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Love Island revives conversation about racial bias and misogynoir in dating

Love Island revives conversation about racial bias and misogynoir in dating

It used to be that dating was as simple as deciding between dinner, a trip to the movies or an arcade. Now, understanding the dating scene has become intermingled with smartphones, matchmaking apps and one's ability to navigate thorny social issues like racial preference in a mate.
'Love Island,'
a widely popular international reality television franchise, is emblematic of the complexities of modern dating. It has also sparked heated discussions among fans about the desirability of Black women and darker-complexioned people both on and off air.
The show, which aired the finale of the seventh season of its U.S. version Sunday and is airing the 12th season of its U.K. version, casts conventionally attractive 'islanders' who are generally in their early to late 20s for a six- to eight-week stay in a luxury villa. Men and women compete for long-lasting relationships and a cash prize.
But as the show's daters face challenges meant to test their bonds, as well as elimination by villa mates or by fans' vote, notions of who is and isn't desirable frequently come up for viewers and contestants alike. In the end, many fans are left with the perception that
racial bias
, colorism and misogyny are especially inescapable for Black women on reality dating shows.
'The diversity in the U.K. one is terrible,' said Oghosa Ovienrioba, a content creator from London. 'It's very anti-Black.'
It's not simply that Black women are picked last for coupling or eliminated first on the U.K. or U.S. versions of the show. Many fans say there's a recurring theme of suitors dumping or ditching Black female contestants when there is a fairer skinned option. Black female contestants have also complained of not doing well on the show when they don't lower their standards for intimacy with a suitor, as though they are lucky to even been considered dating material among more desirable mates.
Even with these viewer frustrations, Ovienrioba said she prefers '
Love Island USA
.'
'I feel like the dark skin Black women on that show always find men who fit their vibe, who respect them, who are attracted to them, desire them, treat them like queens,' she said.
'Love Island' U.K. irks fans over treatment of Black women
In the U.K. version, fans have counted multiple instances where Black female contestants were left as the last choice when couples were picked, or they were first to get eliminated and dumped from the villa. Many have also noted that it took eleven seasons before a darker-complexioned Black woman was declared the winner.
Now in its 12th season, Love Island U.K. is still dogged by allegations of male contestants' bias against Black women. After 23-year-old
Alima Gagigo
, a Black woman, chose to couple up with 26-year-old Blu Chegini, a white man, he said, 'I'll be honest, on paper, you're not my type.'
Gagigo responded, 'Of course,' as if those were words she was not surprised to hear.
There is no evidence that Chegini was referring to Gagigo's race or ethnicity. But the exchange was enough to confirm what some in audience felt was an implicit bias against Black women in the villa.
'Love Island's only stipulation is that applicants are over 18, single and looking for love. Our application and casting process is inclusive to all and we are always aiming to reflect the age and diversity of our audience on the show,' a show spokesperson for 'Love Island U.K.' said.
Black American contestants, too, say their complexion impacts their treatment
JaNa Craig, a contestant on 'Love Island USA's' beloved sixth season, which aired last summer, landed a spot in the final four couples by the end of the competition alongside Kenny Rodriguez, who entered the villa 13 days into the season. Her bubbly personality made her a fan favorite.
Although she initially worried about how viewers felt about her, the positive audience reaction culminated in her being deemed the 'baddest girl in Love Island history,' which means hot or beautiful in slang terms. Still, she felt some male contestants may not have been interested in her and Serena Page, another Black female contestant, because of their skin complexion. Page went on to win that season of 'Love Island USA.'
'The very first time I felt special is when the very first guy picked me because he had three options. Other than that, I always felt like I was getting the short end of the stick,' Craig said. 'Even though we know our worth and we know we're beautiful, we still felt like — not good enough.'
Ultimately, Craig felt proudest when she heard from other Black women who said they appreciated her representation on the show, given the perception that Black women are less desirable on dating shows.
'I felt honored by the amount of Black girls that were like, 'JaNa, you inspire me,'' she said.
'Love Island USA' producer Peacock, which on Sunday debuted a spinoff to its popular Season 6 season, titled 'Love Island: Beyond the Villa,' declined comment for this story.
Desirability concerns reflect real-world anti-Black sentiments
Fans' and contestants' concerns about Black women's representation on the show reflect a real-world anti-Black and misogynistic views of Black women, commonly referred to as
misogynoir
. Scholars describe it as both implicit and explicit contempt for Black women, much of it rooted in racist stereotypes that are perpetuated in popular culture and mass media. While Love Island contestants are not being outright racist to Black female competitors, many viewers feel the interactions Black women have had on the show have been laced with implicit bias.
