The Cult of Love Island

Summary

Summary of "The Cult of Love Island" Episode on Sounds Like A Cult

Release Date: July 29, 2025

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Introduction

In the July 29, 2025 episode titled "The Cult of Love Island," the acclaimed podcast Sounds Like A Cult delves deep into the phenomenon surrounding the reality TV show Love Island. Hosted by Amanda Montel, alongside co-hosts Reese Oliver and Chelsea Charles, this episode explores whether Love Island constitutes a modern-day cult. Through insightful discussions, interviews, and expert analysis, the hosts examine the show's impact on both its contestants and fervent fanbase.

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Understanding Love Island as a Cult

The episode kicks off with the hosts expressing their own intrigue and apprehension towards Love Island. Amanda Montel (02:06) provocatively asks, "Is that not the cultiest thing you've ever heard? You have to like sacrifice your life as a fan to keep up with the show." This sets the tone for an in-depth exploration of the show's addictive nature.

Miguel Lee (07:10) highlights a unique aspect of Love Island: "The craziest thing about Love Island is that it airs in real time. So instead of like months later being heavily doctored, you are living these people's lives pretty much with them." This real-time airing fosters a sense of immediacy and intimacy that few other shows achieve, contributing to its cult-like appeal.

Amanda adds (07:27), "Love Island takes advantage of the social media marketing game in the way that few other shows have." By seamlessly integrating with platforms like Instagram, Love Island ensures constant visibility, making it nearly impossible for fans to escape its influence.

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Production Tactics and Manipulative Strategies

Chelsea Charles (40:21), bringing firsthand experience from the production side, describes the environment within the Love Island villa as akin to a cult setting: "We're all just like, stripped of our phones, our environment, like, everything. I guess Love Island in itself just is a cult." This isolation, coupled with orchestrated interactions, cultivates dependency among contestants, mirroring classic cult dynamics.

Jo Firestone, a writer and Love Island superfan, shares her conflicted feelings about the show (24:04): "I think Love Island is kind of like Housewives, which is kind of like sports, where it's like, you mention it and then you have something to talk about with someone else." Her insights underscore how Love Island fosters instant bonds and a shared cultural conversation, essential elements in cult formation.

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Psychological Impact on Contestants and Fans

The hosts address the psychological toll from both contestants and viewers. Amanda Montel (28:44) notes, "A piece in the Independent reported the rates of inquiry into plastic surgery have risen since the Show's airing in 2018." This suggests that the show's portrayal of beauty standards can adversely affect viewers' self-esteem and body image.

Further, the episode touches upon the tragic outcomes linked to the show. Amanda states (31:02), "There have been some more serious consequences for both islanders and hosts... Two former Islanders, as well as the show's former host, Caroline Flack, have died by suicide in the space of three years..." While causation isn't established, the synchronicity of these events raises critical questions about the show's responsibility towards its participants' mental health.

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Fandom Dynamics and Social Consequences

Chelsea Charles reflects on the volatile nature of fan reception (41:02): "Initially my reception was not very good... and then like three days later, everybody loved me." This rollercoaster effect illustrates how Love Island's fanbase can swiftly shift opinions, akin to the unpredictable loyalty shifts seen in cults.

The hosts categorize Love Island under the "Watch Your Back" cult category (68:51), emphasizing the need for caution due to the intense and often toxic engagement it fosters. They discuss how the show's production and fandom dynamics contribute to a culture of extreme devotion and scrutiny, making it difficult for both contestants and viewers to disengage without significant emotional or social repercussions.

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Interview with Jo Firestone

Jo Firestone provides an insider's perspective on her relationship with Love Island (23:21). She articulates the performative and manipulative aspects of the show: "TV is fascinating to me because it's like acting is so artificial and then you have to do it as yourself while someone in a Hawaiian shirt tells you to like, lick this man." Her novel, "Murder on Sex Island," explores these themes further, critiquing the show's artificial intimacy and the blurred lines between reality and performance.

Jo also discusses the intense bonding and shared experiences that Love Island fosters among fans, likening it to traditional cults by providing a unified conversation topic that creates instant connections with others.

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Psychological Consequences and Social Responsibility

The episode does not shy away from the darker side of Love Island. Chelsea Charles (51:52) shares her struggles with anxiety post-show: "I watched every episode as soon as it came out and I remember talking to my friends from the show being like, we don't even care about this at all." This highlights the disconnect between contestants' experiences and the fans' perceptions, emphasizing the psychological strain caused by public scrutiny and fluctuating popularity.

Amanda Montel (33:11) draws attention to the show's influence on societal values: "The glamorization of that, like, rags to riches, instant rise to influencer fame that Love Island has captured in like this really extreme way..." This points to a broader cultural impact where the show shapes aspirations and self-worth among its viewers.

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Conclusion and Verdict

In their final assessment, the hosts conclude that Love Island fits into the "Watch Your Back" cult category (68:51). This classification stems from the show's ability to foster intense emotional investment, manipulate social interactions, and create a consuming fan culture that can lead to significant psychological and social consequences.

Amanda Montel warns listeners about the addictive nature of such media phenomena: "If you're gonna watch it, and certainly if you're gonna enter the villa, you've gotta watch your back." This serves as a cautionary note about the fine line between entertainment and cult-like devotion.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "Is that not the cultiest thing you've ever heard? You have to like sacrifice your life as a fan to keep up with the show." – Amanda Montel (02:06)

• "The craziest thing about Love Island is that it airs in real time." – Miguel Lee (07:10)

• "We're all just like, stripped of our phones, our environment, like, everything." – Chelsea Charles (40:21)

• "There have been some more serious consequences for both islanders and hosts..." – Amanda Montel (31:02)

• "Initially my reception was not very good... and then like three days later, everybody loved me." – Chelsea Charles (41:02)

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Key Takeaways

• Real-Time Engagement: Love Island's real-time airing and social media integration create an immersive experience that fosters deep emotional connections among viewers.

• Manipulative Production: The show's controlled environment and orchestrated interactions among contestants mirror classic cult tactics, promoting dependency and intense engagement.

• Psychological Impact: Both contestants and fans may experience significant psychological strain due to the show's portrayal of unrealistic beauty standards and the pressures of public scrutiny.

• Fandom Dynamics: The volatile nature of fan reception and the intense devotion exhibited by the fanbase contribute to a cult-like atmosphere surrounding the show.

• Cultural Influence: Love Island shapes societal values and aspirations, particularly among younger viewers, by promoting a superficial and highly curated image of love and success.

• Health and Responsibility: The tragic outcomes linked to the show underscore the need for better mental health support and ethical responsibilities within reality TV productions.

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For those interested in exploring more episodes that analyze various cultural phenomena through the lens of cult dynamics, tune in to Sounds Like A Cult and stay informed about how modern media shapes our societal behaviors and beliefs.

Transcript

[Amanda Montel]

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[Reese Oliver]

In goes a big bag of kibble.

[Amanda Montel]

And one squeaky chicken toy for the good boy. Drive up that's ready when you are only in the Target app.

[Reese Oliver]

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[Amanda Montel]

The views expressed on this episode, as with all episodes of Sounds Like a Cult are solely host opinions and quoted allegations. The content here should not be taken as indisputable fact. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only.

[Chelsea Charles]

They're getting episodes like five days a week. We're filmed 247 so I think people can get way more invested in us.

[Miguel Lee]

I do feel like the current picks you up and you're either in this season or you're not in this season.

[Jo Firestone]

It's not a second screen watch. There are some watches where you're like I'm gonna play solitaire and this in the background. Love island is not that kind of show.

[Chelsea Charles]

It's like a full time job. It's a huge commitment.

[Amanda Montel]

I mean is that not the cultiest thing you've ever heard? You have to like sacrifice your life as a fan to keep up with the show.

[Chelsea Charles]

100%.

[Amanda Montel]

This is sounds like a Cult. A show about the modern day cults we all follow. I'm your host, Amanda Montel, author of the book Cultish, available now in paperback.

