Love Island SA cast ‘whitewashed’ and Twitter lashes out

The excitement at the premiere of Love Island SA on Sunday was palpable from fans across the country, at one point trending higher than President Cyril Ramaphosa’s level 1 lockdown announcement.

But the enthusiasm was tempered by disappointment at the lack of colour.

Hosted by media personality Leandie du Randt, the popular dating reality show first aired in the UK in 2015 and has gained a huge following.

Young attractive people looking for love in a scenic island location, but due to the pandemic M-net’s first season was set in luxury accommodation in the Western Cape.

When the faces of the “islanders” started appearing, audiences were not pleased with the lack of diversity chosen by the network.

Hey @MNet you could have called it Lief Eiland then. #LoveIslandSA

— Sylvester Chauke (@sylvesterchauke) February 28, 2021

This is not the first time M-net has been called out for its lack of diversity, another dating reality show Bachelor SA casting was also criticised.

In Love Island SA there are only three people of colour including one black girl, while the rest are white, Twitter users did not shy away from expressing their disappointment.

I knew #LoveIslandSA was gonna be whitewashed, i just didn’t want to believe it pic.twitter.com/UjHqaPAP45

— KE STAR (@teawithkakes) February 28, 2021

One black girl on #LoveIslandSA in a country that is 80% black is this a joke ? pic.twitter.com/n1nfGW70XY

— Nat Turner (@Pedi_light) February 28, 2021

Sadly so predictable. I was expecting the show to have more substance and diversity.

— Shantell (@ShantellC18) February 28, 2021

This was not the only problem, there was also poor production quality at certain moments. There were sound overlaps and no sound at the start of the show. In general, viewers had a lot to say, most of it not positive.

guys… did we just hear production talking? #LoveIslandSA pic.twitter.com/w4C9HafgwI

— Helen Of Troy (@kendrahunsley) February 28, 2021

Not the credits playing in absolute silence ????????#LoveIslandSA pic.twitter.com/r5ChKUgEB7

— Kayla Arends (@kayla_arends) February 28, 2021

Summing up this episode: No sound, Durang said stuff no one knows what he said, serious lack of diversity… still no sound, production having a full blast chat that we could all hear and oh yes still no sound ???????? #LoveIslandSA pic.twitter.com/DkNfGb0vzG

— Shaelene Alexander (@shaepickuptruck) February 28, 2021

So we asked for Love Island and they basically gave us Binnelanders#LoveIslandSA

— Niklaus Mikaelson ???????????? (@dushan_munsami) February 28, 2021

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