Merrick Defends the Contestants’ Choice to Stage an “Intervention” for Firass on SAS Australia

In last night’s episode of SAS Australia, the contestants appealed to the Directing Staff to kick the season “villain”actor Firass Dirani off the course, complaining that he wasn’t a team player.

When they were unsuccessful, they staged an “intervention”, requesting that Firass leave the show of his own accord because he can’t be trusted in team exercises. But Firass wasn’t prepared to give up. “I can’t hand in my number. I belong here,” he said. “That’s what I feel in my heart, my heart of hearts.”

Firass has a habit of talking back and making jokes to Directing Staff which have led to punishments for all of the contestants on the show, and people like celebrity trainer Shannan Ponton calling him out as the season airs. And last night, without telling the others, he raced back from the emergency rendezvous point when they were under a simulated siege to collect Candice Warner. He was criticised by Staff for his brashness (but it was the first time a recruit has ever attempted such a rescue in seven seasons of the UK show).

Some people online criticised the other recruits for “ganging up” on Firass, saying that comedian Merrick Watts in particular didn’t demonstrate consideration for the other man’s feelings, despite having himself suffered from depression and anxiety. He was the person who agreed to take the group’s concerns to Chief Instructor Ant Middleton.

But Merrick has taken to Twitter overnight and this morning to defend his actions. “He made 3 women cry,” he wrote in response to one fan. “He cost people their place on course. I did not. No one else on course did either. It was simply an ENTIRE and UNANIMOUS consensus that he needed to hear from the group.”

He explained that the contestants had tried to reason with Firass repeatedly and that his “poor attitude” was detrimental to the group. He’d actually been appointed by the Directing Staff as the “Duty Recruit”, the only person allowed to approach staff.

“[H]aving an intervention is not ganging up,” Merrick added. “EVERY single person there was affected by an individuals attitude. Firass made women cry and I’m the bully? Facts!!!

“It was not ‘my’ will to approach the staff it was actually my responsibility as duty recruit. Regardless, it was a unanimous group decision and utterly necessary. What was edited out? Women crying as a result of Firass’ behaviour to them.”

Firass on Instagram meanwhile has shared a video of his decision to stay spliced with The Wolf of Wall Street, as edited by a friend. Along with messages of support from fans, he also posted a screenshot of Merrick talking to Ant with the caption “SNITCH” to his Stories.

Scroll on to see Merrick’s tweets and Firass’ cheeky response to the latest episode of SAS Australia on Instagram.