Love Island has such Obvious Double Standards

Why is it classed as bullying when someone cries and not when multiple people attack someone? Or is it because there is a deeper issue here?

On Thursday, January 15, Love Island UK launched it's third season of Love Island All Stars. 

All Stars is a variation of Love Island where people from previous seasons of - mostly - Love Island UK enter the villa to find love again. 

Season Three includes All Stars such as Whitney Adebayo from Season 10 and Millie Court from Season 7. 

It has been two weeks, and there have already been some conflicts, most of which centred around allegations of bullying.

One of these is centered around Whitney Adebayo and Shaq Muhammad, from Season 9. 

Shaq has been accused of bullying after he accused Whitney of shouting at him and being quite rude to her during and after a game of “Never Have I Ever”. 

Other Islanders, such as Ciaran Davies and Jack Keating, were also accused of being rude to her.

Many users pointed out the microaggressions against Whitney, with previous Islanders like Tyrique Hyde from Season 10 pointing out the double standards against black women on Love Island.

@Laceygrahamm on X said: “Shaq is aggressive towards Whitney and gentle towards Sammie, who was the actual person who started the whole madness. If I say what I want to say....”

However, the argument against Sean Stone, from Season 11, and Scott van-der-Sluis, from Season 10, gained a different reaction.

The argument started when Scott ridiculed Sean in episode one for the bullying of Mimi, Jess, Ayo and Josh and after a game of ‘It’s giving’ when Scott gave Sean the ‘stirrer’ gift and called him “snakey”.

This argument led to Sean crying in the episode, and many Islanders in the villa supported him, like Tommy Bradley and Belle Hassan.

In the episode, Scott said, “I do not conform to your tears,” and backs down when Sean calls him a bully.

Many people on the internet sympathised with Sean, with Season 9 winner Kai Fagan speaking out on Instagram: “Naa, this isn’t good… this is an experience for everyone to enjoy, nobody should be made to feel like this. Stay strong @seanstone__”

However, others do not: @vvdball on X said: “Nothing will ever make me feel bad for Sean sorry I watched his season and how he didn’t give a gaf about Mimi and kept ganging up on her”

One user pointed out the double standards present among some Islanders.

@realKaz95mag on X said  “Jack was out there rubbing Sean's back but when Whitney was getting double and triple teamed he couldn't give a toss cause it didn’t involve him?? Some of these Love Island dudes move suspicious iykwim”

But why is there such a difference in reactions?

Some argue that it is because a man is crying and because this is not common in the media that people are more likely to feel sympathy.

But why does someone have to cry to gain sympathy?

In life and in the media, black women are constantly watched and expected to be strong and perfect in any situation. They can’t be too loud or too quiet, or they will be attacked.

But how can someone be accused of being loud when they are just speaking at a normal volume? That was what triggered many black women when watching.

Whitney does express many opinions that many may disagree with, but she is the only one who they attempt to silence.

This is because black women cannot express their opinions on situations without being attacked by the public. 

Now I’m not saying that Sean should be repeatedly attacked because people can change. But why can someone, who was previously a bully, gain sympathy, but someone else, who has never been a bully, can not express their opinion?

This is very common on Love Island, with many black women such as Catherine Agbaje from Season 10 Love Island UK, and Olandria Carthen and Chelley Bissainthe from Season 7 Love Island USA, all being attacked a lot by the public for their opinions.

Sometimes Love Island uses black women for entertainment, but does not consider how damaging the environment may be for them.

So what could we do? Well, as viewers, we should be acknowledging how certain situations could reinforce racial stereotypes.

I’m not saying you always have to agree with black women, but we should acknowledge how reality shows like Love Island try to make Black women come across.

Written by, Hannah Gyabaah