Fetch the popcorn – Love Island is back on our screens again and that can only mean one thing: a summer of fake tans, “Turkey teeth” and underboob-baring bikinis. Love Island may be one of the most popular reality series on TV but it doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to representating disabilities.
In previous seasons, the show has faced criticism for a lack of diversity in the cast and the promotion of an unrealistic body image. In 2021, Hugo Hammond became Love Island’s first physically disabled contestant. Hammond was born with clubfoot but, after several childhood operations, his disability is barely visible, which led to further criticism.
The following year, Tasha Ghourhi was the show’s first cochlear implant user and Ron Hall the first partially blind cast member. Ghouri, however, was subjected to a wave of ableist abuse and trolling on social media from viewers.
This year, Patsy Field became the first contestant on the show with Erb’s palsy (also known as Erb-Duchenne paralysis or obstetric brachial plexus palsy), a weakness or paralysis in parts of the arm caused by nerve damage.
After a few days in the Love Island villa, Field spoke to a fellow contestant about her condition:........