Love Island SA lambasted after premiere

Love Island South Africa, the local adaptation to the hugely successful UK show, premiered on M-Net on Sunday, February 28. However, the pilot episode was met with much criticism by viewers.

Social media users were quick to point out a lack of racial diversity on the show. Conversation centred on critique, splashed with humour and clear in intent. “Love Island Orania”, referencing the white Afrikaner-supremacist state, began trending on Sunday night.

If you wanted to do Love Island Orania, just say that, man. https://t.co/8OPcbRIQQG

— Kovie Biakolo (@koviebiakolo) February 28, 2021

While the show follows a format whereby new cast members will be added throughout, first impressions resulted in a controversial kickoff for the show, and not for the reasons M-Net would have hoped for. Talk of love and lust remains pale in comparison to cast representation and diversity lashings.

Y’all someone said even the country that colonized SA has more diversity on their version of the show. I am siiiiick… Love Island Orania?#LoveIslandSA pic.twitter.com/aG2POboHYp

— Tacos Are A Food Group (@SiveDaniels) March 1, 2021

Production value was called into question by viewers. The first episode was layered with volume inconsistencies, silent credits and a clear lack of background music. Twitter was once again not without fast and brutal review.

If you’re watching #LoveIslandSA, now you can understand why correct audio mixing is so important.

It has the potential to have the same entertainment value as Love Island UK but they hired a 1st year sound engineering student ?

— David Scott (@TheKiffness) February 28, 2021

Love island SA got their sound from Mr Price

— ℜ?? (@MCFC_ROD) February 28, 2021

Picture: Twitter