Few viewers see anything wrong with 'Love Island' contestants being open about the specific traits they look for in potential suitors. Tall over short, fit over average build, tattooed over unmarked.
But contestants' racial preferences, whether real or simply perceived by fans of the show, can't be seen as objective truth about who is or is not desirable in the world, said Alexandria Beightol, host of the podcast 'Apathy Is Not An Option' at the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights and legal advocacy nonprofit.
'You recognizing you have a type should also be you recognizing you are a product of a lot of mass media,' Beightol said.
The show's producers should see the show's popularity as an opportunity to dispel and not reinforce notions of beauty, especially ones harmful to Black women and darker-complexioned people, she added.
'It would behoove you to have some producers that look like some of the women on there who can kind of anticipate some of that drama,' Beightol said. 'They do frame those women as beautiful. In the history of reality programming, they've busted through a lot of the implicit views that the media used to hold itself to.'
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36 Fashion Items If You're The Stylish Friend
36 Fashion Items If You're The Stylish Friend

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time6 hours ago

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36 Fashion Items If You're The Stylish Friend

A leopard print satin maxi skirt you'd choose as your one and only outfit if you were a cartoon. You'd for sure be the fashionable one on the show. Promising review: "The satin fabric feels luxurious and drapes beautifully, giving it an elegant and timeless look. The fit is true to size, perfect for dressing up for special occasions or pairing with a cozy sweater for a chic everyday look. The quality is impressive for the price, and it holds up well after washing. Highly recommend if you're looking for a versatile and stylish piece for your wardrobe!" —Tammy sturgeonGet it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in sizes S–3XL and 34 other styles). A Roberto Cavalli x Skims tie waist one piece because, I mean, hellooooo?! I-freakin-conic. They really ate this collab, I my wallet is in fear, cuz I need it all. I HAD to have something from this collection. I don't have this particular swimsuit, but I do have the triangle top and tie bottoms in this pattern and can tell you that it's absolutely gorgeous. I'm obsessed. Prepare to be sick of it from Skims for $190 (available in sizes L–4X and two patterns). A waist chain, since you're all about the details. This is gonna look soooo hot all summer long, omg, send me the pics, bestie. Promising review: "I wanted to try out waist chains as they're so freaking cute. This exceeded my expectations. It's so cute, and such a pretty color. I picked silver cause I feel like it looks better on my skin tone. Product honestly looks just like the picture. I love how it fits so perfectly and how you can adjust the size accordingly. It's honestly way cuter than I expected. —Julianna it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three sizes and 12 styles). A Telfar ribbed maxi skirt because it's literally impossible not to look iconic when wearing Telfar. I mean, this skirt is *literal* proof, look at it. I don't even need to say anything else. And thank goodness, cuz this skirt has me it's in my cart *bites finger*. Telfar is a Black-owned NYC-based unisex line founded in 2005 by Telfar Clemens with the tagline "Not for you, for everyone."*Be sure to check out the size chart to figure out your size! It's unisex sizes, so where I'd normally wear a large in bottoms, I wear a small with Telfar. Get it from Telfar for $198 (available in sizes 2XS–2XL and four colors). An absolutely darling romper with a ruffled bottom and strappy back 😍 — it's so cute, I can't stand it. Get it from White Fox for $74.99 (available in sizes XXS–XL and three colors). A fabulous maxi dress because it literally looks like it'd be worn by Ariana Madix to the villa firepit to deliver the most chaotic news ever to the islanders. Cue the crash outs. Promising review: "My favorite clothing item I own. It's seriously perfect. I sized down and it was the right decision. Buy it if you're thinking about it!" —Lea it from Outcast for $84 (available in sizes XXS–L). A stunning satin mini dress with a watercolor print and drawstring ruching that looks like it belongs in your suitcase on a trip to Italy. Promising review: "The vintage style of this fitted dress truly elevates my wardrobe. Quality