[Miguel Lee]

And I'm Reese Oliver, your co host and sounds like a cult resident rhetoric scholar.

[Amanda Montel]

Every week on this show we discuss a different fanatical fringe group from the cultural zeitgeist from Horse Girls all the way to Mark Zuckerberg to try and answer the big question.

[Miguel Lee]

This group sounds like a cult. But is it really? And if so, which of our cult categories does it fall into? A live your life, a watch your back or get the fuck out. After all, cultishness is in the eye of the beholder and not every cult y looking group these days is equally bad. The point of this show is to analyze how culty behaviors show up in everyday life, including places you might not think to look. Or maybe places you purposefully look at for embarrassingly long periods of time. Hushed in front of your television or laptop, muttering about the ill fated decisions of orange tinted folk in you will never meet. Get packing. Nothing beats a Jetu holiday. We are headed on a flight straight to the most cult followed reality dating competition show of the summer. Love Island. Oh no. We need the theme music.

[Amanda Montel]

Oh no. The mediocre British accents that I fear will cover this episode. No, I'm sorry. I'm excited. We're doing the cult of Love island today and one of our very own Chelsea, our co host and resident reality TV producer, producer queen is actually quite the devoted member of Love Island. You can look up her IMDb page to see what we mean. Specifically, Chelsea Charles, producer extraordinaire, one of the wizards behind the villa's curtain. But due to NDA reasons, Chelsea could not collaborate on this episode with us. But she's definitely here in spirit. I am so intimidated to record this episode, which I think think says something about how culty this fandom is because I'm like scared that they'll reject me as a voice.

[Miguel Lee]

It's also a little scary, especially because as busy gals like ourselves, I know neither of us have been locked in to the 97 million hours of love island that have aired this season.

[Amanda Montel]

I feel obligated to disclaim that I do not judge the people who have devoted their lives to this.

[Miguel Lee]

No.

[Amanda Montel]

And I wish you could just love me as a part of your community.

[Miguel Lee]

Basically, we kind of have fomo. Like we know that we can't give it the love and attention it deserves, but we respect it and its cult members.

[Amanda Montel]

Love and attention it doesn't deserve. Well, the love and attention it demands.

[Miguel Lee]

Rather, because of its rigid airing schedule. Like, I know I don't have what it takes within me to be a devoted member of the Love island cult. And, like, that's just what it is.

[Amanda Montel]

No, it actually requires more of its members than Scientology. This is how this episode is going to work, y'.

[Jo Firestone]

All.

[Amanda Montel]

We're gonna talk about just sort of top level. What Rhys and I each think is differently culty about Love island compared to other culty reality TV franchises. Because the chokehold that this shit has on the globe is unlike anything I've ever seen. Zen. We're going to have a convers with writer, comedian, and Love island superfan Jo Firestone. She wrote a whole ass novel based on Love island called Murder on Sex island. And we're gonna kind of get everybody on the same page in terms of this thesis of exploring Love island as a cult with her. And then y' all better get your labia waxed and ready for this.

[Jo Firestone]

Ow.

[Amanda Montel]

Or gonna really get into it. When we have a second interview where the tea is hotter than the temperature on the island of Fiji with M.

[Miguel Lee]

Miguel Lee of season six of Australia, Love island babes.

[Amanda Montel]

I don't know what that was exactly. I loved it. M1 Her Season of Love Island.

[Miguel Lee]

We only have winners on this show.

[Amanda Montel]

History is told by the victors. Hearing her talk about her experience on the show was mind boggling. I was like foaming at the mouth. So first impression, off the bat, Rhys, what do you think is especially culty about Love island as a reality TV cult in a way that is totally differentiated from the shows we've discussed even in the recent.

[Miguel Lee]

The craziest thing about Love island is that it airs in real time. So instead of like months later being heavily doctored, you are living these people's lives pretty much with them, which I think is super attractive for people of my age who grew up in the livestream era.

[Amanda Montel]

Oh, my God, I'm such a millennial. I'm just like, oh, my God. The premise in the Even Stevens movie.

[Miguel Lee]

See, I don't even.

[Amanda Montel]

I've never seen it.

[Miguel Lee]

But I think Love island takes advantage of the social media marketing game in the way that few other shows have. They are ranking out reels like nobody's beeswax. And not only do they pump them through their own channels, but they also pump them through the accounts of all of the contestants. So obviously you're gonna wanna keep up with all of these people whose number one hobby is staring at their phone, because your number one hobby is staring at your phone. So Then you go to stare at these people on your phone, and then on these people's feeds are all of the same Love island reels. You literally can' escape them. It is impossible to separate these people's Personas from Love Island. I find that very culty. I've also been seeing lots of posts online about Love island sets. I think this is true of a lot of reality dating shows. So I don't know how Love island specific this is, but I know that it is true of Love island that a lot of their seating vessels are circular to encourage the contestants to sit more closely to one another. Just lots of little tricky ways that they're encouraging people to get closer, not really letting them be alone. It's Love island, baby. It's not pout by yourself on the beautiful sands of Fiji Island.

[Amanda Montel]

Yes, there is so much forced intimacy in a way that I find so fucking culty. And on the fan side, the us versus them divides of who is a fan and a viewer and a consumer of this fire hose of Love island content and who is not is so extreme here because if you do not jump on the bandwagon as Love island is starting and, like, watch the episodes as they're coming out and, like, get invested in the Personas on screen and are engaging in dialogue with people in your real life about it, et cetera, you're locked out of being able to talk to a certain portion of the population for two months.

[Miguel Lee]

There's like a whole pillar of literal cultural conversation that you're just like, well, I guess I'll just watch that go by.

[Amanda Montel]

Literally, like, I have friends who I haven't seen in weeks.

[Miguel Lee]

It's a similar feeling to kind of like when the Olympics come on and you're like, I don't normally like sports, but I guess I do right now because nobody's talking about anything fucking else. But with Love island, you can't even really do that, because the Olympics you can turn on casually. But with Love island, no, these are complex storylines and you can't really hop in and out as you please. You've got to lock the fuck in or lock the fuck out.

[Amanda Montel]

I want to interrogate that word you used, complex. Because I actually think what's going on on screen is, like, unbelievably. I'm going to be honest, I think it's boring. And forgive me, but, like, I think that what makes Love island addictive and cultish has everything to do with all the things that aren't actually what's going on on screen.

[Miguel Lee]

It's like, for sure.

[Amanda Montel]

Unlike the Olympics, where you just have to, like, sit there at home and be a spectator and eventually you're going to feel satisfied or your eyes are going to glaze over and then leave your house and go do something else. Love island, at least the USA version that is currently colonizing our society, it encourages participation from the fans and that has the capability of making anything interesting. When you, sitting at home, have power to redirect storylines and cast villains and heroes, I think it creates the illusion of power the way that the production creates the illusion of intimacy for the actual contestants. So I think, like a cult, Love island is this escapist, addictive world, voyeuristic world where on screen character arcs become kind of like their own biblical allegories of sorts to teach viewers about themselves. And Love island is also a vice that everyone on the show and everyone watching can participate in shamelessly together. Like, it is the entertainment cult of our time. And it seems to have created a kind of unique level of devotion and codependence among its stars and viewers.

[Miguel Lee]

I mean, I always kind of think of Love island as the reality dating show because there is no gimmick, which I think is why it is kind of boring, as you say. But I think the audience participation is the gimmick. Wow, that's really. I've never thought about it that way before. The volume of it, I suppose, was kind of the gimmick, but, you know, I suppose, like Big Brother does something similar. It doesn't have the same zazzle. And I think. I think you've hit on something there.

[Amanda Montel]

To your point, it's the volume in combination with the participation. Because, like, you could participate in American Idol, which, like, was culty, but in my opinion, in a total live your life level way, at least on the fan side. I don't know anything about the production side of American Idol, but Love island is just this. It's so all consuming and invites you to be part of it. And that is unique in the reality TV space.

