Wednesday 8 June 2022 08:58 AM Has Love Island gone TOO woke? Viewers complain the 'guilty pleasure' of virtue ... trends now
Love Island viewers complained the 'guilty pleasure' had become 'too woke' last night after the show's premiere episode saw a number of changes to the usual format.
The hit ITV2 series kicked off with a dramatic twist as viewers were given the chance to vote for which contestants couple up with one another for the first time.
It comes after new season saw Love Island partner with a second-hand clothing partner eBay to create a more eco-friendly wardrobe for their islanders.
However many of those watching were unsure about the new changes to the hit show, with one person commenting: 'PC woke brigade ruined my Love Island.'
Love Island viewers complained the 'guilty pleasure' had become 'too woke' last night after the show's premiere episode saw a number of changes to the usual format
Another wrote: 'They can't change Love Island, absolute disgrace. Bet the woke mob has something to do with this.'
'Was deffo better when the girls had to step forward...almost feel to scream 'woke' watching this,' a third commented.
Another added: 'Love Island is already f***** embarassing and now it's gone woke...
'No wonder kids are thick as sh*** watching this absolute barrell of turd!'
Many of those watching the show criticised the changes to the formatting, with some suggesting the 'woke brigade' had ruined the programme
Another posted: 'Love Island has gone woke?! "We don't want any hurty feelings so we've taken the decision away from you grown adults and put it to the public.'
Meanwhile others suggested the shows casting, which included four people of colour, as well as one islander with a hearing impairment, was 'ticking diversity boxes.'
One commented: 'They need to have more than one black girl as the starting line up. Everyday tick box diversity.'
Another wrote: 'Wow, Love Island was really ticking all of those diversity boxes.'
Meanwhile others suggested the shows casting, which included four people of colour as well as one islander with a hearing impairment, was 'ticking diversity boxes'
A third added: 'From this episode, I can tell the producers deffo felt the pressure to reach the diversity quota.'
In the opening scenes of the much-anticipated new series, the girls - Gemma, Indiyah Polack, Paige Thorne, Tasha Ghouri and Amber Beckford- were seen sat round the infamous fire pit when host Laura Whitmore welcomed them to the ITV dating show.
When asked what type of man she is looking for, Gemma said: 'I'm looking for a guy that is really family orientated - that is so important. Good morals.'
The dressage champion, whose father is footballer Michael Owen, admitted her dad does 'have an opinion on who she dates, but she's hoping to score in the villa.'
As the girls lined up in front of the pool for their male co-star's arrival, Laura dropped a huge bombshell, admitting that the first coupling is not going to go as they expected on the eighth series.
In the opening scenes of the much-anticipated new series, the girls - Gemma, Indiyah Polack, Paige Thorne, Tasha Ghouri and Amber Beckford- were told they wouldn't be picking their partners because the public had instead chosen for them
She revealed: 'Well girls, it's time to couple up. There is something I haven't told you yet - things are a little different this year.
You thought you'd all be stepping forward for the boys you fancy the most. However, this is Love Island and you never know what to expect.
'For the first time ever, we asked the public to play cupid and pick the boy they thought you should couple up with.'
But Tasha didn't seem too apprehensive at the twist, saying: 'I trust the public, I trust them,' while Gemma confessed that she was 'absolutely sh*****g it.'
And that's not the only change to the show - contestants in the show share a wardrobe, with new clothes being sent throughout it's run from fashion partners - which are usually brands such as I Saw It First.
This year, Viewers will be able to steal the islanders' style through the show's app, which will have links to eBay's preloved fashion pieces.
Love Island's Executive Producer, Mike Spencer, explained his joy at the partnership, sharing: 'We are thrilled to be pairing up with eBay this year as our pre-loved fashion partner.
'As a show we strive to be a more eco-friendly production with more focus on ways in which we can visibly show this on screen.'
Explaining the impact that the move will hopefully have on viewers, he continued: 'We aim to inspire our demographic and show that there are incredible finds to be had and how sharing is, in some small way, caring'.
This year's Love Island contestants will be given inclusivity training, round the clock access to mental health experts and bespoke
