ITV2 show Love Island has been hit with another major scandal, with 62 complaints to Ofcom over allegations that Siannise Fudge used the N-word on the show.
However, 62 is just a drop in the ocean for the show that has been hit with thousands of complaints logged by the watchdog in the six years the show has been running.
Ofcom is the regulator for telecommunications services in the UK and seeks to protect the British public from scams and sharp practices; it operates under a number of Acts of Parliament, including in particular the Communications Act 2003.
Most recently ITV was forced to comment when viewers lodged complaints insisting that they heard Bristolian Siannise in the background telling Shaughna Phillips to date n*****s after Rebecca Gormley, 21, told her not to date scaffolders any more.
They said: Viewers are mistaken. No one said and nor would we broadcast the word in question.
“We strongly refute any suggestion to the contrary.”
But what other scandals have hit the villa?
SNOGGING:
Love Island fans have complained to Ofcom after being sickened by gross and noisysnogging.
Viewers have claimed producers are turning up the volume of the disgusting slurping noises – and they’re fed up of it.
Taking to Twitter, one annoyed fan suggested that the producers are turning “the microphone sensitivity up whenever someone is kissing”.
The show’s raunchy sex scenes are a thing of the past since bosses started censoring them off the show but it seems, instead, show bosses are focusing on the snogs.
Seven complaints were made to the TV regulator about the kissing on 11 February.
SCAFFOLDERS:
Furious workmen were so angry about Shaughna’s generalisationsof scaffolders and tradesmen, they marched to the broadcasting regulator citing discrimination against them.
Shaughna, 25, famously made the dig when Callum returned from Casa Amor with Molly on his arm.
When asked how she felt about it, she told Laura Whitmore: Im happy for Callum.
“I should have never trusted a scaffolder anyway.
ALADDIN COMPARISONS:
Thirty-six Love Island fans complained to the regulator when Siannise compared Nas Majeed to the Disney character Aladdin, claiming her comment was “racist”.
The comment was made on the launch episode in early January and furious viewers reached out to the broadcasting regulator over the alleged slur.
While Nas, who has Caribbean and Asian heritage, seemed happy with the comparison, many viewers did not, and taking to Twitter, one said: “This Aladdin thing is rubbing me the wrong way #loveisland.”
Another posted: “They need to stop this Aladdin stuff you know #LoveIsland.”
Ofcom said: “We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.”
BIG GAME HUNTING:
Love Island fans complained to Ofcom in their droves about the inclusion of Cornish islander Ollie Williams, whom the The Sun revealed was a big game hunter.
In fact, Ofcom received 231 complaints – the biggest scandal of the current Winter series.
Ofcom told The Sun they were “assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate”.
Ollie was revealed to be a big game hunter who has posed with an array of dead animals he’d killed in Africa.
Viewers took to Twitter in their droves to encourage each other to vote him out first.
But days after he arrived in the villa he chose to walk, citing his revelation that he was still in love with his ex-girlfriend.
MAURA’S BEHAVIOUR:
In 2019, Maura Higgins was the subject of 709 complaints from viewers who believed the new islanders had sexually harassed Tommy Fury.
Maura shocked viewers with her strong come-on towards Tommy, before later straddling the boxer as we got ready for bed and asked him to kiss her.
However, after assessing the complaints Ofcom said: While we recognise many viewers disapproved of a contestants behaviour, we took into account the context in which it occurred, including the nature of Maura and Tommys relationship, before and after.
CONTROLLING JOE:
Over 700 viewers also complained about the June 16 2019 episode, which saw Lucie Donlan distressed by her relationship with Joe Garratt, who was also branded controlling by charity Womens Aid.
The charity’s Adina Claire said: “Controlling behaviour is never acceptable, and with Love Island viewers complaining to Ofcom in record numbers about Joe’s possessive behaviour towards Lucie, more people are becoming aware of this and want to challenge it.”
Joe was accused of ‘gaslighting’ Lucie
She added: “Abusive relationships often start off with subtle signs of control, so its important that it is recognised at an early stage.”
Joe told Lucie off for talking to boys in the villa, and called on her to become closer friends with the girls instead.
DANI’S DISTRESS:
In 2018 the show received its highest number of complaints ever, with over 2500 viewers contacting Ofcom about the perceived treatment of Dani Dyer.
The programme was blasted by viewers over their decision to show her a brief clip of then-boyfriend Jack coming face to face with his ex Ellie Jones in Casa Amor – despite the fact he had remained entirely faithful to her.
An Ofcom spokesperson told The Sun Online: We are considering these complaints against our broadcasting rules, before deciding whether or not to investigate.
The number of complaints was higher than EastEnders received for its recent stabbing storyline, which was just three, and a vast number more than the amount 2017’s Big Brother race row received.
NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE:
In 2017 Ofcom received more complaints about islanders smoking than anything of a sexual nature.
Bu midway through the second season, the series had received 46 complaints – with 24 of them from viewers objecting to the blatant puffing going on in the villa.
The complaints and the ongoing conversation around whether the islanders were promoting smoking led to ITV bosses banning the practise on camera.
Instead, islanders had to request a smoke break, and they were taken to a room one by one.
