This is an excellent piece, Holly. The glorification of these men genuinely repulses me, I had to stop watching a few years ago because it was making me so anxious seeing the way people are treated on the show, and actually put me off relationships because so many men (and women) see this behaviour as the ideal and copy.
When you were talking about the ‘it’s never a nice feeling to make girls cry’, what bothers me so much about this is that they must have done it before, like they don’t enjoy doing it, but it’s just something that happens. However, if they changed their behaviour, it wouldn’t happen. I actually think this behaviour is embarrassing more than anything, and it’s an incredible shame that it’s what we show impressionable teens and how they’re taught to behave in relationships.
Thank you for writing this Holly, it’s such an important thing to talk about. This behaviour is not normal, and the more we talk about it, hopefully more young people will learn how to identify it before it goes too far.
Thank you so much for your kind words Ella! It is so horrible that young people are been shown this is normal behaviour in relationships. You said it so well, they say ‘it’s never a nice feeling to make girls cry’ it punches at your gut that this isn’t the first, and wont be the last time they’ll make a girl cry. It’s gutting, but thank you again for you’re lovely words <3
Holly, this is amazing. I've watched Love Island on and off for years but truly "gave up" after Millie and Liam's year - it pissed me off so much that this man could treat Millie in such a way and she then went back to him... and they WON?! Not only are Millie and Liam telling people this is all okay, but so is the British public. I was returning to the show after a hiatus since 2017 with the hopes it had improved. The whole thing infuriated me beyond belief.
I watched a little of the 2022 (I think?) series with Jacques, but again the behaviour of the boys was so outrageous that I just couldn't stomach it. Not only are these people demonstrating to women how they "should" be treated, they're also role models to impressionable young boys who will assume this is the norm in relationships.
It's such a shame that this sort of behaviour is seen as "better" entertainment than actual, healthy relationships. It's awful education and makes for very uncomfortable viewing, too.
Thank you so much Soph! Yes it’s infuriating to see them go back to the boys, the girls don’t see they deserve so much more when they’re in that bubble away from family and friends and society. It’s all the signs you’re in a manipulative relationship, first sign is always they try to isolate you from everyone else, says a lot about the producers. You’re so right thats what scares me the most, the young boys and girls learning lessons from the behaviour on the show, incredibly unhealthy role models.
I loved reading your comment, I’m so glad you really could resonate with this and thank you for your kind words <3
This is an excellent piece, Holly. The glorification of these men genuinely repulses me, I had to stop watching a few years ago because it was making me so anxious seeing the way people are treated on the show, and actually put me off relationships because so many men (and women) see this behaviour as the ideal and copy.
When you were talking about the ‘it’s never a nice feeling to make girls cry’, what bothers me so much about this is that they must have done it before, like they don’t enjoy doing it, but it’s just something that happens. However, if they changed their behaviour, it wouldn’t happen. I actually think this behaviour is embarrassing more than anything, and it’s an incredible shame that it’s what we show impressionable teens and how they’re taught to behave in relationships.
Thank you for writing this Holly, it’s such an important thing to talk about. This behaviour is not normal, and the more we talk about it, hopefully more young people will learn how to identify it before it goes too far.
Thank you so much for your kind words Ella! It is so horrible that young people are been shown this is normal behaviour in relationships. You said it so well, they say ‘it’s never a nice feeling to make girls cry’ it punches at your gut that this isn’t the first, and wont be the last time they’ll make a girl cry. It’s gutting, but thank you again for you’re lovely words <3
Holly, this is amazing. I've watched Love Island on and off for years but truly "gave up" after Millie and Liam's year - it pissed me off so much that this man could treat Millie in such a way and she then went back to him... and they WON?! Not only are Millie and Liam telling people this is all okay, but so is the British public. I was returning to the show after a hiatus since 2017 with the hopes it had improved. The whole thing infuriated me beyond belief.
I watched a little of the 2022 (I think?) series with Jacques, but again the behaviour of the boys was so outrageous that I just couldn't stomach it. Not only are these people demonstrating to women how they "should" be treated, they're also role models to impressionable young boys who will assume this is the norm in relationships.
It's such a shame that this sort of behaviour is seen as "better" entertainment than actual, healthy relationships. It's awful education and makes for very uncomfortable viewing, too.
Thank you so much Soph! Yes it’s infuriating to see them go back to the boys, the girls don’t see they deserve so much more when they’re in that bubble away from family and friends and society. It’s all the signs you’re in a manipulative relationship, first sign is always they try to isolate you from everyone else, says a lot about the producers. You’re so right thats what scares me the most, the young boys and girls learning lessons from the behaviour on the show, incredibly unhealthy role models.
I loved reading your comment, I’m so glad you really could resonate with this and thank you for your kind words <3