fabric and elegant look!" —C***sGet it from Micas for $42 (available in sizes XS–3XL). A maxi dress that'll have you ready to board a plane the second you try it on. Aruba, anyone? This dress deserves some sunset beach pics in another country. Promising review: "So cute and has some stretch! I bought this dress for my upcoming vacation and can't wait to wear it!" —caylee it from Outcast for $149 (available in sizes XXS–XL and three colors). A pair of rimless sunglasses because it's scientifically proven that you can't *not* feel fierce while wearing I totally made that up, but throw on a pair of sunglasses and tell me you don't feel totally fabulous. Promising review: "Stylish must-have! I recently snagged a pair of Y2K Sunglasses, and they're my new obsession! These shades boast a chic Y2K-inspired design that's both trendy and comfortable. With lightweight frames and adjustable nose pads, they're perfect for all-day wear. Plus, they're incredibly versatile, complementing any outfit effortlessly. Made with quality materials, these sunglasses are durable and offer excellent UV protection. In summary, the Y2K Sunglasses are a stylish must-have accessory that adds flair to any look. Trust me, you won't regret adding them to your collection —PavlovGet it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in five colors). A denim patchwork bodysuit that should just clock in for the summer, cuz you'll def be putting this cutie to work. Job — serving. I have this!! I got it for Cowboy Carter and am so excited to wear it. It's so cute and looks exactly like the pics, *thank goodness*. I created my entire look for the concert based on this bodysuit, and let me just tell y'all, I'm bout to eat, chomp, gobble, and chew. This was my first purchase with the brand, and I'll surely be putting in tons more orders. Get it from Micas for $28 (available in sizes XS–3XL and two colors). A scarf to help you get that vintage Hollywood look. This + sunglasses?! You're gonna be unstoppable. Get it from White Fox for $29.99 (available in one size fits all). A midi dress and cardigan set so stunning, you'll be stopped every five minutes with questions about where you got it. Rebdolls is a Latine- and woman-owned small biz that makes clothes with plenty of bold colors and fun it from Rebdolls for $79.90 (available in sizes S–5X and two colors). A knit halter dress that'll have everyone kinda nervous when you enter a room because you'll look like a bombshell entering the villa, coming to steal everybody's partner. Promising review: "I purchased this dress for my vacation to Aruba. I absolutely love it. It's so soft and adjustable that it fits me perfectly. Say yes to this dress. I feel stunning in it." —Tammy vigilGet it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in sizes XS–XL and six colors). A denim Telfar bag because stylish and Telfar are basically synonyms. I mean, I know y'all saw Beyoncé's denim Telfeezy look. The contrast stitching, adjustable and removable straps, the front pocket with card slotssss (!!!), I'm salivating. This bag is teeeaaaaa. Okay, let me enter the chat. Hey besties! My birthday just passed, and when I say I spoiled myself, I truly, TRULY mean it. My wallet is still side-eying me, like, *girl, can you stop, please*. My mood the entire month of June was ~whatever you want, you beautiful, perfect little princess~ so when I got the email about this bag, my card was out quicker than Taylor from Love Island switched up on my girl Olandria. But I don't have a single regret cuz it's now my favorite purse. There's just so much space, and as a girl, that's amazing. None of my clothes ever have pockets, and I am just extremely fond of itty bitty purses that only fit a lip gloss and my ID. I almost don't know what to do with myself cuz I have so much room for stuff. I squeal every time I look at it, like it's my baby. I'm so excited to pair it with my Cowboy Carter fit (for pics, I know I can't bring it into the venue). It's worth every cent that I spent, and I will forever stand on though I need a new tire. But be so real, a tire or a Telfar bag for my birthday, likeee?! Pfttt, forget my tire, lol. I'm literally just a girl. *Calls my father*.Get it from Telfar for $280. A crochet mini dress that *is not* lined, but still isn't see-through! The cutout waist and ruffled hem make this cutie extremely hard to resist. Aw, forget it, get in the cart, babe. Get it from Outcast for $135 (available in sizes XXS–XL and two colors). A set of 68 stacking rings in different sizes that'll give you endless jewelry combos to create. Promising review: "Run, do not walk, and scoop this up. There