[Miguel Lee]

So, Amanda, as our resident Love island noob here, let's explain what Love island is. So the premise is all of these people are on an island. Their goal is to find love and win a large sum of money by being the final remaining couple on Love Island USA. This final sum of money is 100k split into two envelopes. And on Love Island UK, it's 50k pounds. There's an equivalent for all of the Love Islands.

[Amanda Montel]

This is allegedly the goal.

[Miguel Lee]

This is the stated and explicit goal of the show's. Producers or what the show's producers in good faith portray that they believe their contestants intentions to be. So the person who wins, the final person standing who is in a couple because you are the final couple standing, you decide if you split or you steal the money, most people split it. And then whether or not you actually end up as a couple after. Who's to say most of the time what you're asking actually winning is social mobility. There's five episodes a week, they only take two days off. In one of those days they air a different reality show wherein it is I think just different people watching Love Island. And as you are watching in real time, you are also following along on your Love island app and voting islanders or couples off or on occasionally. So your vote as a participant and as a viewer actually does matter. A lot of the allure and charm of the series is watching a bunch of hot 20something people with way too much work done, laying around a pool, being really bored and dreaming up drama or having drama dreamt up for them by producers. After matching up at the beginning of a given season, couples are eliminated both by public voting and by other islanders until one couple gets voted first by the public out of three final couples in the grand finale episode. And throughout the whole time, of course, you gotta know there are hot new bombs in bombshells entering the villa every week trying to turn the head of someone in a loyal couple. Lot to digest there. Yes.

[Amanda Montel]

So then just a little tiny bit on the Love island origin story. It began as a British reality show produced by ITV Studios. It actually launched back in the day in 2005 as Celebrity Love Island. It only ran for two seasons. It honestly kind of flopped. But then ITV rebooted the show with seemingly regular everyday non celebrity contestants and a new host, this beloved British TV presenter, Caroline Flack, who actually not to get too dark too quickly in this episode, but she met a tragic fate. And there is more than one sort of heartbreaking story of how certain Love island alumni struggled after they exited the show and will get get into that in a bit. But back during this like hopeful era for the show, its rebrand, the reiteration, became a huge hit very quickly, particularly with young viewers and it spawned the giant franchise that we all know and that some of us love today. There are now so many international versions of Love island and the sponsorships to match the popularity. According to the Guardian via variety, the summer 2019 season of Love island raked in £77 million in ad revenue. This shit is profitable. So to help Us understand exactly how to define the cult allure of this show. A writer named Danny Leshgold penned a piece on Substack titled On the Cult of Love island and why I'm a Devoted Member. And she explained it like this quote, I find so much coziness in the repetition of the same cast of characters laying by the pool discussing the same thing they discussed the day before and will inevitably discuss the next day. The show is formulaic too. Every few days there will be a bombshell that enters the villa to stir things up and test the couples. The following day there will be a recoupling in which those left single will be dumped from the island. Thus, the incentive is to be in a couple, to be getting to know someone, to be apparently falling in love. You can imagine the number of couples that lack chemistry on this basis. And yet millions of Brits, including me, tune in every day to who will continue on the next day. The typical season has 60 something, 45ish minute episodes. I am so committed that I risk my computer getting a virus and watch it on an illegal website so I can keep up with the show. So as we've been saying, the banality and the predictability, in addition to the volume and the participation lulls the viewer into this. This world. You may have noticed that some terminology was used in that paragraph by Daniel Eshkold. Something that contributes to the cult of Love island is absolutely the cult verbiage. There are so many specialized terms that catch on like wildfire among the audience and of course are used by the contestants. Terms include grafting, meaning putting. This is gonna sound so stupid in an American accent.

[Miguel Lee]

Well, and I think that's part of what's so funny about it is that the lingo is so British because the first version of the show was British. So that's kind of its gimmick too, 100%.

[Amanda Montel]

Because, like, it's in our DNA to be obsessed with whatever Brits are doing.

[Miguel Lee]

Oh yeah.

[Amanda Montel]

And to want to like baby babble in the style of our mommy England. And so that's essentially what we're doing when we repeat Love island terminology. Terms include. I'm just gonna say it in my own dialect. Grafting. Putting in an effort to flirt and try to win someone's affection. Crack on. Try to develop a romantic relationship with someone. Head turned when someone captures your attention more than your current interest.

[Miguel Lee]

Ick.

[Amanda Montel]

Self explanatory. A sudden repulsion from someone you used to like. Mugged off, being disrespected. Banter, playful conversation closed off when you're exclusive and a bombshell can't turn your head and more. I even think it's so funny that they refer to being on the show as being in the villa.

[Miguel Lee]

In the villa.

[Amanda Montel]

It reminds me of how members of Heaven's Gate would refer to the mansion that they all shared as being in craft, like on the spacecraft, that they imagine themselves to be floating off to the kingdom of Heaven.

[Miguel Lee]

Well, of course. And there are so many things like that where in the world of Love island, these phrases are never phrased another way. So all of these really normal human interactions are never not put through the Love island lens. So, like, if you're interested in someone, it's never like, hey, can I talk to you for a second? No. Can I pull you for a chat? I am pulling you for a chat. Even if we're American, I'm pulling you for a chat. And that is just even calling it that, you know, that means we're having a Love island coded romantic interaction. We're not just talking to each other like people anymore.

[Amanda Montel]

Exactly. The world building. It's subtle, but impactful. Wait, Rhys, could you explain the Bombshell thing? Because this seems to be a big term and trope that makes this whole culty Love island formula so alluring to viewers.

[Miguel Lee]

So the bombshell is like hot, brooding person thrown into the mix mid season to shake things up a bit. Everybody's all coupled up, everybody looks all happy. And then, boom. Hot new bombshell enters the villa.

[Reese Oliver]

Boom.

[Miguel Lee]

Love island has honed this really long lasting trope into reality TV gold. Relationship milking gold. The issue with it here is that it motivates really looks based, superficial decisions. I think Love island creates such a gorgeous utopia where all that really matters if you're put in the right spot with the right people. Just pick the one that's best for you and it'll all work out. Even the production team falls in love. What? Yes. In Variety's why Life After Love Island Isn't Always a Beach, K.J. yosman writes. Even Love Island's latest presenter, Laura Whitmore and its longtime narrator, Ian Sterling are now coupled up after reportedly meeting at an ITV party several years ago. Tea.

[Amanda Montel]

Wow.

[Miguel Lee]

Speaking of Mr. Narrator, I mean, he's the reason that I would stick around and watch. And he's, I think, the reason why a lot of people watch the show.

[Amanda Montel]

Wait, can. Can you explain this to me more in depth?

[Miguel Lee]

Yeah, he's just the voice. He's the welcome back to Love Island. And in between scenes, he sets up like this girl's clearly been reading her start and then it just cuts in and she's standing around like, why did I come in here? Why am I here? But you know, he just like adds out of context, funny jabs, things like that. We all love him.

[Amanda Montel]

He's like a proxy or he's something that everyone can see themselves in.

[Miguel Lee]

Exactly. There's that reality show, I forget what it's called, where it's literally just, just other people watching reality TV. And I feel like that's the vision with Mr. Man. They've just incorporated him into the show. He is the unseen lifeblood of the show. He loves to make fun of the characters. He is generally just a much more active participant than the narrator host of these shows usually are. And I think the separation of those two is a really smart thing that Love island has done. It does contribute to it feeling like a story you're being told.

[Amanda Montel]

Okay, okay, so enough of our yippity yapping. We've got to get to these interviews because they're delightful and both fans of the show and outsiders I think will enjoy them in equal measure. Allow us to introduce comedian Joe Firestone for a tell all analysis of the cult island fandom. Get ready to feel slightly attacked. Maybe. But first, a little break from the cult followed brands that make the show possible.

[Reese Oliver]

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[Amanda Montel]

Jo Firestone welcome to Sounds like a Cult.

[Jo Firestone]

Thank you so much. Wow.

[Amanda Montel]

Joe, could you actually to get the culties familiar with your relationship to Love island, because I'm sure that there are some listeners tuning in who are like Love island stands fully in the cult, know all the lore, very passionate. Could you talk about like your personal relationship to this franchise in particular reality.

[Jo Firestone]

TV is fascinating to me because it's like acting is so artificial and then you have to do it as yourself while someone in a Hawaiian shirt tells you to like, lick this man. So I, I feel like it's like there is a lot of suspension of disbelief.

[Amanda Montel]

Yeah, that's so true.

[Jo Firestone]

I think I'm drawn to it and repulsed by it. Like, I was just watching a little bit today right before we got on, and it was like they were just forced to pick a partner, but then in front of like another partner that wanted them. And then that partner had to smile while they were being rejected. And then they had to be like, I still want to be with you. There were so many feelings that weren't expressed and people were just smiling with vacant eyes and I was like, oh God, this is so tough. And then it's like they're really, really passionately making out with each other and you're like, well, maybe they are present. It's hard to know and it's upsetting to watch. I would say it's visceral. Visceral?

[Miguel Lee]

Oh yeah.

[Jo Firestone]

It's not a second screen watch. There are some watches where you're like, I'm gonna play solitaire and watch this in the background. Love island is not that kind of show.

[Amanda Montel]

So how did that fascination lead you to your book?

[Jo Firestone]

Well, you know, I thought, what if there was a murder? How good would that be for ratings? The main character is a detective who really loves watching the show and then she like goes to investigate and then they tell her she has to be on the show and so she has to kind of get to know this world and it's very upsetting because she has to have sex on television, etc. But can I just add that I think that Love island is kind of like Housewives, which is kind of like sports, where it's like, you mention it and then you have something to talk about with someone else else. Right. It's a built in conversation community. I would say that in the way that it's a cult is that it gives you an instant bond with someone else.

[Amanda Montel]

That is the positive side of being in a cult. You have a shared understanding, you have a reason to connect. But why do you think Love island specifically is resonating with American viewers so strongly right now?

[Jo Firestone]

I would say the vibe they're going for is sexy fancy free drinking, eating, swimming, kissing. It's like a house party.

[Amanda Montel]

So it's like Dionysian hottie paradise.

[Jo Firestone]

If I knew you were going to bring out Dionysian, I would have said nothing.

[Miguel Lee]

Sorry.

[Jo Firestone]

I can't believe that you sum up that bullshit I just rambled on with Dionysian. I gotta learn something from that. That was.

[Amanda Montel]

No, it's just literally my only skill in life is to translate normal conversation into overdramatic, sensationalized cult commentary.

[Miguel Lee]

And what a skill it is, because look at it.

[Chelsea Charles]

It's such a skill.

[Jo Firestone]

It's such a skill.

[Miguel Lee]

Jo, which do you think is cultier? The Love island fandom or the Love island production?

[Jo Firestone]

I'm gonna go ahead and say the production.

[Amanda Montel]

Okay, tell us more.

[Jo Firestone]

Basically, because they have no time to edit. It's like when you season beef, right? You can either do it before or after.

[Miguel Lee]

Yeah, I'm with you.

[Jo Firestone]

Right. So it's like if you're not doing it after, you're doing it before.

[Amanda Montel]

You know what I mean?

[Jo Firestone]

So there's a lot of. There's going to be a lot of manipulation.

[Amanda Montel]

Okay.

[Jo Firestone]

You're not giving the people, like, you know, unseasoned beef.

[Amanda Montel]

Totally. And, like, bear with me while I workshop some wordplay right now, okay? You can season beef before or after, or you can create beef on the season before or after.

[Jo Firestone]

You freak. Are you serious?

[Miguel Lee]

Someone give this.

[Jo Firestone]

You're gonna get a webby. You are gonna get a Webby award for that. That was freaked down really good.

[Miguel Lee]

Thank you. All right. Okay.

[Amanda Montel]

So one culty effect that I think the show is definitely having on its fans stems from the sense of conformist aesthetic and beauty standards portrayed on screen. So obviously the contestants on the show are these, like, turbo symmetrical neon bathing suit wearing, highly chlorinated, just not bringing chlorine into it. I'm talking chlorine, honey. They're hot, okay? They're fucking pretty. And they're just shamelessly leaning into this type of aesthetic, which does send these, like, jolts of dopamine into the systems of all who watch. But there can be negative side effects, too. A piece in the Independent reported the rates of inquiry into plastic surgery have risen since the Show's airing in 2018. Sisu Aesthetics Clinics has reported a 200% increase in demand for lip fillers since Megan Barton Hansen entered the villa. Do you think it's fair to say that watching Love island could have an effect on the self esteem of the viewer?

[Jo Firestone]

Yeah, I mean, I watch all shows and then I'm like, how to fix all of it? I am a study in itself. Where I watch it, I'm like, I got to get that. But it's like, you know, at certain point, you're like, what Do I even start with. But I think that happens with regular media too. Right. I don't think it's just reality shows that are kind of propagating this kind of surgery focused energy.

[Amanda Montel]

Totally, totally. But Love island is going to follow you into your algorithm. Like, there's no way that you watch Love island and it never shows up on your feed.

[Miguel Lee]

But if the question is, are every day watching TV any worse for your self esteem than Instagram? I don't know.

[Amanda Montel]

Right. No, probably not. But it's like this feedback loop. Like the more Love island you watch, the more Love island will show up everywhere.

[Miguel Lee]

Yes. It's all a big machine to take over your life. And that aesthetic pressure extends not only to viewers of the show, but also the contestants during filming. There is something to be said about the humiliation, ritual, light quality of making these people perform physical capability challenges for affection while wearing string bikinis and banana boats. Jo, how do you think that contributes to Love Island's culty vibe?

[Jo Firestone]

I think it kind of requires a uniform of vulnerability at all times. Right. I think being that exposed, even if you're really comfortable with your body for that long, if you feel that you have any flaws, like all of it's going to come to life.

[Amanda Montel]

Yes. I did hear that while food is provided at all times for the contestants, a lot of women on the show don't actually want to eat because they have to be in swimsuits all the time and they're like afraid of the scrutiny of their bodies that they'll experience from viewers and they're scared of those cruel comments. And a lot of the dangers of Love island are a result not of anyone laying a finger on anyone or people like, except explicitly locking a door or whatever. But these like abstract pressures and online bullying and things cause the contestants to turn that violence inward. And that is just like a type of brutality that I don't want to downplay, I guess.

[Miguel Lee]

Of course not. And I think it's really important that we don't downplay the psychological effects that being on a show like Love island in any capacity can have on someone. There have been some more serious consequences for both islanders and hosts for Varieties. Why Love after Love Island Isn't always a beach, K.J. yosman writes. Two former Islanders, as well as the show's former host, Caroline Flack, have died by suicide in the space of three years, leading many to question the responsibility the show has to its contestants as well as its audience. End quote. The inquest of none of these three tragic events denoted Love island as a contributing factor for their death. But the synchronicity of the events nonetheless aroused skepticism in viewers. In light of the events and the public conversation that followed, ITV released a statement indicating they'd adopted more rigorous care standards for contestants on the show, including offering multiple therapy sessions and financial advice. ITV's independent medical advisor, Dr. Paul Lichtfeld, said the following In 2019, I have reviewed Love Island's duty of care processes from end to end and they show a degree of diligence that demonstrates the seriousness with which this is taken by the production team.

[Amanda Montel]

Yeah, I know. There's been a bit more discussion lately demanding that reality TV contestants just be treated as human with more respect and better compensation because stories like this are disturbingly common. I mean, there's a reason that we keep getting requests to cover different cult followed reality shows on this podcast. And not all those reasons are light hearted ones as we've been saying. You know, like, obviously there's a huge difference between a reality show cult and an abusive, exploitative, spiritual based compound. However, we can't underestimate how shows like this can shape society's broader values. How is this as a fucking data point? According to this Variety piece that we're gonna Keep referencing by K.J. yosman titled why Life After Love Island Isn't Always a Beach, last year, twice as many people applied for love island, over 100,000 as Oxford and Cambridge, Britain's top universities combined.

[Miguel Lee]

Combined.

[Amanda Montel]

So, I mean, matriculation and applications for universities are like, falling in general due to so many factors. But I can't help but correlate the glamorization of that, like, rags to riches, instant rise to influencer fame that Love island has captured in like this really extreme way with people being like, college. Ew. The long game. Gross. Science. No.

[Miguel Lee]

Love Island.

[Amanda Montel]

Love island, yes. Jo, would you rather have to be a contestant on an entire season of Love island or do one semester of college at Oxford?

[Jo Firestone]

I'm gonna go with the semester of college. But yes, I think that if I joined the cast of of Love island at my age, I think they would take care of me as a senior citizen. They would feed me and make sure that I didn't get confused. And I know that that is not where I want to be for a whole season. No thank you.

[Amanda Montel]

Okay, so maybe we won't find Joe Firestone on a forthcoming season of Love Island. Our loss. But despite all the false promises and indeed life or death consequences of this show, the cult is having no trouble recruiting. According to Yasmin's Variety Piece. Due to Love Island's astounding popularity, other British shows are actually having issues finding applicants. Everyone's just like, no, I'm holding out for Love Island. This is the only thing I want to do. Obviously, the supposed appeal of being a contestant on the show is to find love, maybe win $100,000 and potentially become an influencer, but that doesn't even seem to fully encapsulate the. The scope of this cult appeal that people don't even want to be on other reality shows. They just want to be on this one. Contestants are often lured onto the show with dreams of successful business ventures on the other side. And even though the reality is that many contestants often really struggle after the show ends, people keep applying in droves. Jo, what do you think? Is that, like, cult magic that the Love island production has clearly cultivated that keeps drawing people in?

[Jo Firestone]

Well, I mean, I feel like it's like the brand recognition, right? Where it's like, you could be on Suck it or Fuck it or whatever. The new. You know, the new show is like, you don't know if it's gonna be a hit, right? And it's like, this is like, if the end goal is to become an influencer, this is the biggest promise, right? It's like, if you want to be cool, you wear a leather jacket. You don't wear a canvas jacket, hoping you're gonna start the trend of canvas, you go with leather. Right? Brand recognition.

[Amanda Montel]

Oh, my God. So in that way, it really is like Oxford. Exactly. So this is how people are recruited to apply for the Oxford of reality television. Potential contestants for Love island are usually discovered in places like nightclubs and given seemingly not much information. Actually, according to a Vanity Fair piece titled How Love Island Became a TV Reality of Sex, Fame, and Sometimes Tragedy, by Anna Peel, quote unquote, season one finalist John Clark, who was approached to join the series by three producers at a club called the Sugar Hut, said, I signed the contract and didn't even read it. Or was it I signed the contract and I didn't even read it.

[Miguel Lee]

Didn't even read it.

[Amanda Montel]

Sorry, that was maybe like, a little posh again. I don't Go north.

[Miguel Lee]

Go north.

[Amanda Montel]

Very well. Okay, okay, let me try again. I signed the contract and I didn't even read it.

[Jo Firestone]

That one was the best one yet. That one was really good.

[Miguel Lee]

Jo, I loved what you said about the uniform of vulnerability. I think that's definitely a huge aspect of our next cult behavior category. Voyeurism. Obviously, people are watching other people's most intimate Moments and the idea of consent is kind of shaky at best. The production have off camera showers for ladies and off camera toilets for the entire cast. However, the cast is prepped beforehand that the rule is if there are two or more people in the bathroom at one time, you will be filmed. If one person is going to the bathroom alone, they are never filmed. But if it's girls night and you're bringing your bestie to the toilet with you, you better be camera ready, girl. So yeah, I probably wouldn't be eating because if I'm going to the bathroom with my girl, the camera's gonna watch me poop. I don't want that.

[Amanda Montel]

Do you always poop with a friend?

[Miguel Lee]

Oh, always. Only in twos. Love you, Sydney. Continuing on, there are cameras absolutely everywhere. Bedrooms and bathrooms, not just common spaces obviously. And this is the deal of reality tv, duh. But just to kind of touch on that from a more real perspective, John Clarke from season one, when asked if he'd known intercourse he'd had on the show would be aired, said I did and I didn't. But you gotta understand, I was a 25 year old younger fella, put in a villa. Think about it. Sorry? Think about it. The perfect way of meeting someone is being taken away from the world.

[Amanda Montel]

I know. It's such a reflection of like how weird the media landscape is right now. Because yes, you're signing a contract, you're having this amazing opportunity, but ever really be prepared to be filmed and then have millions of people watch it.

[Miguel Lee]

Like it's just like the next day.

[Amanda Montel]

Nuts the next day.

[Miguel Lee]

Like you're not even, like you're incentivized to make all of these super crazy decisions and everyone looks so hot and is being followed by the camera. And you want your air time obviously because you signed up on this thing to, to get a career as an influencer and then like you're in it and you know, it's like John said, you know, and you don't. Spooky.

[Amanda Montel]

Totally. Joe, thank you so much for being a part of this cult analysis of Love Island. If people want to engage with you, where can they keep up with you and do that?

[Jo Firestone]

They can buy the book. There you go.

[Amanda Montel]

We're gonna link it in our show notes. You better buy it.

[Miguel Lee]

And make sure to stick around because after the break we are going to get into all of the Love island culty goodness. With Love Island Australia winner and Miguel Lee. Jack Daniels is proudly served in fine establishments, questionable joints and everywhere in between. So no matter where you go in every bar, you'll always know someone by name.

[Amanda Montel]

Jack Jack and Coke.

[Miguel Lee]

Shot of Jack Jack Daniels, please. Right away. That's what makes Jack Jack. Please drink responsibly. Responsibility.org Jack Daniels and old number seven are registered trademarks. Copyright 2025 Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey. 40% alcohol by volume 80 proof.

[Amanda Montel]

With the Venmo debit card, you can Venmo everything. Your favorite band's merch.

[Miguel Lee]

You can Venmo this or their next show. You can Venmo that.

[Amanda Montel]

Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more. The Venmo MasterCard is a free by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated. The card may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted.

[Miguel Lee]

Venmo purchase restrictions apply.

[Amanda Montel]

M. Yes. Off the bat, could you tell us, as a contestant, what was the cultiest part of your experience in the villa?

[Chelsea Charles]

Oh, God. In the villa. Honestly, I feel like the Australian version of the show is very different in terms of production and everything compared to the US or the uk. It is kind of culty because we're all just, like, stripped of our phones, our environment, like, everything. I guess Love island in itself just is a cult. The villa was like our home, and we were all just in a cult. So you know what? You're right.

[Miguel Lee]

Great.

[Amanda Montel]

So relieved. And how did that feel like when you showed up? What were some of your expectations and were they met? Were they violated?

[Chelsea Charles]

I would say, going into it, I have a really good way of just shutting off my emotions. Trauma. So I honestly didn't feel much, like, not even, like, excitement. I'm, like, quite anxious as a human being. So I was like, let's just not feel anything. People would be like, you excited to go in? Are you nervous? Blah, blah, blah. I was like, no, I'm here. I'm existing. But I feel like definitely we were held in these little tents right before we very first walked into the villa, and I felt like I was gonna throw up. So I was feeling all the feelings then. But then I would say, getting in, just acclimatize so quickly to your environment. And I thrived. I loved it so much. Like, I thought I was gonna freak out because I'm a control freak, but just having, like, everything kind of taken care of for you, and all you have to do is just, like, exist and talk and be yourself. I didn't have to think about, like, how to feed myself, to wash up, to do my laundry. Like, all these little ADHD things that I hate and really struggle with was just taken away. And I Love it. I didn't want to leave.

[Amanda Montel]

I mean, this is speaking to the allure of cults, good and bad in the 21st century is just like the relief of surrender.

[Miguel Lee]

That's definitely something that I feel like is an aspect that's prevalent in a lot of religious cults. I always go back to that scene in Fleabag where she's like, I just want someone to tell me what to do with my life because I never know.

[Amanda Montel]

She ends that monologue by saying who to love and how to love them. Love island for sure.

[Miguel Lee]

Literally Fleabag on Love island air. That's an SNL ski.

[Chelsea Charles]

I mean.

[Miguel Lee]

So which aspect of Love island do you find cultier? The Love island fandom or the Love island production?

[Chelsea Charles]

Oh, fandom. 100 billion percent.

[Miguel Lee]

Okay, say more. Why?

[Chelsea Charles]

Well, this is what I was talking about earlier. With the differences in productions, I feel like Australia, our producers really didn't interfere. They will never make you do or say anything. Of course they're there to make a show. And maybe they will manipulate things, environments, or by sending a specific text or sending somebody on a date, but that's only to fast track what they already know is going to happen because they see everything. There's not only the producers, but a room, a huge room full of people watching us on all these screens. So they know what's gonna happen. So yeah, I would say there's manipulation through that part, but I honestly feel like they had our best interests at heart. Or mine, definitely. But the Love island fand is just like a whole other kettle of fish. They are crazy. Love them. But it was kind of bizarre watching it back. Our season was pre filmed, so we shot in August and a little bit of September last year and it didn't come out until the end of October. It finished airing in December. So everything that had kind of gone on in the villa, we were so far removed from it when it was airing. So it was so interesting seeing everybody's cult pack mentality watching the show. Like they love you one second, then they hate you, then you're in trou trouble for this. And they loved you did that. And it's just so interesting how invested people get. I watched every episode as soon as it came out and I remember talking to my friends from the show being like, we don't even care about this at all. If I was beefing with somebody in the show, we're texting, they're watching the episode, laughing about it, and everybody's in the comments just losing their shit. So yeah, I think that's quite interesting. Unlike other reality TV shows, you're getting episodes like, like five days a week and we're filmed 24 7. So it's just access unlike any other kind of reality show. So I think people can get way more invested in us. I think that's like the number one reason to be quite honest with like. Yeah. Just how crazy they can be sometimes or just overly invested.

[Amanda Montel]

Yeah. I mean, I was like trying to get caught up on a few seasons and. And I was intimidated out of it just because of the sheer volume. And I was like, I'm never actually going to understand what it's like to be in this fan cult because you kind of have to experience it in real time to be able to get swept into that riptide 100%. And I can imagine that once you do like, you don't know how to swim out of it.

[Miguel Lee]

It's a current.

[Amanda Montel]

To use too much island analogy.

[Miguel Lee]

I do feel like the current picks you up and you're either in this season or you're not in this season. And the show definitely encourages that. They market so heavily with the clips. Just all of these out of context clips that they are firing from all angles. So then it's like, okay, well if I want context for this clip, I have to watch 19 hours of these people's lives who I've never met. Okay. A lot.

[Chelsea Charles]

It's like a full time job. It's a huge commitment.

[Amanda Montel]

I mean, is that not the cultiest thing you've ever heard? You have to like sacrifice your life as a fan to keep up with the show 100%.

[Chelsea Charles]

And like for you guys in summer as well, like love island usa. I place like right now, it's like, don't you want to go outside? Like maybe go to like a happy hour or something? No, you gotta be home.

[Miguel Lee]

No, we want to live vicariously through the summers of people who most of the time have gotten the procedures we can't afford. So.

[Chelsea Charles]

Absolutely.

[Miguel Lee]

So we just get to witness it.

[Amanda Montel]

Wait, that is hilarious. It's like a classic cult will put your ass on a compound. This culture cult is like show you why. Making you feel like you're on a Korean.

[Miguel Lee]

Just gonna show you. You just get to look at it.

[Amanda Montel]

I'm like, what does the world come to?

[Miguel Lee]

But I do think there's something like doubly culty in that it still does require the OG cult experience of the islanders who are beholden to both sides of it. Both, like the real cult life aspect and then the fandom Internet aspect. Afterwards.

[Amanda Montel]

What a burden.

[Miguel Lee]

So speaking of being on both sides of it, how would you generally describe the culture of Love Island? You've talked a little bit about how you kind of thrived there. It seems like a very immersive world. Describe it a little more.

[Chelsea Charles]

It was pretty tumultuous. Like you could have the most horrendous morning and then by lunchtime everybody's forgotten about it and everybody's like happy as Larry, like getting along so well. I met one of my best friends now Mimi, on the show and we literally just like played mermaids in the pool and went for chats and we made up like silly dances and like silly songs because we couldn't like sing commercial music. We were just like making up the most random stuff ever to entertain ourselves. I feel like the production as well, like there's always producers on shift at all times, like within the villa. So like they became like really good friends of ours. And I don't know, I feel like the culture was pretty. It was very up and down.

[Amanda Montel]

That reminds me of something I witnessed that I'm actually not even sure I'm allowed to talk about because I think I signed an NDA on the way in. But I'll just talk about it in vague terms. I visited a set last year that was for a potential show that they were filming in LA that was also like a social experiment, but also like an improv exercise. And the theme was, was cult. And everyone participating was like wearing mics like you do at Love Island. So it was kind of like a reality show, but it was also just, I guess a social experiment is what you would say. The rehearsal and yeah, like the rehearsal and the line between what was acting and what was real experience was extremely blurred. And how quickly people leaned into cult dynamics and cult behaviors was. Is fascinating to behold because I think there's some part of us that really wants to let our freak flag fly in a remote location and wants to act a fool and make connections that burn fast and bright and then flame out on the side of the road. This show seems like a permission structure to participate in and enjoy being like a fringy freak. And it sounds like some of those experiences for you were really good. But the non traditional cult aspect is of course how the cult follows you when you are permitted to and indeed have to leave the villa. I mean, you've alluded to like loving the fans, fearing the fans. Hahaha. Have you experienced any psychological consequences from the fans reception of you?

[Chelsea Charles]

Obviously for us we watched it back because it was pre recorded, as I said. So I feel like that was a rough six weeks while it was airing because I was along for the ride with the fans. Initially my reception was not very good. I said a comment about not cooking my couple a steak. I was like, why would I cook for you? And everybody was like, like, oh my God, she's this like horrible vegan girl. And like blah, blah, blah. And then so everybody hated me. And then like three days later, everybody loved me. And then it was just like up and down, up and down, up and down the whole time. So I was on a fucking roller coaster with everybody else watching the show. But I would say, like, since leaving, I mean, I already had a high anxiety and like, I hate leaving the house most days and think everybody's looking at me. So whether they actually are or not now, nothing's really changed. I wouldn't say psychologically for me, which is amazing. I have since started therapy love. But yeah, it was a wild ride watching the show back and I was in everything. I was on TikTok comments, Instagram comments. I lived in the Reddit. I was a literal Reddit slut, which was so fucked up. It was a very dark time. I just wanted to know everything.

[Amanda Montel]

I am also an anxious girly who has like a mild, low grade, constant level of paranoia that I'm being surveilled. And so there's almost like something validating about having that anxiety brought to real life where you like literally actually are having your every behavior surveillance.

[Chelsea Charles]

Yeah, I mean, I would say, like most of the time it doesn't really bother me, but sometimes, like yesterday I was going for a walk with my boyfriend down at Bondi beach where we live, and this girl, it's not an issue, but I just like, got this like, whisper in this, like, oh, my God, that's. I'm like, get over it.

[Miguel Lee]

Wait till I.

[Amanda Montel]

Right.

