TVNZ’s controversial new dating show, FBOY Island has arrived, and some Linguistics students may recognise a familiar face.
Hosted by Shavaughn Ruakere, the show is based on the HBO version, which features self-proclaimed “nice guys” and “FBoys” competing to apparently find love, but more likely to win some cash.
The three women the men are vying over claim they can’t escape FBoys; and they might be right, because apparently you can’t even go to an office hour without finding one.
One of the self-proclaimed “FBoys” include Auckland Linguistics lecturer, John.
In his bio, John describes himself as “polarising”.
“Either you love me, or you love to hate me. People say I’m loud and brash, other people say I’m funny and confident.”
He says he is single because he simply has “too much” personality, and would spend the prize money on a “grocery shop”.
Before FBOY Island was released, Action Station’s Project Gender launched a petition calling for TVNZ to pull the reality show.
Project gender stated that FBOY Island NZ “normalises and champions predatory and dangerous sexual behaviour that harms people, particularly young people” and should not be aired.
“We believe that New Zealand can be a country where all women are safe, seen, and celebrated. As a broadcaster, you have a responsibility not to perpetuate stereotypes that have a high likelihood of harming women. It is 2022 and we deserve and demand better.”
Project Gender also expressed concern about a contestant on the show, Wayde Brown, who was edited out after it was revealed he appeared in court last year charged with suffocating a vulnerable woman in his home.
Brown was found not guilty of the suffocation charge but the judge described his behaviour as “deeply inappropriate and disrespectful”.
“Unsurprisingly, an abuser has been found among the lineup of FBoys who made it through the auditions.”
More than 6000 people have signed the petition.
