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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Love Island should be scrapped

61 replies

ThinThighsPlease · 19/05/2019 20:25

Following the JK incident and the reality TV issue finally being looked into I really hope LI is next to go. I admit I'm not a fan of reality television at all and I strongly disagree with people finding fame through it and receiving opportunities (presenting jobs for example) way ahead of people who are putting themselves through university.

Almost everyone I work with was talking about LI last year and there were so many articles on it that I caved in and thought okay I'll give it a go... I lasted a few episodes. I honestly thought it was awful. You have people treating each other like absolute shit, judging one another based only on looks, humiliating each other, hurting each other, dumping each other and being encouraged to have sex on national TV. One guy spent a few days all over some young girl and promising she could trust him (Georgia?) only to disappear and return a few days later holding hands with another woman?! Is it really so entertaining to watch people being publicly kicked in the teeth?

I understand you are probably a thick skinned and narcissistic person to put yourself in that environment in the first place, I understand they are looking for fame not real love. But I think it's utter trash and gives out a horrible message to teenagers watching it.

Yes I know I don't have to watch it and I have a remote control but it's Sunday evening and I just fancied a rant.

OP posts:
InTheHeatofLisbon · 20/05/2019 07:49

I wonder how many that are shouting for reality tv to be banned watch Strictly Come Dancing?

Fair point. The media get awfully excited about the "curse" each year don't they? So I'd agree that should be banned along with the rest.

Fifthtimelucky · 20/05/2019 12:18

Strictly is completely different in my view, given that the people who go on it are already in the public eye, so should know be better prepared for what they are letting themselves in for.

I also think anything where contestants are judged for their skill, by knowledgeable judges, such as Bake Off, is very different from something like Love Island where the public votes on the basis of their looks/personality/behaviour.

SoupDragon · 20/05/2019 12:20

As a previous poster said, my brother posted this on Facebook today.

To think Love Island should be scrapped
InTheHeatofLisbon · 20/05/2019 12:36

Only that meme is sadly under estimating the number of veteran suicides. 75 that we know of last year, and that's only from 1 charity (All Call Signs) fighting for veteran suicides to be properly recorded. DP is a war veteran, thankfully he is ok, but he knows many who aren't, or weren't able to access support and took their own lives.

In the age of supposed enlightenment about mental health, we're not doing a very good job are we?

Onestep2 · 20/05/2019 15:00

Agree with @singlepringle where does the line get drawn with reality tv? Masterchef? bake off? Xfactor? Top model? survivor? come dine with me?? Take me out?? Britians got talent??

and also a very valid point from @Reddedder about strictly. From all the negative press that gets, its probably ruined more lives than Love island.

those who apply for Love Island know what they are getting into and many only enter it for that fame that follows.

Raffles1981 · 20/05/2019 15:02

I have never watched LI and never will. I do not fully understand how JK was cancelled over one suicide when there has been more than one LI contestant suicide. The whole reality TV could well have had it's day. JK was not the only one.

newjobnerves · 20/05/2019 15:09

@fruitpastille I'm assuming that figure doesn't include veterans, sadly a lot of military (not just army of course) suicides will be after service (though still related in many cases I'm sure).

More British armed forces (serving and retired) who served in the Falklands committed suicide than died in action. Shocking.

BeardedMum · 20/05/2019 15:12

I think should remove all reality tv and Britain has talent, dancing on ice, come and dance, dance with me etc etc etc at the same time.
That should free up some space for some TV for me to watch as currently the schedules are full of crap.

HelenaDove · 20/05/2019 16:09

Well the people concerned about Army suicides could always make their feelings known at the ballot box. Because the cuts to the Forces wont have helped. Funny how they dont.

that meme has been shared to buggery here too. Yet this area always turns blue every election.

For the same reason that Love Island fans still want the show to go ahead. Deep down most are only bothered about themselves.

newjobnerves · 20/05/2019 16:11

@HelenaDove I find military communities largely vote conservative (I say that in the community!) very odd given everything since 2000s, Corbyn isn't helping matters.

HelenaDove · 20/05/2019 16:39

www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48283782

Stars of an MTV reality show felt under pressure from producers to have "lots" of sex on screen, the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme has been told.

Ex On The Beach's Jess Impiazzi said it had felt like being "in a brothel".

Meanwhile, Carley Belmonte, who stars in The Valleys, also on MTV, said she felt the production team should have made her undergo counselling after her mother had died.

Both production companies said they took duty of care seriously.

MTV said contributors' welfare was "of paramount importance".

The women admitted the series had made them celebrities and led to many job opportunities.

Impiazzi said she had "begged" producers not to air footage of her having sex with her boyfriend, which had happened while she had been drunk, but it had been broadcast.

"I cried my eyes out. I said, 'Please don't show this,'" she said.

But she had realised she had "signed my life away" and vowed she would never have on-screen sex again

I need to leave now'

Impiazzi, who said her appearance had led to a place on Celebrity Big Brother - had felt under immediate pressure to "to hook up with someone" during her second series on the programme.

"I had a producer say, 'Lots of shagging tonight please girls,' and I thought, 'I need to leave now,'" she said.

"You feel like you're in a brothel. It made me feel really cheap… these were all random guys."

She quit the show.

A fellow cast member also said she had heard such comments from producers.

Impiazzi said: "We know what the show is about but I never said, 'I will come on this show and behave in that way.'

But Farah Sattaur, who also appeared on Ex On The Beach, said overall, she had had a positive experience.

"Great cast members, great experience, going abroad, I love to travel," she said. "Your social media rockets. You can collaborate with different brands. You're driving your career the way you want it to go."

Whizz Kid Entertainment, the production company behind Ex On The Beach, said contributors were made fully aware of the nature of the programme before filming.

Claims of a lack of aftercare for reality TV stars have made headlines following the deaths of Love Island stars Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis.

Last week, The Jeremy Kyle Show was axed by ITV after the death of Steve Dymond, who had taken part in the programme.

Belmonte said that "almost within 24 hours" of her mother's death she had filmed for The Valleys.

The second series of the show - which followed young people from the Welsh Valleys as they drink, party and "fulfil their dreams" in Cardiff - was being broadcast at the time.

She said she had felt under pressure to do it as she had not wanted to let anyone down.

"It was just such a difficult time," she said. "I was only 22.

"They should have made me go through counselling, because I definitely needed it.

"And even though I didn't recognise it at the time, they should have recognised it."

A few weeks ago, Belmonte's father died. And this time, she said, the producers had been really supportive and sent her flowers.

But both Impiazzi and Belmonte said they had received no aftercare when their time on the programme had ended.

And this was despite Ms Impiazzi previously having depression and Ms Belmonte experiencing anxiety while on the show, they said

Strict protocols'

MTV said in a statement: "Contributors' welfare across our programming is of paramount importance to us.

"We work with our production company partners to ensure there is an appropriate support structure for contributors and protocols in place to protect them."

Whizz Kid Entertainment said a support structure had been implemented before filming and all cast members had been carefully interviewed and screened.

A spokesman said: "Contributors are made fully aware of the nature of the programme before filming and we clearly highlight the impact of an increased public profile resulting from appearing in the show.

"Strict protocols around sex are in place to protect our cast."

True North, the production company for The Valleys, said it took its duty of care responsibilities extremely seriously and was confident it had not put Belomonte under any pressure to film.

It said she had been "offered friendship and support" and the filming schedule had been adapted around her needs

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