Popular Netflix dating show “Love Is Blind” has caught the media’s attention due to its lack of body diversity among its contestants.
The show, hosted by the husband and wife duo Nick and Vanessa Lachey, features strangers who go on blind dates to discern their perfect match.
Following fan questions about the show’s lack of different body types, co-host Vanessa explained the situation saying it was due to plus size people feeling “Insecure.” This response did not go down well with the fanbase who proceeded to call her out on it.
Read on for more details.
Vanessa Lachey Shared The Reason For The Lack Of Body Diversity On The Show
Vanessa recently spoke about the lack of diversity on the dating show, and her reason didn’t go down well with fans. She claimed people with diverse body types have always been given a “fair shot” on “Love Is Blind,” but the sole reason for the lack of body diversity on the show was the insecurity of the contestants.
“Their whole life, they’ve been so insecure about being themselves because of this crazy swipe generation that we are in and this catfishing world that we’re in, that they’re so afraid to be themselves,” she shared via Insider.
Vannessa also speculated that the contestants might not have enough time within the two weeks to find confidence in themselves, saying, “I wonder if they truly don’t have enough time in those two weeks to find themselves and then be themselves, to find that spouse.”
Fans Reactions To Vanessa Lachey’s Comments
Several “Love Is Blind” fans took offense at Vanessa’s comments and expressed their grievances on social media.
“Are you saying the show pretending not to be about looks while featuring exclusively hot people might just be about looks?” one Twitter user asked.
“Vanessa Lachey has twisted this into fat people’s problem (too insecure about their bodies to put themselves forward) and not a thin person’s problem (like Shake this last season who explicitly asked the women on the other side of the wall if they were fat, sorry no fatties),” another fan wrote.
A user even suggested that the show should include more body-diverse hosts.
Some fans agreed that Vanessa’s remarks were sadly accurate due to society’s predisposition towards larger-bodied people.
“I mean, I get it, as a fat person with thin skin. If someone fell in love with my personality and rejected me because of my size, it would destroy me,” wrote one person. “And to have that on TV? No thanks. But lots of women with different bodies are super confident, so…”
Vanessa Lachey Also Commented On The Lack Of Queer Diversity
The 41-year-old cohost also spoke about queer diversity and how it was lacking on the show. She discussed the possibility of having LGBTQ contestants, explaining that it might involve a change in the status quo as if men and women lived separately, the blind date aspect of the show might not be relevant anymore.
“Think about if you did just women, then it wouldn’t be separate quarters, it would just be one big house of everybody out for themselves, I guess. And if you did the men, it would be the same.”
However, she emphasized that Netflix planned to embrace diversity, adding, “You will see some of that in the dating reality television world of Netflix soon.”
TV critic Kelly Lawler also noted that the “blind” element of the show was an afterthought as most contestants were similar in appearance and weight, and this doesn’t change the perception of their beauty.
Netflix To Have An All-Queer Cast On The Second Season Of ‘The Ultimatum’
The Netflix dating show “The Ultimatum” is set to have an all-queer cast in its second season. While it’s being kept hush-hush, it has been confirmed that new episodes are coming soon.
The show, which shares similarities with “Love Is Blind,” features six existing couples and allows them to break up with their current partner and enter a “trial marriage.” Then they can decide to either get married to them, break up with them or leave them for another relationship.
“Over the course of filming, each person chooses another cast member — from another ultimatum-bound coupling — to live with, experiencing what romance outside of their original relationship feels like.”
“The Ultimatum” is also hosted by Vanessa and Nick and was created and produced by Chris Coelen.