is such an incredible variety of rings — different styles and sizes — that there is something for everyone. The rings are well-made. High quality. Definitely would buy again!" —JamieGet them from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in six different sets). A crochet beach dress because you're def not a *big T-shirt and shorts cover up* kinda person. If you plan to look absolutely fabulous every moment of the day, this is a look that'll help you totally devour your beach day. Get it from Boohoo for $31 (originally $84; available in sizes S–L). A pair of Western-style knee-high sandals with a gladiator silhouette that'll have everyone dying to know where you got them. Promising review: "Love the color, although I was skeptical at first. But I can wear these with practically anything! The heel is not too high or skinny, so they are extremely comfortable." —Bositta them from Akira for $119.90 (available in sizes 5.5–11). A leopard and lace maxi dress cuz nothing says fierce like a little bit of growl power (shoutout to The Cheetah Girls). The brand is worn by celebrities like Tyla and Doja Cat, and has even been worn by Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie) on an episode of Euphoria! Get it from for $95 (originally $169; available in sizes XS–M). A 25-pack of nose cuffs to match your aesthetic without having to face any more needles. So many cute designs, you'll definitely be obsessed with these. Promising review: "My friends are now obsessed! Gave so many people the link to these because they're very stylish. I have both sides of my nose pierced, but hate changing the studs out. This is so easy to slide on and off, I don't even need the piercing at this point." —Kay FinesseGet them from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in seven different sets). A pair of flowy pants, a summer must-have for creating all kinds of looks — cozy, cute, casual, dressy, beachy, and basically any other summer look you can think of. Promising review: "Seriously, love these pants, and I can't tell you how many compliments I get on them. They're linen and they're perfect for summer. I can go to a business meeting or go out with the girls. I have three colors now. —Kelly FajardoGet them from Amazon for $29.69 (available in sizes XS–XL and 15 colors). A butterfly top because the early 2000s was such an iconic time in fashion. Okay, maybe not the skirts over jeans, but there were def some gems! Get it from Akira for $69.90 (available in one size). A crossover crop top with keyhole cutouts that you'll surely get your money's worth out of, cuz once you put it on, you'll wanna wear it nonstop. Get it from Rebdolls for $24.43 (originally $34.90; available in sizes S–5X). An asymmetrical top + skort set that def gives ~mamacita~ vibes *looks at Nic from Love Island*. Promising review: "I'm thrilled with this curve skirt set! The fitted style is incredibly cute, and the fabric offers just enough stretch for all-day comfort. Perfect for a casual spring outing, I felt both stylish and confident in it!" —C***aGet it from Micas for $42 (originally $48; available in sizes XS–3XL and two colors). A tie-front mini dress with metallic chain straps for a look that says *I'm barely trying today, but still am the most stylish one in the room*. Ya know, just a casual slay. Promising review: "I wore this fitted mini dress to a casual summer picnic and felt so comfortable all day. The mid-stretch fabric really hugs my curves without feeling constricting. Love the quality!" —s***hGet it from Micas for $62 (available in sizes XS–3XL and three colors). A Telfar track skirt that'll have you sitting on the product page for hours because you won't be able to choose a color and are tempted to buy one of each. It's me, I'm describing myself. Heheeee, back again, lol. Yep, I bought this too. I told y'all I spoiled myself. I bought this in the store on a trip to New York as another birthday gift to myself, cuz why not? It's SOOOO cute. I have Telfar bags but hadn't bought clothes yet, and Telfar's clothes honestly run very small *because* remember, they're a unisex store. I can switch between medium and large normally for other brands, but for Telfar, I'm a small in bottoms and an extra small in tops. I was literally so confused when the employee kept telling me I should try a small (because, sir, do you see all this booty?!), but shout out to him cuz he was spot on. This skirt is of such great quality, I just know that I'm not even gonna eat food in this skirt. I'm a clumsy mess, and I refuse to spill anything on this; I'd crash out so bad. The light blue is so cutesy, it's perfect. I'm