Love Island and Misogynoir – Misogynoir in Digital Spaces

Doriauna Anderson – VCU FA24

@doriii_anderson on instagram

Love Island is a show just like any other dating show, people are there to find and explore this idea of love. The only twist here is that there are a ton of contestants coming in and out and there’s “recoupling” and “dumping”.

In the show, Serena was a slow burn; not quick to jump into anything, but she formed a bond with contestant Kordell. Unfortunately, when it came to “Casa Amor” he brought back a woman for the recoupling, Daia, while Serena stayed “single” awaiting his return. Upon his arrival with Daia, Serena rightfully tore into him at how disrespectful she felt he was having seen clips of him with Daia.

Serena was rightfully upset with Kordell and argued with him on two occasions about this. As this episode and the next went on the men congregated asking Kordell if this is how he “wanted his wife to act” and urged him to move forward with Daia who was perceived as more quiet, submissive, and a crutch for Kordell. The public and other contestants(the men) labeled Serena as combative, mean, and ununderstanding. Daia dramatized Serena’s behavior saying she was screaming and “stomping around the villa” and contestant Aaron even said he’s happy his woman Kaylor didn’t act like Serena when upset. Many white and white adjacent people this season were able to complain, lie, cry, be angry, and pick fights with no repercussions or bad blood but the second Serena, a dark-skinned black woman, did she was seen as a problem and Kordell should “explore other options. Serena never had any intense arguments or any prior history of combative behavior in the show for the other contestants/public to perceive her this way but they did anyway because of Misogynoir; god forbid that a black woman stands on business.

Tweets(Clips):

Serena Laying out Kordell x2:

The response to Serena’s actions(Misogynoir):

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8JdNrQo