Why I Stopped Watching Love Island/Rant

Yes you read that title correctly. I stopped watching Love Island *cries in Spanish*. Hear me out though because I'm going to explain why. I thought I would write a blog post about it just because I kind of see Chelle Belle as my online Journal in some ways, so why not.

For those of you who do not know what Love Island is, it is a UK reality dating show where a mix of men and women over 18 live in a villa together in Spain for 6-8 weeks. The aim is to couple up with someone you think you're attracted to and have a connection with. There is a grand prize of £50,000 for the best couple (voted by the public). There have been some success stories and some....not so much. There are challenges, dates, drama and 'fun'.

First of all, let me just let y'all know THIS IS HARD! It's very difficult to suddenly stop watching a show mid way through, whilst you're totally addicted to it. That's kind of the main reason why I stopped. Addiction.

I have been watching Love Island since season 2 and every year I have been reluctant to keep up but somehow lust of the flesh took over and I ended up watching it. Even when I knew I shouldn't I did and part of me ALWAYS regretted. Of course it is great entertainment but sometimes you have to give things up that are entertaining, in order to maintain other things. Let me explain deeper.

When they announced the release date of season 4 along with the brand new cast, my initial feelings were excitement but like each year it was also a feeling of conflict. Up until the DAY of the first episode I battled with myself over whether I should watch it or not. Probably sign number 1 that I should have gave it a miss. I watched it anyway and from there I was in my room with my laptop ready to tune in at 9pm every evening, even when I had an exam the next day. I prioritised the show over doing the necessities that needed to be done. I became lazy. Something that I never thought I would say. You may be reading this thinking "Rochelle it really isn't that deep" but its something much bigger than that.

I put the show before everything and that isn't OK. I would delay Bible Study to watch something that focuses on lust, I would come home from a day with friends and the first thing I did was put ITV Hub on, I would constantly make it a topic of conversation. I even managed to get other people addicted to it and I didn't even feel right watching it myself. It became addicting and the minute something begins to consume my life, I have to cut it off. I have always been that way. Cheryl Cole once said that "too much of anything can make you sick". That one lyric has always stuck with me. You should never let something CONTROL YOU because YOU ARE IN CONTROL. I refuse to let this show control my thoughts and actions, especially when I already saw it begin to happen.

Love Island genuinely made me scared to let my guard down or catch feelings. Like genuinely. Watching Laura, Georgia, Samira and Alex get mugged off made my guard go up higher than I ever thought a show could. It made me close myself up even more than usual and put a cage around my heart for a hot minute. Except imagine the keys for the cage went missing. I was really prepared to have high security and let NOBODY in. However life shouldn't be like that. I was sitting in church and realised how much damage that can do. You should guard your heart but always have the key to control who can go near it. You should always be open to letting people in, because you never know what important people that may give access into your life.

Although its a heavily edited TV Show, these are real people with real feelings so I couldn't help but think, if these things can happen to beautiful girls like this, it can DEFINITELY happen to me. I really had to think, is it worth damaging my self esteem and mental health, just for one hour of entertainment? The answer was of course no. No matter what people think or the direction everyone else is going, you must ALWAYS prioritize yourself. Everyone else may not see it that way but you need to stay in your own lane. The minute you try to switch it up when you know you can't, is when accidents happen.

Another way that the show was changing my actions was through reaction. One of the best parts of the show is being able to read or hear other people's opinions about events going on in the villa. I would have Twitter open at all times whilst watching an episode, to share my thoughts and hear everyone else's. That seemed OK until I really sat down and thought about it. Some of the jokes that I thought were funny at first weren't so funny. Jokes about Laura looking older than 29 started off as funny but then I just felt sorry for her. She is constantly being shamed for just aging. Something we all do...
I realised that she has no idea that she is being shamed for not looking young like everyone else. She shouldn't be made to feel bad for being natural. Whether she looks 29 or not, she is and its unfair that she is insulted everyday for not looking like other 29-year olds (without knowledge of it too).

When Charlie came into the villa, Samira openly said that he was her type. Blonde. Everyone jumped at her throat for it but didn't question it when Wes said the same thing about Ellie. Even I was guilty of being like "what is wrong with you Samira?" but that is so unfair. Just because she is black, doesn't mean she has to be with a black man. So many people said it "reflected her insecurities" but actually, maybe she just likes white guys? Just because her TYPE is blonde, doesn't mean she isn't open to dating black guys. I'm sure she has. In fact, maybe she does love her chocolate men but knew Love Island wasn't going to come through with too many options. Like how white girls don't like all white guys, black girls don't like all black guys. Perhaps Josh just didn't give her the flutters?

There are so many unpopular opinions I could share, that I may make an entire post dedicated to ranting about them. My point though is that I followed the crowd and judged, just like everyone else. That really isn't me and I'm surprised I even allowed it to happen. I bet Adam and Megan aren't even as bad as they seem  but they have had sooooo much hate.

I for one do not want a show to turn me into one of those judgmental girls that I cannot stand and if I have to stop watching it, in order to improve my character rather than taint it, I will.

I don't know how many of you will have read to the end or even care, but if you did I'm sending you a virtual red velvet cake to say thanks.

Thanks for reading,

Have a great day x

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