A Tone-Deaf ‘Love Island’ Challenge Has Left Viewers “Uncomfortable”
Last night’s episode of Love Island has been criticised for featuring a challenge that was just straight-up awful to watch.
In a task that felt out of place in 2021, the men and women were asked to choose from cardboard cutouts of the each other — for the women to build the perfect man, and the men to create their ideal woman. They could take parts from their eyes, smile, mid-section (including breasts), and legs.
Don’t believe me? Take a look!
Yiiiiiiiikes.
It was one thing for the women to put together their perfect man — which in itself is quite cruel — but for the men to then choose which women they deem as having the best body parts is just openly body-shaming the women who don’t get chosen.
Women are judged for their bodies constantly, so it’s all kinds of cooked for a challenge to be set asking the men to literally judge women’s bodies while they watch on. For a lot of women, the idea of a group of men leering at their bodies to decide if they’re good enough is absolutely triggering.
While Love Island challenges are typically superficial and driven by appearances — with men and women often performing or giving lap dances — this felt like a step too far. This challenge was exclusively about the men and women objectifying each other’s bodies and it felt gross.
There were also several mentions from the men about preferring blondes and women with blue eyes, which is especially tone-deaf given the non-white islanders taking part in the task.
Love Island viewers were left uncomfortable after watching the latest episode:
I’d feel so offended having to play this game #LoveIslandAU
— Lodz 🦋 (@sumwheresmiling) October 18, 2021
They’re really doing this with the women’s bodies too. #LoveIslandAU pic.twitter.com/7jstp7OfjI
— Tara Watson (@tara_watson_) October 18, 2021
THIS MAKES ME SO SEVERELY UNCOMFORTABLE #LoveIslandAU
— *:✧liz✧:* (@zeglerstyles) October 18, 2021
this would trigger my hatred for my body #LoveIslandAU
— jayde // HSLOT (@hslotupdates_) October 18, 2021
Props to any POC that’s ever gotten on Love Island because if I had to spend weeks listening to how amazing blonde hair and blue eyes are I’d actually need therapy upon my return #loveislandau
— Noelle LaFontaine (@NoelleLaFontai8) October 18, 2021
Even for the people not offended, the challenge just felt a bit off.
This challenge is a bit… how ya goin #LoveIslandAU
— Georgia Duncan (@_georgiarae) October 18, 2021
what’s the point of this challenge? like what we achieving here? #LoveIslandAU
— teresa (@augustfallin) October 18, 2021
I really don’t like this challenge #LoveIslandAU
— Kristina (@kristinamissi) October 18, 2021
Let’s get back to the Love Island challenges we know and love: disgusting scenes where they feed each other food through their mouths like baby birds, and when they read mean tweets out about each other. You know, just wholesome fun!
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