The Reality TV Controversies

Many family associations accused it of capitalizing on the entertainment value of sex and infidelity. The controversy deepened when it was discovered that one of the four couples had an infant son. Though Fox TV pleaded ignorance and removed the couple from the series, the protesters argued that Fox TV could have broken up a family."

Melissa Caldwell of Parents TV Council, a division of Media Research Center, said, "I think a lot of people are appalled at the concept of trying to break up committed relationships for the purpose of entertaining millions of viewers."The program attracted similar reactions in other countries, especially in conservative countries such as Japan, Taiwan and India. In Taiwan, the show was scrapped even before a single episode was aired. In India, though the program was aired, it faced severe opposition and the Star TV network had to give up the idea of making an Indian version of the program.