Controversial Married At First Sight groom Paul Antoine hits back after his 'cringe' video sparked backlash: 'I'm officially a feminist'

Married At First Sight groom Paul Antoine has hit back at online critics after being slammed over a so-called 'cringe' social media video.

The reality TV star found himself under renewed fire after a clip of him getting dressed featuring the provocative on-screen caption: 'Unfortunately I was raised to finish my meals, so I don't care if your legs are shaking.'

The video quickly sparked outrage, with critics branding it egotistical and offensive, and one social media user describing it as 'diabolically cringe'.

Paul has now responded directly to the backlash in a lengthy Instagram rant, insisting the post was never meant to be taken seriously.

'I'm just here minding my own business, enjoying my morning coffee, and then just about to have another f***ing great wholesome day,' he wrote. 

Paul said he was stunned the clip was still attracting attention three weeks after it was uploaded.

'Okay, we need to have a serious chat about this,' he continued.

'So I'm sure a lot of you guys can remember that video, that reel that I posted about roughly three weeks ago. 

'It was, you know, with that little provocative, very provocative actually caption on it.

'I still, three weeks later, I still have people commenting on it. Resharing it. Reacting to it. It's actually f***ing hilarious.'

The MAFS groom insisted the post was meant as a joke and accused critics of overreacting.

'Like what was it meant to be? Just a one-off joke has now turned into this,' he said. 

'Oh my God, everyone's getting offended. Everyone feels the need to come and reshare. Like, just relax.

'It was just a one-off joke. Like, breathe, take a breather. Maybe just ground yourself again. Touch grass, do some meditation. I don't know.'

Paul also pushed back against claims the video was misogynistic, declaring: 'For me, I'm officially a feminist.'

He then turned his attention to one fitness influencer who made a reaction video mocking him.

'I'm like, first of all, who's more cringe in that whole situation? Me or you going out of your way to actually make a reaction video out of my own video?' he said.

'I genuinely cannot wrap my head around this grown man sitting in his room, captioning this video.'

Despite the backlash, Paul appeared amused by the situation and even encouraged followers to watch the reaction clips.

'You guys should actually go and have a go and check that video out. It's actually f***ing hilarious,' he said.

He finished by questioning why people invest so much time attacking strangers online.

'I just cannot comprehend how people have that much time to go out of their way to reply hateful comments or get so caught up in it,' Paul said. 

'It's like they're taking it so personal. Just relax.'

The controversy comes amid Paul's polarising stint on MAFS last year, where his behaviour already divided viewers.