obsessed with my skirt, and I promise I'll get pics soon. I've been ridiculously busy, and planning outfits for a billion other things I've had to do, but I have so many plans for this skirt. Now let me get off this product page because the longer I look, the more I realize I need this in chocolate and cream, it from Telfar for $135 (available in sizes XS–2XL and nine colors). A keyhole bodysuit for 'fits that require a plain, solid-color top. Even your *plain* is a step above the ordinary in style. Get it from Rebdolls for $20.93 (originally $29.90; available in sizes S–5X). A bodycon maxi dress you'll wanna wear on every summer vacay. It's perfect for an outdoor lunch or even to impersonate a famous pop star on a trip to Italy while Paolo tells you that "you shine with the light from the sun." Promising review: "It's stunning, breathtaking, and beautiful. It was love at first sight when I saw it. It's worth every penny! It makes you feel like a goddess! I got all the compliments! I'm definitely buying this dress in different prints. 🥰" —Kia HowardGet it from Amazon for $49.98+ (available in sizes XS–XXL and 12 colors). A ruffled dress made from chiffon fabric for a light, airy feel. It has an adjustable lace-up front and tie cuffs on the sleeves, which will make it that much harder to resist wearing it every day. Get it from Boohoo for $34 (originally $68; available in sizes 12–24). A maxi skirt with a super high slit that'll have you feelin' the heck outta yourself. 👏👏👏 as you should, honestly. Get it from Rebdolls for $31.43 (originally $44.90; available in sizes S–5X). A dramatic ruffled gown because one thing everyone can expect from you is that you'll show up overdressed, looking like you belong on the cover of a magazine. Snag this if you want everyone to look at you like when Cinderella entered the ball. The pics in this are gonna EEEEAT — I'm talkin' three-course meal style. Promising review: "Vibrant, stunning, and eye-catching. Also, the most comfortable thing you'll put on. I bought this for a beach vacation with fancy dinners, for which I knew I wanted comfort above all else. I was stopped repeatedly for compliments, and I felt so comfortable. Perfect with flats or heels due to the high-low construction, belted or flowy (I opted for flowy), the dress is lined for whatever undergarments you choose. I am adding to my collection now. If this comes out in green, I'll have to add another to my collection!" —Ashley TGet it from Eloquii for $189+ (originally $279.95; available in sizes 14–28 and four colors) A pair of tie-up shorts so cute, they'll have the rest of your closet feeling the favoritism. Promising review: "I absolutely fell in love with these shorts! The fit is impeccable, and they hold their shape beautifully. Perfect for casual outings!" —K***nGet it from Micas for $40 (originally $42; available in sizes S–XL). A tooth gem kit since you love to bedazzle literally everything. Super cute trend that'll make your smile *even more* dazzling. You'll get cotton rolls, micro applicator brushes, gems, two bottles of glue and cleansing gel, gems, a gem picker, and a mini LED light. I have these and they're so cute! I personally was skeptical, so I didn't cure them too long because I only wanted them on my teeth for the day. They ended up being perfect and fell off before the end of the day (which was what I wanted). I'm sure if you're interested in keeping them on for longer than a day, you just cure it for longer. I just knew that I wanted them off the same day, so I only cured them for about 30 seconds. The glue came right off with the gem! I also bought other gems, like the butterfly pictured, and they worked just fine!Get it from Amazon for $32. A tie-strap mini dress, a simple slay, but still oh so cute. Just looking at it makes me wanna twirl around like a fairy. Get it from Rebdolls for $34.93 (originally $49.90; available in sizes S–5X). A totally adorable button-down halter and shorts set you'll definitely need a zillion pics in. This set will have you actually looking forward to doing laundry, just so you can wear it again. Get it from Cider for $49.90 (available in sizes 2–10 and two colors). A pair of cowboy boots for anyone who plans to dress like they're going to the rodeo all spring and summer long. You're gonna wanna lasso up a few of these in different colors. Promising review: "These are my most worn boots. Particularly in the spring and summer. They are incredibly comfortable and look so cute with mini skirts and dresses." —Hannah henegarGet them from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in sizes 5–11, wide fits, and nine colors).

