Love Island is BANNED on Dutch TV following complaints that the show encourages sexual harassment 

Love Island is BANNED on Dutch TV following complaints that the show encourages sexual harassment

  • RTL has decided to temporarily ban all ‘sexual seduction’ reality shows   
  • Dutch public complained after a man pulled the underwear of a female co-star 
  • Former Dutch broadcaster said shows are ‘no longer fit in the era of #MeToo’ 

A Dutch broadcaster has banned ‘seduction-based reality shows’ after deciding the programmes encourage sexual harassment 

New episodes of Love Island and The Villa have been cancelled by RTL after male contestants were accused of ignoring refusals to their sexual advances.

RTL have temporarily pulled the plug on any shows ‘in which sexual seduction plays the main role’, the broadcaster said.     

‘These kind of programmes no longer fit in the era of #MeToo,’ said Tina Nijkamp, a former director of Dutch broadcaster SBS6. ‘I was already surprised that RTL had ordered even more of such programmes.’

Dutch broadcaster RTL has temporarily cancelled ‘sexual seduction’ reality shows after a male contestant on De Villa, pictured, pulled back a drunk female co-star’s underwear

Despite having episodes filmed, RTL have decided to also stop airing Dutch Love Island  (pictured)

Despite having episodes filmed, RTL have decided to also stop airing Dutch Love Island  (pictured)

(Pictured: Contestants in the Dutch version of Love Island) The Blue Circle production company has been accused of pushing 'ethical limits' by fuelling the 'sexual seduction-based' reality shows with alcohol

(Pictured: Contestants in the Dutch version of Love Island) The Blue Circle production company has been accused of pushing ‘ethical limits’ by fuelling the ‘sexual seduction-based’ reality shows with alcohol

The controversy is largely focused around a scene in a Dutch reality show called The Villa, which uses computer algorithms to match couples in a Spanish mansion. 

In the scene, the male star placed his hand on the woman’s rear, pulling her underwear back to reveal her bottom, and then clambered on top of her.  

The same man has also been filmed, as well as another male star, continuing to advance on women, despite having already been rejected.  

RTL Programme Director, Peter van der Vorst, told de Volkskrant that the sexual advances were ‘unacceptable’ and ‘should never be promoted’. 

He added that the large amounts of alcohol involved in the assignments helped to push the contestants into situations that even they felt were ‘too far’.

He apologised to the cast and accused the Blue Circle production company of pushing themselves beyond their ‘ethical limits’ and encouraging ‘transgressive sexual’ behaviour among the cast. 

Blue Circle later apologised for their role in the controversy.   

The British version of Love Island, which racked up six million viewers in recent episodes, was the focus of a similar scandal in June last year after a female contestant refused to stop advancing on her male co-star.   

Ofcom declined to investigate more than 700 complaints made about a June 2018 Love Island episode which saw Maura Higgins try to kiss Tommy Fury

Ofcom declined to investigate more than 700 complaints made about a June 2018 Love Island episode which saw Maura Higgins try to kiss Tommy Fury

Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom received 709 complaints when 28-year-old Maura Higgins from Ireland, tried to kiss boxer Tommy Fury multiple times. 

While he dodged her attempts at seduction, the undeterred model later stared directly into his eyes and asked him if she ‘turned him on’.  

Despite a public outcry, Ofcom, the UK’s broadcasting watchdog, decided not to investigate. 

Maura's brazen approach to landing Tommy in the villa stunned many fans, especially when she asked him if she 'turned him on' last year

Maura’s brazen approach to landing Tommy in the villa stunned many fans, especially when she asked him if she ‘turned him on’ last year

The media watchdog received 486 complaints on the night the episode was aired, after viewers watched the ring girl try plant a kiss on Tommy while lying on top of him

The media watchdog received 486 complaints on the night the episode was aired, after viewers watched the ring girl try plant a kiss on Tommy while lying on top of him

At the time, a spokesperson for Ofcom said: ‘While we recognise that many viewers disapproved of a contestant’s behaviour in this episode, we took into account the context in which it occurred, including the nature of Maura and Tommy’s relationship, before and after.’ 

Another woman in 2018’s cast, Lucie, was left in tears after feeling pressured to spend more time with the girls in the villa by partner Joe Garratt.  

Adina Claire from domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid warned at the time that ‘abusive relationships often start off with subtle signs of control’, as fans lodged 302 complaints with broadcast watchdog Ofcom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk