Love Island bosses are facing a wave of criticism from viewers who allege "unacceptable, predatory and woman-hating" treatment of contestant Jasmine Gaziza Müller. Viewers have voiced intentions to complain to the UK's broadcast regulator, Ofcom, over the portrayal of the 27-year-old fashion designer and influencer.
Müller has been a central figure in the show's drama, particularly due to her relationship with 21-year-old electrician Kavan Murphy. After Murphy returned from Casa Amor with another contestant, Charleen Murphy, while Müller remained single, viewers observed that subsequent "Movie Night" segments disproportionately focused on Müller's interactions with other islanders, rather than Murphy's actions.
Scenes from a recent episode showed Müller in apparent distress, described as "sobbing and struggling to breathe" following Murphy's return. This depiction has led many viewers to accuse producers of engaging in "psychological warfare" and giving Müller a "villain edit."
Online discussions reveal widespread agreement among viewers that Müller is being singled out. Many have pointed out that while other contestants have also gossiped or flirted, Müller's moments are consistently highlighted negatively. "It's also the fact that they keep highlighting all of her bad moments and no one else's," one viewer wrote on X. "They've all gossiped behind each other's backs, but she's the one getting singled out."
Some viewers have expressed concern for Müller's well-being, with comments suggesting she needs professional help and that airing her distress to an audience already critical of her is akin to "bleeding in a pool of sharks."
Calls for Ofcom complaints have intensified, with numerous social media posts urging others to file formal complaints. "This is the third or fourth movie about Jasmine and I’m a bit over it I will be putting an ofcom complaint in," stated one user. Another wrote, "All those who see this, please take some time to put in an OFCOM complaint. This is unacceptable, don’t let them cheap out on actual vectors for entertainment by using human beings for it."
ITV, the broadcaster of Love Island, provided a statement outlining its duty of care procedures for contestants. These protocols include support from mental health professionals, thorough pre-filming assessments, clear communication about the show's implications, and post-show aftercare. The procedures are reviewed annually. The statement emphasized that programme contributors are offered a full package of measures to ensure they remain supported before, during, and after filming.
Love Island has faced increased scrutiny regarding contestant welfare in recent years, particularly following the suicides of former host Caroline Flack and contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis. Last year, the show received thousands of complaints related to the alleged bullying of contestant Shakira Khan. The program's highest complaint record, 24,763 Ofcom complaints, was set in August 2021 following a dispute between Faye Winter and Teddy Soares, largely concerning Winter's aggressive behavior during a "Movie Night" challenge.