LottoStar no longer feeling the love for M-Net’s 'Love Island SA'
LottoStar has withdrawn as the main sponsor for M-Net's reality show, Love Island South Africa.
This follows backlash from social media users about the lack of diversity among the show’s contestants with the cast including only two black contestants.
The show’s first episode also had technical errors on Sunday night.
We literally in Africa & there are only two black people on the show ??? also aren’t we one of the most diverse countries in the world ? where are the other races ???
— Danilo (@odedanilo) February 28, 2021
This was deliberately done to trend from the justified outrage. Surely using black pain and outrage as a marketing tool should be a thing of the past but you still have shows like LoveIsland with an all white cast.
— THE 4TH REPUBLIC (@PrinceKaybee_SA) March 1, 2021
M-Net acknowledged the outcry and issued a statement saying: “We’re sorry, we didn’t meet our usual standard on both counts,” referring to both the lack of representation and production challenges.
— M-Net (@MNet) March 2, 2021
The lottery giant made the announcement on Twitter on Tuesday.
"We wish the show and its contestants every success,” they said.
"LottoStar has taken the decision to respectfully withdraw its sponsorship of Love Island SA. We wish the show and its contestants every success” - Director, LottoStar. #LoveIslandSA
— Lottostar (@Lotto_Star) March 2, 2021
