Love Island Australia airs on Sunday, and it’s already stirring up controversy: first over its trashy ads, then its complete lack of diversity, and now this: a leading psychologist has given it a damning review.
A mix between Big Brother and The Bachelor and hosted by former Bachelorette Sophie Monk, Love Island throws a bunch of attractive singles on an island (the Australian version is being shot somewhere off the coast of Spain) with the aim of them coupling up – and then choosing love or money.
The last couple standing scores the big cash prize—but there’s a catch. One half of the couple is given the option of either splitting the cash prize with their partner, or keeping it all to themselves.
Speaking to radio station 3AW, Australian psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg expressed his disbelief that a show like this could fly in 2018, news.com.au reports.
“I think it’s going to display – and I’m delighted if I’m wrong – terrible attitudes towards women,” he told host Neil Mitchell.
“It’s been going in the UK since 2006, essentially it’s a program about size eight girls and oversexed meatheads with six-packs.”
He added: “We have a huge problem in this country with sexism, we have a huge problem with domestic violence. I do not believe that this show – unless they have radically changed it, and I’ll be watching on Sunday – is helpful.”
Hear, hear.
