Netflix has come under fire for a new reality programme showcasing people with Down syndrome seeking for love.
The New Zealand series, Down For Love, debuted on the platform last weekend, and many people have expressed worry over the pun in the title.
‘I started watching this last night. Why did they title it like that though,’ tweeted one person, while another person added: ‘Nah they dead wrong for the name. Hell got a special place for Netflix.’
Others praised the show while still taking issue, as a third viewer wrote: ‘The concept of the dating show is great but that title is so iffy.’
Someone else posted: ‘If I said there’s a Down syndrome dating show on Netflix called “Down For Love” you’d assume I was joking, right?’
Others, on the other hand, defended the play as a whole for its diversity.
One fan wrote: ‘This is great. It really celebrates the individuals on the show and people with Down Syndrome, in a similar way to Love On The Spectrum. All human life is valuable.’
‘This show & Love On The Spectrum are soooooo heartwarming. If you’re in need of a good smile, give these shows a watch,’ a second supporter tweeted, while a third added: ‘Watch this y’all. It’s such a feel-good show. Everyone deserves love and affection.’
Despite the controversy, the programme debuted in the top ten on Netflix in its first week, and actors Leisel Shepherd and Brayden Pettigrew have remained together since production began in 2021.
The description for the show on the official Netflix site reads: ‘A heartwarming quest for love, this feel-good reality show follows several people with Down syndrome as they navigate the trials and triumphs of dating.’
The streaming giant added that the show ‘aims to showcase the joys and challenges of finding love while breaking down stereotypes and promoting inclusivity’.
Zandra Vaccarino, national executive officer of the New Zealand Down’s Syndrome Association, previously mentioned how the show uses its position to confront misconceptions about the community.
‘People make assumptions that people with Down’s syndrome may not want a relationship or cannot have a relationship,’ she told The Spinoff.
‘I knew that people with Down’s syndrome would be keen to have their stories told and to raise awareness that, just like everyone else, they also want to have meaningful relationships.’
Source My Celebrity Life.