[Chelsea Charles]

No, sometimes it just really annoys me, just like knowing that like, I'm just like being perceived by people that don't actually know me. But like, like, that part sometimes is annoying. I was in a really bad mood yesterday, you guys, but yeah, but most of the time it's pretty fine. And like, fan interactions have been like, fine. It was a little hairy there for a while because I really like my energy. A lot of the time is based off other people's energy. So if people are coming up to me wanting to say hello but are really anxious and have anxious energy, then I'm just going to be f ing weird. I will make it weird. I Also do not know how to exit conversations. So I'll either just say nothing and just be looking at them or I'll walk away without saying anything. Yeah, so that's been quite interesting.

[Amanda Montel]

I'm sure those dissociative skills are coming in handy.

[Chelsea Charles]

Oh, my God. So helpful.

[Amanda Montel]

Incredible. I mean, we're kind of dancing around this question already, but trying to apply the structure of a classic cult to Love island, who in the mix would you say is the least? Is it the producers? Is it the fans? What do you think?

[Chelsea Charles]

Oh, no, it's absolutely our gorgeous, gorgeous producer. Love him so much. I think he's a genius and he knows people so well. And obviously you're never told to do or say anything, but he knew casting and when he got to the final cast, you know who is going to be there till the end. I think he's done this for so long. He also cast multiple other reality TV shows, so he knows who is going to go well and who's not going to go down very well. And obviously people are cast for all different reasons. Some people are going to be cast because they know that everybody's going to hate them and that will drive comments and viral moments and blah, blah, blah. Not everybody is cast on the show to make it to the end. So I think he is the ultimate king and cult leader. But I was obviously there to the very end and ended up winning. So I love him. I love my cult daddy.

[Miguel Lee]

Love the self awareness.

[Amanda Montel]

I love this. Yeah, no, I really, really do. Because, like, in a way, Love island is analogous to the hierarchy of a classic cult. Literally, like, you called him a genius daddy at the top.

[Miguel Lee]

He orchestrates it very literally.

[Amanda Montel]

Yes, yes. You won. So, like, obviously you're gonna come away worshiping him.

[Chelsea Charles]

I'll go back.

[Amanda Montel]

I'm sure there are other. Yeah, yeah. But I'm sure there are other cast members who like, like, wouldn't say the same. And then in a way, because the fandom is so intense and manipulative in their own way, like in some reality TV cults, the fans almost do play their own cult leader role. But here it sounds like this guy has them wrapped around his finger, even.

[Chelsea Charles]

If they don't know it 100%. But I feel like, because it's obviously prerecorded, he does get to be the cult leader. But I feel like if it's live, like the USA version, I feel like the public and the fans would very much maybe take that role because then he doesn't have power. The fans have the power. I'M not sure if you guys. I'm not watching the Love Island USA season because honestly, like, I know how the sausage is made. I can't enjoy it, but I've seen all the clips and just like, what is going on. Some of the girls at the moment, just like mass unfollowing is people losing upwards of 200,000 followers and people digging up things from everybody's past, either rightfully so or not. It's just actually crazy how culty it is.

[Amanda Montel]

I don't know what you think, Rhys, but I think the intensity of what's going on in real world high stakes global events is just dialing up the temperature on how people engage with media like this.

[Miguel Lee]

Oh, totally.

[Amanda Montel]

Like, it's so low stakes, but in a way that makes people even more insane.

[Miguel Lee]

Yeah. Because it's their escapist content. So it's like I need to step away from my life and step fully into this. And because I'm stepping fully into this, I need to attach such high stakes to it. And I think a lot of the time people end up bringing their own, like, internal biases and their own internal feelings about all the other shit that's happening outside of this into the Love island world, which, I mean, it has such a huge following. That's something that's really crazy to see in the U.S. you know, are so divided. Love island unites us all though. But everyone is obviously going to interact with it very differently based on all of their different opinions. So it's kind of like a Rorschach. I feel like people definitely use it that way in terms of like, which of my friends are aligning with which contestants and do I approve of your behavior? And I feel like we are seeing a lot of this behavior in fans trying to manage their reactions to a contestant this season. Ciara's past transgressions that are getting currently unearthed on the Internet, that is a whole circus to watch in itself.

[Amanda Montel]

Yes.

[Miguel Lee]

So I guess in this conversation about people bringing their own internal biases into the Love island world, our question to you is, do you see any undue misogyny, racism or any other forms of bigotry perpetuated by Love island fans? Like, for example, excessive hatred being directed towards like female contestants of color, that kind of thing?

[Chelsea Charles]

Absolutely.

[Miguel Lee]

I also think there's something to like, a lot of the social dynamics that impact a lot of these contestants in the real world are also impacting, attracting them inside this vacuum of the villa. But a lot of the time the production doesn't want to act like it or acknowledge it. Not necessarily that there's always a good way to do that, but a lot of the time I feel like their circumstances are neglected and not addressed fully and that leads to more issues because it is this utopian island fantasy time. So we can't talk about any of that.

[Amanda Montel]

Yeah. So multiple black contestants have pointed out a lack of diversity on the show, according to several reports. Reports and the show's creator responded to those by saying, we want to be as representative as possible, but we also want them to be attracted to one another.

[Miguel Lee]

Insane. I don't even know. I don't even like, what is. How are we supposed to interpret that?

[Amanda Montel]

Oh, my God. What do you think is the transcendent promise of Love Island? M Like, why are contestants so eager to sign up for this nightmare?

[Chelsea Charles]

I mean, let's all be honest. I feel like anybody going on a reality show nowadays, myself included, is for the potential of a platform. Obviously nothing is ever promised. You have no idea how it's going to go, how you'll be received, anything. You could maybe have a good idea if, you know, you're like a good person with, like, good morals that, like, hopefully going to be liked. But I feel like the promise is, yeah, this platform and access to more opportunities and obviously, maybe love, maybe you meet somebody that you like. But I definitely don't think that's everybody's number one reason. And that's not what the producers tell you either. I can't tell you how many times we were told we're here to make a show and if you guys meet somebody and you fall in love, that's a bonus. But we're here to make a show.

[Amanda Montel]

I guess the title Platform island doesn't quite roll off the tongue the same way.

[Chelsea Charles]

No, and I don't want to say fame because, like, for us in Australia, our franchise is so small compared to the UK and the US people that are on the show right now. We saw what happened last year with all of the islanders, just blew up insane numbers. And that just doesn't happen at all in Australia. But I think definitely the promise for the other franchises is like, you could call it fame to some level.

[Amanda Montel]

The definition of that word is murky these days.

[Chelsea Charles]

Oh, yeah, absolutely.

[Miguel Lee]

So the price that you have to pay to spend your summer on this magical villa is often participating in humiliation ritual, like physical challenges, oftentimes for affection most of the time. Whilst bikini clad. Can you talk a little bit about how you think that contributes to the cult y vibe?

[Chelsea Charles]

Oh, I mean, we're Basically being humiliated in front of not only each other, the contestants, and the entire production. And in future, when everybody sees it, when the episode's air, like, anybody who's watching. I originally hated doing the challenges because I would say my biggest fear going into Love island was knowing that I would have to. To kiss boys, which is inherently disgusting.

[Miguel Lee]

Out of context, that's a hilarious statement, but, like, so true.

[Chelsea Charles]

No, it's so true.

[Amanda Montel]

Hilarious in context.

[Chelsea Charles]

I'm like, it's actually just so gross. I don't want to do that. So that was what I was most scared about. Oh, and also going to the bathroom because there's cameras everywhere. But, yeah, which is also really culty. Like, why do you need to smell us 24 7? The challenges were basically just being humiliated in front of everybody. It's quite sick and twisted. Some of the challenges are quite crazy. I feel like we could make it fun at least, but then I feel like when I warm well. And also when I think we did a challenge, maybe day two. These are strangers. I don't know these people from a bar of soap. What do you mean? I have to make out with them and grind on them and whatever else. But I feel like the further we got into it, I realized it actually just didn't matter. And I had fun with it, but, yeah, initially I was scared, validly so.

[Amanda Montel]

I mean, that is really disturbing. And I guess you have to do some mental gymnastics to justify it to yourself and have fun with it.

[Chelsea Charles]

I was just conditioned to enjoy it.

[Amanda Montel]

I mean, that is literally one of the, like, three Cs of brainwashing that the religious studies scholar Rebecca Moore describes conversion, conditioning, and coercion like, hello, three, check, check, check.

[Miguel Lee]

This is something I do remember from watching the show is it definitely feels antithetical to the purported purpose of the show, which is for people to find love when, like, half of their time is spent in bed with someone that they don't even like, because that's who they signed up to do these challenges with at the beginning of the show and, like, try to get their best chance out with winning. Obviously, we've been talking about how crazy these fans are, and I'm wondering if this is different from an Australian perspective, but have you seen the Love island fans behave in any really unhinged or especially obtrusive ways online?

[Chelsea Charles]

I guess so. I mean, I feel like it's a whole spectrum of displays online from the fans. I think I've just blocked it all out.

[Amanda Montel]

You have to. To protect. Protect your. Yes. Or whatever. Like, Anything resembling peace, especially because what's.

[Miguel Lee]

Crazy about these shows is like while most people do go on them anticipating a following and anticipating to be interacted with online, they're also people that most of the time have like regular jobs and aren't used to that level of attention and usually aren't, to my knowledge, very well trained or like told with how to cope with that or how to handle that or how to navigate any of that. Which just sounds like a 180 that I wouldn't wish on anyone.

[Chelsea Charles]

Yeah, I feel like that's almost on them though, because I feel like you're entering this. We go through so many rounds of auditioning and the process to actually be on the show is lengthy and it's a couple of months. So if you're not mentally prepared for what could happen, then that's kind of on you. I went into it so aware of all the possibilities. I didn't have necessarily any expectations on what I thought because I honestly thought I would get in there and. And hate everybody, to be quite honest. And all my best friends were like, why the fuck are you going on Love Island? Like, you literally do not like people. You don't date. You're nothing like any of the stereotypical contestants. Like, you're going to hate yourself, you're gonna hate being there. But yeah, I feel like I was very mentally prepared of what to expect afterwards.

[Amanda Montel]

Okay, key question that we actually didn't ask, ask why did you go on Love Island?

[Chelsea Charles]

No.

[Amanda Montel]

Okay, right. Platform Island.

[Chelsea Charles]

It's minuscule, but yeah, definitely for the potential of a platform. I was already like on TikTok. I had like 11, 000 followers when I got in. So yeah, I just wanted to like grow on social media. I was already doing a little bit of acting. I was in like TV commercials, modeling all of that kind of of stuff just kind of lends itself to having a platform. Well, having a platform lends itself to all of that. So yeah, definitely for that and just for the experience. Like, I also love reality tv. I loved Love island as well and I just thought it would be so fucking interesting and entertaining and just like as a lover of these reality TV shows to go in and just see how it is actually made interest me so much, much. It's all encompassing and obviously meeting people, it's just a fucking. You'd be silly to say no, I think if you're mentally capable of doing so.

[Amanda Montel]

Yeah, that all makes sense. I mean, are reality shows ruined for you now?

[Chelsea Charles]

I would say Love island for Minnie Moe. But then I've been really getting into Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders the second season.

[Amanda Montel]

I mean, that's basically a documentary.

[Chelsea Charles]

Oh, yeah, I know. Wait, that's actually so true. That makes me sound so much smarter. But also, like, I'm such a summer house. Stan. I don't know if you guys know Summer House with, like, Paige desorvo, Amanda Batola, Sierra.

[Amanda Montel]

I know it. I haven't seen it so good.

[Chelsea Charles]

But, yeah, not all of them have been ruined.

[Amanda Montel]

That's beautiful.

[Chelsea Charles]

I know.

[Amanda Montel]

Okay, but this is what's interesting. It's like, there are no pretenses on the Bachelor. If you, like, fully admit that you went on for a platform, you would be crucified, tarred and feathered. But yeah, I love how we both.

[Miguel Lee]

Named, like, antiquated punishments from, like, the old. We weren't, like, cancelled. You went with tar and feathered and I went with crucify.

[Amanda Montel]

Put in the stocks. Yeah, but you're just like, no. Like the producer said, we were there to make a show. We were there to make a show. I was trying to get more TikTok followers, viewers, period, point blank. But then you go on and you actually do have a life experience that led you to the point where you're saying that the producer was a genius. And so, like, you'll probably be impacted by your Love island experience in a real way for the rest of your life. So my question is, what has your cult deprogramming been like? Or do you still feel like the culture of Love island is in you? Like, you can take the girl off the island, but you can't take the island out of the girl?

[Chelsea Charles]

Oh, you definitely cannot take the island out of the girl. Not going to lie. If I didn't have a boyfriend right now, I would be back on an island this summer, potentially. No, I feel like nothing else. And it was so much fun. I just had so much fun. I loved every aspect of it. And yeah, I would definitely do it again. Like, gagging for it. I'm kind of jealous of everybody in the villa right now. I'm like, fly me to Fiji.

[Amanda Montel]

There's nothing to make you want to do it all over again. Like winning?

[Chelsea Charles]

Yeah, no, 100%. But I'm also hyper aware that realistically not going to happen ever again. If I were to ever go on another season, nothing's guaranteed. I could have a very different experience, which I think is important to know.

[Amanda Montel]

Em, you are a treasure. Thank you so much for coming on. Sounds like a cult. If folks would like to continue helping you Build that platform. Where can they follow you?

[Chelsea Charles]

Oh, God. You can find me at Dragonsweep on everything. It's like dragon and then sweep like a broom. Or not. Just let me exist.

[Miguel Lee]

Yeah. She's like, I've seen enough.

[Amanda Montel]

Incredible. All right, Rhys, it's time for our verdict. Out of our three cult categories, live your life, watch your back, and get the out. Which category do you think the Cult of Love island falls into?

[Miguel Lee]

I don't know. I mean, it feels really wrong to rate it anything harsher than a Live youe Life because it is ultimately a TV show. And I think that the worst danger is that you won't have a social, social life after you participate too hard in the violent cult. So, yeah, live your life as long as you keep your social life.

[Amanda Montel]

Yeah, I think it's a watch your back just because of the life or death consequences that have been brought to light. I mean, that is chilling and can't be discounted, I think. And also because the show just like brings out the worst in so many fans.

[Miguel Lee]

And it does.

[Amanda Montel]

And in the volume at which it comes out. I think if you're gonna watch it, and certainly if you're gonna enter the villa, you've gotta watch your back.

[Miguel Lee]

Watch with caution. Watch with blue light filters, maybe honestly protect your eyes. That's the real damage being done here, is your retinas. Let's talk about the real issues, people.

[Amanda Montel]

Yeah, you're gonna have to follow the 2020 rule where every 20 minutes you have to go outside and look at something 20ft away.

[Miguel Lee]

I try to do that. I try.

[Amanda Montel]

Well, that is our show.

[Miguel Lee]

Thank you so much for listening.

[Amanda Montel]

Stick around for a new cult next week, but in the meantime, stay culty.

[Miguel Lee]

But not too culty.

[Amanda Montel]

Sounds Like Sounds Like a Cult was created by Amanda Montel and edited by Jordan Moore of the Pod Cabin. This episode was hosted by Amanda Montel and Reese Oliver. This episode was produced by Reese Oliver. Our managing producer is Katie Epperson. Our theme music is by Casey Kolb. If you enjoyed the show, we'd really appreciate it if you could leave it 5 stars on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It really helps the show a lot. And if you like this podcast, feel free to check out my book, Cultish the Language of Of Fanaticism, which inspired the show. You might also enjoy my other books, the Age of Magical Notes on Modern Irrationality and A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language. Thanks as well to our network, Studio71. And be sure to follow the Sounds Like a Cult cult on Instagram. For all the discourse. Sounds like a cult pod or support us on Patreon to listen to the show ad free at patreon.com soundslikeacult.