ITV Boss Defends Love Island After Thousands Of Complaints Made To OFCOM

ITV boss Kevin Lygo has jumped to Love Island’s defence after the show was hit with over 5000 complaints to communications regulator Ofcom from viewers.  

Speaking at the Edinburgh TV festival Lygo defended the reality dating show as “informative” while discussing criticism levelled at the show, related to alleged bullying and misogyny by some contestants.  

Addressing the number of complaints received by Love Island at the Edinburgh event, the ITV Head of Content said: “When you see the attitudes of young people and what they say, you could say some of the things that go on in these shows shouldn’t be shown”.  

 

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Lygo continued by saying: “But from that comes the debate, the discussion and it’s pointed out to contestants themselves and they often later apologise for the error of their ways.” 

The show received particular backlash during its final weeks after Luca Bish and Dami Hope were criticised for their treatment of fellow contestant Tasha Ghouri during the Snog Marry Pie Challenge, which was described as bullying by a number of fans online. 

 

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A spokesperson for Ofcom told The Mirror that a large portion of complaints about the show related to the so-called “misogynist behaviour” displayed by the boys during the challenge, with the show receiving over 1,500 complaints related to the “Snog Marry Pie” incident alone. 

Mr Lygo insisted that the duty of care towards contestants of the show was “uppermost” in producers’ minds, although has previously admitted that ITV would “sit down and review” the show following the concerns raised. 

Words: Ellen Glynn

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• love island

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