By Maria Ravani,
Reality shows have a big and troubling history. From angry shoutouts and clashes between participants, to jokes about sexual crimes and gender violence, we have heard –and seen– everything. And although Psychology has tried long and hard to give answers to why people prefer this form of entertainment, the mystery remains.
Viewers always like to watch drama and people experiencing real emotions in real time without a filter. This is why during the 2000s and 2010s, reality TV shows were an international big hit. From MTV’s “Jersey Shore” to “Big Brother”, the content was intense, intriguing and —more than a few times— demeaning to human intellect. And of course, Netflix the newest addition to the entertainment game, would try and experiment with an old-time classic recipe for increasing viewership and maximizing revenue. The difference? In an era dominated by the Internet, people can and will have an opinion on everything, making it nearly impossible for anything to stay hidden for long. Plus, whatever is posted online (whether past or present), has the potential to resurface and haunt people, especially those who decide to take a chance at fame.
Now and then, something big will surface regarding these shows, and the conversation will start again on the appropriateness of these series and the impact they can have on viewers. And although, all production teams have tried their hardest to impose strict rules about confidentiality, people talk –especially online.
These last years, the big streaming platform known to all (aka Netflix) has faced quite a few legal challenges. Some of them were squashed swiftly but some others bound to live a permanent mark on the streaming giant. More recently, former participants of one of the biggest reality shows of the platform (“Love is Blind”) have spoken about the conditions they had to endure during filming, remaining isolated to their cubicles or rooms, without their phones or connection to the outside world. Some of them went as far as to accuse the production of “false imprisonment”, an allegation that paints a very clear picture of the day-to-day life that people on the show experienced (or at least, some of them). Others complaint about the restrictions that the production imposed regarding other work activities during or after the filming period, that led to missed opportunities and impacted their financial status.
The outcome of those complaints has yet to be known and the legal decision –whatever that is–, since the matter right now is following the official legal procedures, will sure leave a precedent. If a court decides that these people have specific work rights that are similar to those of actors, participants will steadily have the legal ground to form or participate in a union –since they will be perceived not as sole contractors but as part of a group–, making the negotiation game even more challenging for the companies.
However, these controversies are not limited to alleged violations of labor rights. Blind cast has also been linked to disturbing allegations involving one particular male participant. Reports have surfaced accusing him of predatory behavior, manipulation, and even sexual assault of underage teens. The production instead of choosing to cleanse themselves of these allegations, they moved on with their lives and just did not address the issue. No public statement or elimination from the series for the person who is accused of very unsettling behavior towards women.
Is it merely an ethical issue? For many viewers, the answer is yes. The oversexualization of content, excessive alcohol consumption, emotionally distressing situations, and the public display of personal turmoil should not be treated as mere entertainment. But it is not only the content itself. When allegations about cast members or conditions of production come to surface, discussions should be transparent and meaningful. Accountability should be enforced, and under no circumstances should individuals accused of misconduct be allowed to continue promoting their personal brand and profiting from their public image. Repercussions should be imposed and companies should also publicly reflect on those issues and their stand, as they are accountable to their viewers and to society. Nothing more, nothing less…
References
- Racism is rampant on reality tv and Netflix’s Million Dollar Beach House is just the tip of the iceberg. Glamour. Available here
- I’m not finishing this season of Love is Blind… Youtube channel of Kennie J.D.. Available here
- A Complete Timeline of Lawsuits and Allegations Brought Against ‘Love Is Blind’. Marie Claire. Available here
- Reality TV or Court TV? Lawsuits Test Limits of Outrageous Behavior. The New York Times. Available here
