydney’s inner city. He claims he spent about 15 minutes inside talking to authoritie­s, who provided him with informatio­n on the best way to approach the situation.

“They were very helpful,” Sam says. “I showed them some of the messages and asked if I needed to get an AVO or anything. They just told me to monitor it for another week but gave me all the paperwork I needed to make an official complaint and basically if it continues they’ll sort it out.” Meanwhile Sam, who was originally matched with Elizabeth by the experts, only to cheat on her with Ines, admits he hasn’t heard from his former lover since filming wrapped, apart from one Instagram message where she wrote: “Get ready for your funeral tomorrow baby” just before the final dinner party was filmed.

“She was all fine at the start, really amicable and talking to me and then she just turned,” Sam reveals about their relationsh­ip once filming ended.

“I think it’s because I didn’t want to re-enter (the experiment) with her, but I feel like I gave her a valid reason. She wanted me to commit to

“ONE MESSAGE SAID THEY WANTED TO HAVE ME KILLED … THIS ISN’T WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR”

something long-term and I couldn’t do that. We had only been on one date and basically from there she wanted me to be with her, so I said no. She probably thought that was a dog act, but I wasn’t going to give her another week.”

 ??  ?? Ines and Sam began an on-screen affair behind their partners’ backs, only to break up shortly after.
Ines and Sam began an on-screen affair behind their partners’ backs, only to break up shortly after.
 ??  ?? Among the “too many to count” messages Sam has received have been death threats and repeated hang-up calls from private numbers (far right).
Among the “too many to count” messages Sam has received have been death threats and repeated hang-up calls from private numbers (far right).
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 ??  ?? After discussing the matter with producers, Sam (pictured arriving at Redfern Police Station) decided to seek advice from the authoritie­s.
After discussing the matter with producers, Sam (pictured arriving at Redfern Police Station) decided to seek advice from the authoritie­s.
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