Brent Vitiello, a former groom on Married At First Sight, was criticised this week after a photograph he posted to Instagram claiming to show a city skyline from an airplane window was identified as a widely circulated stock image.
The 36-year-old, who is on holiday in Bali, shared the picture alongside other travel snaps. A reverse image search found the same photo had appeared on Pinterest and elsewhere online several years earlier, prompting social media users to question the authenticity of the post. The image was first reported by the Daily Mail on Sept. 7, 2025.
Vitiello has continued to publish images from what he described as a laid-back Indonesian holiday, showing himself sightseeing across the island. The Instagram post that drew attention was one among several recent updates from the former reality-TV contestant.
The social-media scrutiny comes as Vitiello has faced wider criticism in recent months related to his commercial activities. In August, a leaked text-message exchange emerged that, according to reporting, revealed his response to a customer complaint about his sea moss brand, Mos X Daily. The episode led to heated discussion online and multiple customer complaints being aired publicly. Vitiello has previously denied allegations that he scammed people in connection with the brand.
The Daily Mail report said dozens of customers had posted complaints about the product, and the leaked exchange intensified criticism of Vitiello's conduct. Neither the former MAFS contestant nor his representatives have issued a public statement addressing the authenticity of the airplane-window image identified by the reverse search.
Images repurposed from stock libraries and older online posts are frequently flagged on social media, where users and influencers are often scrutinised for the provenance of travel and lifestyle photography. In recent years, reverse image searches have become a common tool for reporters and members of the public to verify such content.
Vitiello rose to public attention as a participant on the Australian series Married At First Sight. Since appearing on the programme he has maintained an active social-media presence and engaged in commercial ventures. Reporting on the image and related complaints does not include a direct response from Vitiello to the specific allegation that the airplane-window photo was not original to his account.
The incident adds to a string of controversies surrounding former reality-TV personalities who face intensified public scrutiny as their off-screen businesses and social-media accounts attract attention. It remains unclear whether Vitiello will address the photographic discrepancy publicly or take any steps on his accounts following the reporting.