The normalisation of toxic behaviour on Love Island

Love Island UK is back with its 12th series, and as always, the islanders are stirring controversy. As a loyal viewer of the show, it has always been clear to see that it gives problematic men a platform. However, in recent years, the treatment of women has only become worse.

In particular, the behaviour of some of the male contestants this year, most notably Dejon Noel-Williams, Harry Cooksley, and Harrison Solomon, has come under fire for their treatment of their partners, as well as their behaviour toward women in general.

Harry and Dejon have consistently manipulated their partners, Helena and Meg, and treated them with a lack of respect throughout the season. By flirting with ‘bombshells’ without communicating their stance on their relationships with their partners, and using phrases such as ‘we’re open’, they ignore their partners’ boundaries and disregard their feelings, only worsening things with their lack of apologies.

It is hard to watch the clear emotional manipulation

Dejon has also been criticised for his treatment of other female contestants, such as Billykiss, who chose him for a date when she first entered the villa. Dejon initially claimed he would like to get to know her, but he quickly backtracked, telling her, “you’re not someone I would want to get to know here, or on the outside”, further reinforcing a pattern of inconsistency and disregard for others.

Furthermore, Harry’s blatant and continuous disrespect towards Helena was even called out by the show’s host, Maya Jama, who told Helena that she “wouldn’t find it funny [if she] was coupled up with someone like that’”. This only echoed the concerns of viewers, observing how Harry consistently treats their relationship like a game.

Sentiment towards Meg and Helena is somewhat negative, as many viewers brand them ‘mean girls’ due to their treatment of fan-favourites Shakira, Yasmin and Toni. However, they are undeserving of the treatment they have been subjected to by the men they are coupled up with, and it is hard to watch the clear emotional manipulation they endure.

This pattern of disrespectful behaviour from male islanders is long-standing

Similarly, Harrison, the cheeky ‘young bull’, has also caused outrage for his treatment of both American ‘bombshell’ Toni, and Casa Amor’s Lauren. After playing with Toni’s emotions for weeks and consistently making her cry, he brought Lauren back from Casa Amor, slept with her twice, and then asked Toni to choose him in a recoupling, which led to Lauren feeling used and betrayed.

Rightly so, the behaviour of these men has led to hundreds of Ofcom complaints and even led to the charity Women’s Aid releasing a statement condemning this behaviour. On its Instagram, it called out this behaviour as misogynistic and claimed that these men “don’t see the women as equals”, yet it “gets brushed off as ‘just part of the show'”.

Since he walked from the villa, Harrison has refuted the Women’s Aid statement. In an interview, he stated that he does “respect women” and has found the backlash since leaving the villa “hard to digest”, which is ironic as his behaviour was just as ‘hard to digest’ for many viewers.

This is not the first instance of this behaviour either, as back in 2018, Adam Collard’s behaviour toward fellow islander Rosie Williams was deemed ‘emotional abuse’ by domestic violence charities, showing that this pattern of disrespectful behaviour from male islanders is long-standing and has not been properly dealt with by the producers.

Giorgio and Cach have been praised for how they’ve conducted themselves in the villa

In stark contrast, islanders such as Giorgio and Cach have been praised for how they’ve conducted themselves in the villa, with viewers seeing them as emotionally mature and respectful. In one interview on The Morning After podcast, Giorgio was asked if he thought he was “too much of a gentleman” for the show. While his behaviour was commendable, realistically, Giorgio was just showing these women common human decency by being open and truthful with his feelings and not stringing them along.

Applauding this respectful yet basic behaviour highlights just how disrespectful and manipulative other contestants are, exposing a toxic culture that Love Island has seen too often in the most recent seasons, where finding a genuine connection isn’t as important as playing the game, and subsequently one with women’s feelings.

As the years have gone by, the behaviour of the male islanders has only become worse, as we continue to see women mistreated by men who brag about ‘getting away with it’. In one moment, we see Harry promising Harrison that he will someday “get to your level”, with Harry positioning himself as senior due to his consistently toxic behaviour.

It subsequently normalises disrespectful and manipulative treatment towards women

By giving these men a platform on a popular TV show, it subsequently normalises disrespectful and manipulative treatment toward women and reinforces dangerous messages about what is acceptable in relationships.

In an age when misogynistic figures such as Andrew Tate are gaining prominence, mainstream shows such as Love Island must challenge this manipulative behaviour, instead of creating a space where misogyny thrives, branded as ‘entertainment’, for millions to watch every night.

Until Love Island confronts this pattern of toxic behaviour from the men that they platform for weeks on end, it remains complicit in promoting unhealthy relationships. Unless something changes, I’m sure we’ll keep seeing statements from Women’s Aid, and will keep watching the same cycle of reckless behaviour.

Love Island is available to watch on ITV.