IT CAN BE hard to defend Love Island sometimes. Its had its fair share of controversies over the summer with accusations of fakery, emotional abuse and everything in between. Nearly all of these accusations have been justified as well and sometimes you just have to learn when to close your mouth and accept that you’re wrong.

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Evidently, Controller of ITV Digitals Channels (essentially Love Island chief) Paul Mortimer hasn’t learnt this lesson as Digital Spy reported. Mortimer appeared at the Edinburgh TV Festival where he defended the appearance of the cast who was we all know we’re incredibly beautiful.

“I think on the body image thing, we cast very attractive people because it’s a sexy show. It is entertainment on ITV2 and in the same way that Hollywood casts a certain type to get bums on seats in theatres or on other entertainment shows.”

Right, ok.

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There’s an argument to be made here that teenagers are already bombarded with images of what they’re “supposed” to look like already. Surely we should we show them that not everyone has the perfect body?

Don’t even get me started or the fact that the demand for cosmetic surgery went up when Love Island was airing. Dr Tijion Esho, of Harley Street’s Esho Clinic and E4’s Body Fixers spoke to the Independent back in July and said;

I’ve noticed a huge rise in the number of 18-25 year olds seeking lip fillers since Love Island. Many show pictures of the contestants they love on the show and how they can achieve the look.”

“Aspirational” my ass.

But Paul didn’t stop there. Oh no, he then went on to make the argument that Love Island was helping to fight childhood obesity.

There’s also another conversation going on at the moment about childhood obesity. If you want to look like these guys on Love Island, you have to work out. We make no excuses that people more beautiful than us are entitled to go into a villa for eight weeks and find love.”

God Paul, mate, you’re not making this easy.

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Love Island is what it is and as long as it’s transparent about itself then we can accept it for that. However, the problem is that our good friend Paul here is refusing to take responsibility for the problems that Love Island can cause or at least fuel.

To suggest because someone is more beautiful and therefore “deserves” to find love is a dangerous notion to be peddling around. Without sounding too clichéd, everyone is deserving of love no matter what they look like.

If anything we need more diversity on Love Island. Not everyone has abs or has the perfect body or look. While we all hugely enjoyed it this year, if Love Island doesn’t buck up its ideas, it stands to lose a lot of fans.

I’d like to see what excuses Paul will be making then.

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