First Dates contestant breaks down after revealing she was catfished by her friends

22 May 2019, 13:49

By Naomi Bartram

@naomibartram

Maria ended up in tears after revealing she was tricked by her pals.

A contestant on First Dates made a shock confession on Tuesday evening’s show, admitting her friends once played a brutal trick.

Maria was on a date with potential love interest Albert when she told a story about her former pals pretending to be a boy called Will.

She revealed the group of girls told her she’d met the mystery man on a night out for her brother’s birthday.

“The next day I got a text from Will,” Maria said.

“So I was texting this Will and I said to my pals at the time, ‘Oh, Will’s coming tonight. I’m really excited to meet him.’ And they were like, ‘We know, because we’re Will.’”

Read More: Which First Dates couples are still together and who is married with babies after meeting on the Channel 4 show?

As Albert replied in shock: “You’re joking,” she added: “I just didn’t understand how they could manipulate and make someone feel so small.”

Speaking to the camera, Maria said: “I went home and I cried all the way home. How could you toy with my emotions like that?"

Wiping away her tears, she added: “Sorry, I didn’t think I’d get emotional about it, I haven’t got emotional about it for so long.”

Back at the table, Maria recalled falling out with her former friends, explaining why she was so hurt.

“They knew I wanted a boyfriend. They knew my weaknesses. They were my best friends,” she said, before Albert questioned: “Don’t tell me you’re still mates with them. F*** them right off!”

Read More: First Dates contestant reveals she is married to HERSELF halfway through the date

Maria finally added: “Since then I’ve turned my life around I’m happy and I’m confident. I feel like I’ve become a much better person.”

Viewers were quick to hit out on Twitter, with one writing: “What?! She got catfished by her “friends” thats f****** horrific! People can be so horrible.”

“Wow who needs enemies with friends like that... they must regret it cos she’s gorgeous now,” said a second, while a third added: “Catfished by friends eh who needs enemies? #FirstDates.”

Despite hitting it off with Albert, Maria didn’t meet her Prince Charming, as the tagline read at the end of the episode: “In the end, Albert wasn’t quite ready to wade into deeper water with Maria but Maria knows there are plenty more fish in the sea.”