Love Island South Africa promises more diverse cast after launching with just three Black contestants

Love Island South Africa will feature a more diverse cast in future episodes, its TV network has promised viewers amid backlash over the whitewashed contestants. 

The South African spin-off series debuted over the weekend featuring only three Black contestants despite people of colour making up around 80% of the country’s population. 

DStv, which airs Love Island SA, has responded to the mounting criticism and admits the launch episode was problematic for various reasons. 

In a statement released to Metro.co.uk, a DStv spokesperson said: ‘We pride ourselves in reflecting diversity and inclusion for all our shows, including Love Island. The many channels and thousands of program hours we produce are testament to this. 

‘Viewers can be assured that this will become more apparent in future episodes of Love Island SA. We hope viewers will keep watching to enjoy the new stars of the show who will be arriving over the next few days.’ 

The opening episode was also riddled with technical problems with many viewers complaining about the sound and editing. 

Addressing this particular criticism, the spokesperson added: ‘We understand viewers’ disappointment in relation to the production quality and would like to apologise for the technical issues experienced yesterday and are working really hard to resolve them.’ 

The three Black contestants so far are; Asad Boomgaard, a 24-year-old personal trainer from Johannesburg, Durang Atembe, 22, who hails from Cameroon and is also a personal trainer and Thimna Shooto, the only Black female contestant so far who is 26 and hails from Mossel Bay. 

Calling out the glaring diversity disparity, one viewer said: ‘This cast of love island south africa in a country that is 80 percent black.’ 

‘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,’ another argued. 

One other viewer weighed in: ‘This is love island south “AFRICA” …. even love island UK has more black people in it.

Love Island is set to expand across Africa later this year with a Nigerian version also in the works. 

The USA edition recently wrapped up its second season, while Love Island Australia series two begins airing in the UK tonight. 

Viewers in the UK are awaiting the return of the OG series, which scrapped its summer edition for the first time last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Got a showbiz story? 

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Love Island South Africa criticised over predominantly white cast and one Black female contestant

MORE : Lady Gaga’s dog walker Ryan Fischer speaks out from hospital bed for first time after shooting