Entertainment
Love Island South Africa criticised over ‘predominantly white’ cast and one Black female contestant
Love Island South Africa has come under fire for launching with a predominantly white cast despite Black people making up the majority of the country.
The new spin-off series, dubbed Love Island SA, debuted this weekend with 10 new contestants shacked up in a villa together looking for love and the chance to win R1 million (£47,500).
However, many were unimpressed after the cast was revealed to find that the opening line-up features just one Black female contestant, and only two other Black men.
Reacting to the casting, one said on Twitter: ‘Y’all are in South Africa but you managed to have a whiter cast than UK love island.’
‘This cast of love island south africa in a country that is 80 percent black,’ one disappointed commentator weighed in.
Another argued: ‘I don’t ever want to hear “they cast according to their population”… the percentage of black people in South Africa is 80.2% and there is only two black people in love island South Africa. It’s a choice.’
‘How are you going to have a love island in south AFRICA with ONE black girl??’ another questioned.
It’s not yet known if the next set of contestants, who typically arrive throughout the series, will be more diverse.
Making up this year’s handful of Black contestants is Asad Boomgaard, a 24-year-old personal trainer from Johannesburg who describes himself as an old soul and a romantic at heart. He enjoys being active and is looking for ‘a good woman to keep [him] grounded’.
Durang Atembe, 22, hails from Cameroon and is also a personal trainer.
He said: ‘I’ve got swagger, everyone said that I should join the show, I’m going with it and I’m interested. So, it will be a blessing having me on the show.’
Thimna Shooto, the only Black female contestant so far, is 26 and hails from Mossel Bay. She considers the current dating world to be very superficial and is looking for a real connection, stating: “I’m tired of these rats, and I want a real man.’
The Love Island franchise is continuing to expand over the world with Love Island USA recently wrapping up its second season and crowning the first Black winning couple.
ITV2 will start airing series two of Love Island Australia from tomorrow night, while Love Island Nigeria was announced last year along with other new territories.
Love Island South Africa airs on Mnet but a UK air date has not been revealed.
Metro.co.uk has reached out to reps for comment.
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