Advertisement

MAFS' Dom and Ella's '$250,000 deal at risk' following backlash

Married At First Sight favourites Domenica Calarco and Ella Ding shot to the top of the Australian podcast charts when they launched their podcast Sit With Us earlier this year.

Yahoo Lifestyle understands the pair signed a 12-month deal worth an estimated $250,000 to launch the joint venture exclusively with podcast network Acast, with them required to record one episode a week.

When the podcast launched in June, Sit With Us had already topped the charts and garnered rave reviews.

However, one industry insider says this fee may now be “at risk” after Sit With Us dropped out of Australia's top 150 podcasts in October on Triton Digital's podcast ranker.

“There was so much hype after Married At First Sight that I'm told the girls managed to negotiate a 12-month deal worth around $250,000 for Sit With Us, but this doesn't necessarily mean they'll get all of the money," the insider tells us.

Dom and Ella pose for a photo wearing matching white singlets and blue jeans.
Dom and Ella launched their podcast Sit With Us earlier this year. Source: Instagram

"With most celebrity podcast deals, there are usually stipulations that you have to reach a certain amount of downloads and listeners each month to get the full fee – and I assume Dom and Ella also have something like this in their contract.

"If they don't hit certain targets then I imagine they're at risk of not earning the full $250,000. At the end of the day, it's just business.”

RELATED:

Although Sit With Us no longer charts within the top 150 Australian podcasts, on the whole, it currently sits at 117 on Spotify and 156 on Apple Music's respective charts.

The gradual decline of the podcast's success is likely due to Married At First Sight fans moving on from the show after the initial hype.

The insider's comments come after fans slammed Dom last week over comments she made about MAFS co-star Tamara Djordjevic.

Speaking on the Happy Hour Live with Lucy and Nikki podcast, Dom suggested Tamara had been seeking advice on how to start an OnlyFans.

Tamara Djordjevic poses in a bikini.
Tamara Djordjevic appeared on MAFS alongside Dom and Ella. Source: Instagram

It came after a controversy during the latest season of MAFS where a nude photo from Dom's OnlyFans was shared between cast members.

"Babe, look, to be honest with you don't even bother because I even don't think anyone will be willing to sign up darl, even if you've got free subscription," Dom said.

"I don't give a s**t, at this point in time, I honestly, like have zero for these people because this s**t I went through and the stuff I had to listen to them say about me on national TV."

Fans slam star for 'horrible' comments

Outraged fans then slammed Dom for her comments about Tamara, with one saying she should let go of the hate and "practise what she preaches".

"Horrible thing to say about a woman ... [Ella] no bloody better, always next to Dom laughing along," one said.

SHOP:

"I can't work you pair out, one breath you go on about shaming women then next breath you putting them down ... sorry won't be listening any more, both need to grow up," one said.

Dom doubled downed and defended herself, commenting on the Happy Hour Live Instagram post saying she was "sl*t shamed" and made fun of on national TV because she had OnlyFans.

"Tamara never apologised for the horrible things she said about me; if she had this would have never been said. How do I 'move on' when I had to sit and watch THEM say all those horrible things about me?" she wrote.

On the Sit With Us Facebook group, Dom said she will not be doing any more interviews where she is asked about MAFS or fellow contestants.

"I can support women and not like an individual. If someone is or has been vile against me I don't think there can be any gender generalisation here. I said what I said and some people aren't going to like it.

"As a concept I always support women; always have and always will.

"To achieve a gender balance overall in the world we live in is where I hope one day we will all be. This has nothing to do with supporting or not supporting women. This also doesn't mean I'm going to be pushed around by disingenuous manipulators."

Yahoo Lifestyle has contacted Dom and Ella's management agency for comment.

Never miss a thing. Sign up to Yahoo Lifestyle’s daily newsletter.

Or if you have a story idea, email us at lifestyle.tips@yahooinc.com.