Home » TV and Films » Love Island producers responded to the lack of body diversity: ‘We’re not saying that everyone in there is how you’re supposed to look’

Love Island producers responded to the lack of body diversity: ‘We’re not saying that everyone in there is how you’re supposed to look’

Love Island producers responded to the lack of body diversity: ‘We’re not saying that everyone in there is how you’re supposed to look’
30 May 2019
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Love Island will soon be on our screens in a matter of days. There will be lots of new islanders, catchphrases and merch. However, there is one big problem people on social media have been calling Love Island producers out for, they have been criticised regarding diversity, mental health and body representation.

This year many people are confused why there is not a range of body types on the show. Former contestant Alexandra Cane, who was on the show in 2018, asked “Where the curvy girls at?” whilst 2016 star Malin Andersson wrote: “And I thought they would have some diversity. Meh.”

 

Another added: “Wonderful to see that after Love Island made such a big deal about how this year they were going to be ‘inclusive’ of all body types they have yet again only represented one body type, sorry hun can’t relate!”

One of the contestants, Anna Vakili, has more of a slim figure and people have been considering that it is the show’s way of adding a more ‘plus sized’ islander but in fact she is not plus sized.

Sharing photos of Anna Vakili, presenter and actress Jameela Jamil wrote: “The producers of Love Island think this slim woman counts as their new token ‘plus size’ contestant? Are they drunk?”

Ever since the tragic second death of a former Love Island contestant, Mike Thalassitis, many people have been wondering how dangerous is reality TV fame and if the shows are providing help for the contestants – are they doing enough?

Thalassitis was the second former Love Island contestant to die by suicide in the past year. Sophie Gradon died last June. It is hard to pinpoint one cause for their tragic deaths but many people believe it was due to the pressures and reality from life after the show.

Love Island published a duty of care statement which shows the change in their care to make sure they offer the best support they can from this years Love Island.

The statement follows:

The duty of care process for series 5 includes:
Pre Filming and Filming
– Psychological consultant engaged throughout the whole series – from pre-filming to aftercare.
– Thorough pre-filming psychological and medical assessments including assessments by an independent doctor, psychological consultant and discussion with each Islander’s own GP to check medical history.
– Potential Islanders are required to fully disclose any relevant medical history that would be relevant to their inclusion in the villa and the production’s ability to provide a suitable environment for them.
– Managing cast expectations: detailed explanations both verbally and in writing of the implications, both positive and negative, of taking part in the series are given to potential cast members throughout the casting process and reinforced within the contract so it is clear.
– Cast are told they should consider all the potential implications of taking part in the show and work through this decision-making process in consultation with their family and those closest to them, to ensure they feel it is right for them.
– Senior Team on the ground have received training in Mental Health First Aid.
– A welfare team solely dedicated to the Islanders both during the show and after.
Aftercare
– Bespoke training on dealing with social media and advice on finance and adjusting to life back home.
– A minimum of eight therapy sessions will be provided to each Islander when they return home.
– Proactive contact with islanders for a period of 14 months up until the end of the next series. This means contact with the Islander will last for 14 months after the series in which they have appeared has ended, with additional help provided where applicable.
– We encourage Islanders to secure management to represent them after the show and manage them should they choose to take part in other TV shows, advertising campaigns or other public appearance opportunities.
 Angela Jain, Manager for ITV Studios commented on the duty of care of this years contestants, she said: “Obviously we’ve published our duty of care statement, and where we are compared from the first series is completely different to where were then and the level of scrutiny from them and from everyone else has changed and the profile of the show has changed.
“It would be entirely normal to keep evolving those aftercare procedures, which is what we’ve done. Our duty of care is always first and foremost the islanders. We take it really seriously. We’re not arseholes. We really do care about these people. That’s not who we are. We really care about the show and we really care about the islanders. For them to have a really good time and to find love – and there’s been babies and there’s been weddings – it’s super important for us. We are also offering social media training and financial training.”
Although this is a very positive step forward, what about the diversity?
There may not be body diversity on the show from what we have seen so far but we hope Love Island has some lined up. The team of Love Island told Glamour: “What we’ve tried to do again is have a huge range of personalities and people, hoping there’s someone in there for everyone and a slice of British life, so hopefully lots of different types of people are represented.”
The producers main aim of the dating show is to find people who are fun and who viewer would want to watch plus of course people who match to find love.

People on social media are still saying that the contestants are like carbon copies of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed, slim physiqued and just like previous islanders. It is being questioned if the producers are making a big effort to cast a variety with the recruitment process.
Boxer Tyson Fury’s brother and Strictly star AJ Pritchard’s brother are among the first line up of islanders entering the villa on Monday.
Love Island returns to ITV2 on Monday 3 June at 9pm.

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