“Naked Attraction” boss praises 'empowering' nudity amid backlash: 'We've all got different genitals'
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The mind behind controversial nude dating show Naked Attraction is letting his opinions hang out while addressing backlash to the Max series.
Following the long-running British program's September streaming debut in the United States, executive producer Darrell Olsen responded to American audiences' harsh criticism over a perceived lack of body diversity among contestants.
"What's happening in the States right now is [like how the U.K. reacted] seven or so years ago. You have 'I can't believe this is on screen' — shock and outrage — mixed with 'This is quite amazing,'" Olsen told The Hollywood Reporter of the show's format, which sees a "picker" choosing a potential date based solely on seeing other subjects' naked bodies.
"What it proves is that every person is different, and not just facially. We've all got different genitals. We've all got different big toes. It's amazing. So there's no reason to feel bad about yourself, and it's empowering to see we're all different. But also, we don't play into the stereotype," he continued. "You might have a male with rather large genitalia and the Picker might say, 'I don't really like that, it's not my thing.' Or someone might say, 'I like smaller boobs.' The irony of the show is, by having a load of people naked, it makes you feel better about yourself. Love Island is a fantastic show, but the cast looks amazing and then viewers feel a little bit bad about the way they look. We're the complete opposite."
Following the 2016 show's jump stateside on Sept. 20, the series became a hot talking point everywhere from social media to morning TV shows like The View and Live With Kelly & Mark, with some claiming that the show perpetuated shallow mindsets and enforced stereotypes over the desirability of certain body types.
Max/Youtube 'Naked Attraction' on Max
Olsen revealed that many of the contestants don't remain with their chosen partner, but later seasons have been more successful in making matches. As a result, he's set his sights on expanding the Naked Attraction universe.
"We have a couple who are living together and have kids. A lot of them stay together for like six months or a year or two years, but ended up breaking up," he explained. "But we've got a smattering of couples who are still together. What I want is a Naked Attraction wedding where everybody is naked."
Max/Youtube 'Naked Attraction' on Max
Naked Attraction is now streaming on Max. Watch the show's trailer above.
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