Alison Brie Shares ‘Community' Movie Update & Pitch For 'X-Rated' Version
Alison Brie Shares ‘Community' Movie Update & Pitch For 'X-Rated' Version

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Alison Brie Shares ‘Community' Movie Update & Pitch For 'X-Rated' Version

After six seasons and movie, two Community characters might finally seal the deal if Alison Brie has her way. The 2x Golden Globe nominee recently revealed her hopes for her character Annie Edison in the long-awaited feature adaptation of the NBC/Yahoo series, while sharing an update on the production schedule. More from Deadline Joel McHale Shares Update On 'Community' Movie & Says Donald Glover Is Not To Blame: 'It's My Schedule On This One' 'Community' Movie Is Being 'Reworked' But Yvette Nicole Brown Says 'A Script Exists' 'Love Island USA' Breaks Peacock Ratings Record 'There's no update,' she told husband and Together co-star Dave Franco in a sit-down for Entertainment Tonight. 'I would say it's paused due to a number of factors. The entire cast is still enthusiastically on board to do the movie.' Brie added, 'Something I would love to see for Annie is full sex with Jeff Winger. You know, I think an X-rated Community movie would consummate that 'will they, won't they.'' During the show's six-season run from 2009 to 2015, recent high school graduate Annie and disgraced fake lawyer Jeff (Joel McHale) carried on a flirtation and even kissed on a few occasions, but they never went further than that, usually because the creepy reality of the age difference deflated the moment. As for Franco's thoughts on his wife's potential intimate scenes with McHale? 'You know what? I'm down,' he said after the initial shock. After creating the comedy series, Dan Harmon penned the long-awaited movie with former show writer Andrew Guest. Peacock officially ordered the feature in 2022, confirming the return of stars McHale and Brie, as well as Danny Pudi, Gillian Jacobs, Jim Rash and Ken Jeong. Yvette Nicole Brown has also confirmed her return, noting in October that the script was 'being reworked' to include her character Shirley. Last September, Community: The Movie was announced as one of 19 projects that will benefit from $51.6 million in incentives from California's film and TV tax credits program. McHale previously took responsibility for the movie's delay, telling GQ that fans 'can fully blame my schedule' following speculation that Glover's busy schedule was holding up production. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery Everything We Know About Season 3 Of 'Euphoria' So Far

What ‘Love Island USA' Revealed About Culture and Dating Is Straight-Up Sinister
What ‘Love Island USA' Revealed About Culture and Dating Is Straight-Up Sinister

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What ‘Love Island USA' Revealed About Culture and Dating Is Straight-Up Sinister

By the time Love Island USA concluded on Sunday, millions of viewers who tuned in this summer felt defeated. Countless posts that flooded everyone's timelines on X were exhausted, delirious, and even angry. Let's state the obvious: the seventh season of the show was an absolute mess. The four remaining couples who competed in the finale perfectly exemplify how incredibly stupid this season was: not a single couple had been exploring their connection before Casa Amor, and two of the pairs had only coupled up in the final week. One of the couples even broke up on their final date, a first in Love Island history. More from Rolling Stone People's Princess Amaya Papaya, Late Breakups, Nicolandria: Fans React to 'Love Island' Finale 'Love Island Games' Sets Return After Two Years With Ariana Madix Taking Over as Host 'Love Island USA' Season 7 Winners Revealed But the mess went beyond the kind of lackluster romance: fans scoured each of the contestants' digital footprints better than the producers had. Two contestants were removed from the show for using racist slurs. Stan wars for other contestants led to the 'exposure' of even more allegedly problematic behavior online, though the flood of screenshots and allegations started to blur between the real and the photoshopped. Love Island has always been a source of extremely parasocial viewer behavior. The show invites it: there are new episodes six days a week in the UK and five days a week for the USA format for nearly two months straight. While the islanders are cut off from the world outside the villa, their family or friends usually take over their social media pages to support and, increasingly, defend them. And while the fate of the islanders is mostly in the hands of their fellow contestants — you must remain in a couple to stay in the villa — there are viewer votes in the app where their popularity matters, especially when it comes to determining a winner. Love Island UK, the first version of this global franchise, has been a case study in the pros and cons of the show's all-consuming success. The contestants, typically ordinary people with normal jobs in the earlier seasons, would leave the villa with massive followings and brand deals, drastically changing their lives. But the reality of the public watching at least six hours of footage of romantic trial and error left many islanders scrambling to re-piece their lives together in the aftermath; two islanders from the UK series committed suicide in 2018 and 2019 following cyberbullying from fans who disagreed with their romantic choices and behavior on the show. But at the bare minimum of each season, there was some real romance, and the most authentic couples who had great stories tended to rightfully take the top prize. Last season of USA saw the American version finally catch on for this very reason. Originally airing on CBS for three seasons before moving to Peacock, the show was always in the shadow of its UK counterpart, which releases episodes on Hulu stateside. After hiring Vanderpump Rules breakout star Ariana Madix to host, the show finally started to gain some traction and tally up the views in the process. Last summer's sixth season was dramatic and beloved: the girls on the show created a powerful sisterhood in the face of the men's rampant and mischievous exploration with new bombshells. But true love stories emerged, with three of the final four couples sticking together to this day. From the beginning of Love Island USA's seventh season, it was clear that the majority of the show's