The sex experts who have caused controversy for their role on Channel 4’s Virgin Island have responded to a hugely criticised aspect of the show.
This comes after the Channel 4 reality series has been received to a completely mixed reaction – with some calling it one of the best reality shows in years and others slamming it as ‘disgusting’.
For those who live under a rock and have somehow missed everything about Virgin Island, it involves 12 adult virgins going on a retreat in which they go through therapy and exercises to try and get them to a point where they’re comfortable finally taking the plunge and having sex.
The big twist that has made many fascinated or disgusted by the TV show however is that some of the therapists take a more ‘hands on’ approach than others – being willing to get intimate and maybe even have sex with the virgins.
Major criticisms of Channel 4's Virgin Island sex experts
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The show’s sexologists and sexual surrogates have received a great deal of criticism as a result of the series.
One fan tweeted after watching the show saying: “Started watching #VirginIsland .... Is this allowed? This feels inappropriate and a breach of some sort of standards?”
Another said: “My jaw is on the floor, I feel a bit uncomfortable.”
A third added: “There’s something creepy about the teachers/instructors.”
Others have suggested that the sexologists are ‘creepy’, hitting out at the methods of the therapists.
Some of the main experts on the show however have revealed that there is one key thing they did which was edited out, and it may change viewers’ perspective on it all.
Key detail edited out of Virgin Island’s broadcast
Dr Danielle Harel and Celeste Hirschmam have both spoken out in an interview with Cosmopolitan UK.
The pair, who founded the specific experimental school of sexual therapy in the show, addressed concerns around consent in the show.
Dr Harel said: “The whole time there's consent. The whole process.
“Like for any of the practices, people get to say whether they want to participate or not, how much they want to participate, whether they want to pull back and not do it.
“So, I think there was consent throughout the whole process.”
Celeste went on to add: “The consent was even more rigorous, like they would ask like three times.
“You might not see all that on camera, but that was absolutely happening. That was part of the duty of care.”
The show’s final two episodes released Monday and Tuesday this week on Channel 4, with previews suggesting that some of the participants may finally lose their virginity in tonight’s episode.
Virgin Island episode 5 airs tonight at 10pm, with the finale airing tomorrow night at 10pm, both on Channel 4.
Topics: Virgin Island, Channel 4, Sex and Relationships, TV and Film, TV
Michael Slavin