'Pop The Balloon' Was Never Supposed To Make It This Far
It pains me to say that Netflix's newest reality show is not an early April Fool's Day joke.
Unless you've been completely out of the social media loop, you've likely stumbled upon a clip of the speed dating show 'Pop the Balloon.' The YouTube social experiment, hosted and co-created by Arlette Amuli, has become a viral sensation over the last year-and-a-half for its outrageous moments of singles making superficial snap decisions to reject one another by popping their balloons.
Now, the series is taking the messy drama to the streaming world.
On Thursday, Netflix announced plans to roll out a new iteration of the online show hosted by Yvonne Orji, but with a twist. Starting April 10, the streamer will air live episodes — yes, you read that right — of 'Pop the Balloon,' promising 'even higher stakes, fresh twists and celebrity surprises, all unfolding in real time.'
'We're thrilled to see 'Pop the Balloon' take on a new life on Netflix,' Amuli and co-creator Bolia Matundu shared in a statement. 'From day one, we've kept love and fun at the heart of the show, and watching it evolve and soar beyond our wildest dreams has been truly exciting. As executive producers, we're proud to support this next chapter and can't wait for both new and longtime fans to experience it.'
I can't say the overwhelming majority, myself included, shares the same sentiment, per the mixed reactions on social media:
We do not fucking need this. https://t.co/msvAdK05BC
— Solitary (@Queen_EO) March 27, 2025
i hope this crashes and burns tbh https://t.co/cDBySWcXzq
— Dark Fairy ✨🧚🏾🖤 (@nekkedhippie) March 27, 2025
Ain't nobody asked for no damn Pop The Balloon TV show, Netflix! pic.twitter.com/7KjZZCqHkT
— travis's video soul. (@travisfromdabk_) March 27, 2025
They're making the balloon popping date thing into an actual show on Netflix… pic.twitter.com/jfuTbBsUOt
— AK 💗 (@LeRouge_A) March 27, 2025
That's perhaps because 'Pop the Balloon' has a pretty cringe reputation, mainly for becoming a platform that has exploited misogynoir, body shaming, controversial dating views, straight-up dysfunction, and more for clicks and views.
has anyone at netflix really watched this?? cause what a terrible idea https://t.co/0tiHhpYf9w
— nay 🖤 (@chaoticblkgirl) March 27, 2025
The digital version of Pop the Balloon is rooted in misogynoir with self-hating views on love and dating. Very curious to see the series format. https://t.co/rKaREpzqEj
— GirlTyler (@sheistyler) March 27, 2025
I just — who in the room doesn't understand this is horrible? 🤦🏾♀️ https://t.co/5O9xirJA8b
— LINDSEY 👩🏿💻 🍑 | UX/UI Doll (@LindseyCreated) March 27, 2025
Will a Netflix co-sign make the concept any less problematic?
No. But that also depends on whether the digital series gets a complete makeover, which, based on Netflix's announcement, doesn't sound too far off.
In addition to showcasing everyday contestants like the original series, Netflix's version plans to throw in a few known reality stars, too, like Johnny Bananas ('The Challenge'), Chase DeMoor ('Too Hot To Handle'), Farrah Abraham ('Teen Mom') and Zaina Sesay (The Ultimatum').
That alone should tell you this will not be a serious dating show by any means. But then again, 'Pop the Balloon' didn't earn its reputation for being a show in the business of making love matches anyway.
Most of its notoriety stems from viral clips that, oftentimes, highlight some embarrassing moment or disparaging remark made by a participant — and social media comments only fuel the toxic discourse.
It goes without saying that most reality dating shows today are seemingly not designed to nurture actual love connections. 'Too Hot to Handle,' 'Temptation Island,' 'The Ultimatum,' and others alike rely on gimmicks to give their shows a false sense of purpose when their ultimate goal is to provide entertainment — the crazier, the better.
So, in some ways, it makes perfect sense for 'Pop the Balloon' to ink a deal to bring its wild antics to Netflix's broad audience.
Still, it's troubling to think how this show will be received when the original version predominantly features Black participants and is consumed by a mostly Black audience, most times within the confines of social media.
I had this same uneasy feeling when the 'Saturday Night Live' cast (which isn't the most diverse) spoofed 'Pop the Balloon' for a January skit featuring host Dave Chappelle, Donnell Rawlings and musical guest GloRilla.
This is not because the sketch series very obviously pulled from the internet zeitgeist for comedic fodder, but because a silly social media gimmick was always meant to remain where it started — because not everything makes for great content.
Yet, mocking the show on national television only gave it more credence. And Netflix just sealed its fate.
But I can't say I'm particularly shocked, considering how low the bar is for reality shows today (a certain streaming network that turned 'Bad Girls Club' into fight club comes to mind). Leaning into spectacle over substance is sadly on par with most Netflix dating shows.
'Pop the Balloon' airing on the streamer will likely turn it into the next unnecessary cultural phenomenon. Because that's the goal these days, right? To turn senseless entertainment into ludicrous discourse that will consume our timelines, thus giving the show the ratings it needs.
I guess you can never underestimate people's appetite for tasteless content.
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