contestants were more hellbent on winning than fostering the types of connections that typically help a couple take the top prize in the end. It seemed like the islanders, most of whom were working influencers and models prior to the series, had never seen an episode of the show in their lives: they would punish each other for leaning into strong connections, eliminating individuals they felt weren't 'exploring' enough and used the ever-trending phrase 'lovebombing' to insult each other, in spite of the show's very real necessity that they work to build intense romantic connections quicker than usual. There were stark divisions and cliques in the villa, but they were nothing in comparison to the type of pop stan-like followings the islanders were gaining outside. Fans of individuals on the show were fighting more ruthlessly than the actual contestants. Any perceived slight would lead to a flood of hateful comments and messages on the contestants' Instagram and TikTok pages, or even mass unfollowings in the wake of feuds or recouplings. Individual popularity has never meant more than on this season of Love Island: even though couple Ace Greene and Chelley Bissainthe had been exploring their connection longer than any couple on the show, they were eliminated via public vote just before the finale. From early on in the season, the pair were plagued with accusations of being in a relationship prior to filming, and Ace's public image barely recovered from the perception of him playing the game too competitively after pushing for the elimination of Jeremiah Brown as Jeremiah was building a new and potentially strong connection with bombshell Andreina Santos-Marte. Even Chelley, one of the girls to quickly rack up followers while on the show, couldn't quite overcome the even more passionate following for her villa frenemy Huda Mustafa, especially after Huda coupled up with Chelley's Casa Amor connection Chris Seeley. Not making matters any better was production itself. This season was full of twists that made the show nearly unwatchable. Many of the eliminations were vote-based instead of through internal re-couplings that leave islanders single and therefore eliminated. The choice to do viewer and islander votes made the show feel too produced, keeping people on for longer than they probably needed to actually be there. Even the choice to make islanders couple up with bombshells in Casa Amor felt demented. When fan favorites Olandria Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe were left 'single' in Casa, they were paired up and briefly explored a connection that viewers had been hoping they would since the first day. But the whole schtick felt more like fan service than an authentic realization; they were placed back in the villa, then immediately friend-zoned each other in order to fight for their original partners. They would only pair up again in the final week after Nic's partner, Cierra Ortega, was removed on Day 26 for using anti-Asian slurs in past Instagram posts. What Love Island revealed this summer about culture at this moment feels sinister. The outcome of the discourses and behavior both in the villa and online reveals how nasty and toxic fan culture has become. Increasingly so, production for reality series that are this popular will have to navigate casting a generation of people whose whole lives are one big digital footprint, one that will have captured the whole gamut of their growth as an individual. And as viewers lean into the popularity contest of it all, they will take advantage of that access, for better or worse. While holding Cierra accountable for her using derogatory language is important, there should be no room for death threats towards her or calling ICE on her family, who are of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent. The most telling reflection of all is how modern dating has evolved. The dynamics in the villa were gross and cruel from the jump, with the men seeming to often punish the women who would begin to show affection towards them, while the women grew territorial over their connections, even before knowing if they wanted to commit to them. Early in the season, Ace chastised eventual winner Amaya Espinal for calling him 'babe' while Taylor Williams was incapable of telling Olandria that he was just not that into her, even though she was clearly very into him. Third place couple Huda and Chris' final few days in the villa were hard to watch; in moments of conflict, both would talk over each other until Chris would shut down and Huda would walk away. In the final episode, she threatened a fight after he chose to sleep over cuddling with her in bed. When they spoke about it during their final date, Chris egged her on to end their romantic connection instead of being upfront and doing it himself. They left angry and even crying in Huda's case, just 24 hours before the winner of the entire show was revealed. This was Love Island USA flying directly into the sun. There's a real reckoning to be made about the casting process and how to move forward, especially given the type of influence and clout the show can create for its contestants. The show also needs to reexamine how it can even be structured when the fans are this emotionally involved. There's a reason that over the years, the show has started to prioritize casting people who have online followings to begin with. They already have a taste for the type of scrutiny and influence that comes with starring on the show, albeit on a much smaller scale. But given just how toxic the online scrutiny became this summer, it feels reasonable that less and less prospective contestants will want their lives viewed under that type of microscope. Only time will tell how this season's contestants fare in the real world once the dust settles. Most of Season Six has been able to largely move on and profit from the experience and their followings, starring in the Peacock spin-off Beyond the Villa. They left most of their feuds back on the island and focused on their real connections and very real emerging careers. Let's hope the season seven cast will be able to do the same. Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Best 'Saturday Night Live' Characters of All Time Denzel Washington's Movies Ranked, From Worst to Best 70 Greatest Comedies of the 21st Century Solve the daily Crossword

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