Love Island claims the most complained about TV moment of 2022

Love Island is responsible for three of the most complained about TV moment of the year, with almost three thousand viewers condemning one particular episode for its perceived tolerance of alleged misogynistic and bullying behaviour. 

Official figures released by British TV and radio regulator Ofcom place the ITV2 flagship at the top of a ten strong list, with many of its complaints relating to its July 17 episode. 

Figures showed that 2,630 viewers complained about ‘alleged misogynistic behaviour by some of the male contestants’ during the show’s Movie Night. 

Top of the list: Love Island is responsible for three of the most complained about TV moment of the year, with almost three thousand viewers condemning the show for its perceived tolerance of alleged misogynistic and bullying behaviour

In addition, 769 viewers complained about the July 18 episode of Aftersun, which saw host Laura Whitmore and panellists speculate on what happened between Ekin-Su Culculoglu and George Tasker in the bedroom.  

The treatment of contestant Tasha Gouri during one of its best known challenges, was also called into question, with 1,523 complaining after the episode aired on July 19.

The professional dancer was repeatedly hit in the face with cream pies during a game of snog, marry, pie – a regular fixture on the show whereby contestants must pie the person they deem the most unappealing. 

Blockbuster figures: Figures showed that 2,630 viewers complained about ‘alleged misogynistic behaviour by some of the male contestants’ during the show’s Movie Night

Messy: The treatment of contestant Tasha Gouri during one of its best known challenges, was also called into question, with 1,523 complaining after the episode aired on July 19 

Ofcom said at that complaints specific to that July 17 episode had been about ‘alleged bullying among the contestants, and raised ongoing concerns about behaviour from the male contestants that they considered to be misogynistic’. 

Over the show’s eight weeks on air, 7,482 complaints were made related to ‘alleged misogynistic and bullying behaviour’ by some of the male contestants.

Other complaints made were centred around ‘alleged misogyny, emotional abuse and coercive control’ by the male contestants.

Not happy: I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! received 1,890 complaints across the board regarding the presence of MP Matt Hancock in the jungle camp

Support: The ITV1 show picked up an additional 627 complaints for a November 13 episode, during which viewers objected to Hancock’s treatment by his his fellow campmates

Similar complaints were aimed at I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, with the show receiving 1,890 complaints across the board regarding the presence of MP Matt Hancock in the jungle camp, placing it second in the Ofcom top ten. 

The ITV1 show picked up an additional 627 complaints for a November 13 episode, during which viewers objected to Hancock’s treatment by his his fellow campmates. 

Transgender musician Jordan Gray’s controversial performance on an October 21 edition of Friday Night Live, during which the performer stripped off, has attracted 1,548 complaints. 

Controversial: Transgender musician Jordan Gray’s controversial performance on an October 21 edition of Friday Night Live, during which the performer stripped off, has attracted 1,548 complaints 

Comments made by Good Morning host Richard Madeley on February 15 regarding death threats made to Keir Starmer has attracted 860 complaints, while an edition of Jeremy Vine dated January 24 fetched 773 calls from offended viewers. 

Many were aggrieved over about a health consultant’s inaccurate statement about numbers of unvaccinated people in hospital with COVID-19. 

Elsewhere Gary Neville’s rant against the Conservative Party during the FIFA World Cup final on December 18 sparked 605 calls to Ofcom.

Speaking out: Elsewhere Gary Neville’s rant against the Conservative Party during the FIFA World Cup final on December 18 sparked 605 calls to Ofcom 

The broadcasting regulator put ITV under pressure to explain the ex-footballer’s extraordinary comparison of the working conditions of strikers in Britain to those endured by foreign labour working in Qatar. 

An Ofcom spokesman said at the time: ‘We are assessing this content as a priority and have asked ITV provide us with details about the broadcast to inform that work.’

An ITV spokesman added: ‘Gary Neville was expressing his own personal views in the context of a discussion about the treatment of workers in Qatar within a live broadcast. His views are his own and were not endorsed by ITV.’

Rounding off the list, a Sky News bulletin during the Queen’s funeral September 10 prompted 599 complaints after the channel wrongly claimed protestors  demonstrating over the killing of Chris Kaba was a group of mourners.