Despite tons of negative reviews, angry tweets and a change.org petition signed by 35,000 people and demanding the show’s cancellation, Netflix seems determined to move forward with its Colton Underwood docuseries.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Underwood was filming a series about his coming out and that Gus Kenworthy would serve as his “guide”, introducing him to the wonderful world of all things gay.
Almost immediately, a backlash ensued.
RELATED: Netflix Is Under Pressure To Unplug New Freshly Released Colton Underwood Show
Many people were upset that the former Bachelor star was being honored for appearing on the Netflix show given her not-so-distant history of alleged abuse against his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Randolph. (Read all about it here.) And many others have been disappointed with Kenworthy, who usually shows good judgment, for his involvement.
Rather than comment on the controversy, Netflix, Underwood and Kenworthy have chosen to remain silent, probably hoping that if they say nothing, by the time the show airs people will have calmed down. But one way or another, we don’t think that will happen.
Scroll down for 10 more poorly spawned LGBTQ reality shows over the years …
Boy meets boy
Bravo’s deeply problematic 2003 reality series centered around James, a gay man who was introduced to 15 potential male suitors. What he didn’t know, however, was that half of them only claimed to be gay. Psyche! The cruel show ran for six episodes before being canceled.
Fire island
Logo’s 2017 reality TV series managed to reinforce all the negative stereotypes about gay men by following about six guys for an entire summer on Fire Island. The short-lived series has been criticized by critics and viewers for being somehow offensively bad and terribly boring at the same time.
There is something about Miriam
This 2003 reality TV series featured six men all trying hard on 21-year-old Mexican model Miriam Rivera. It wasn’t until the last episode that she shocked them by revealing that she was trans. Several of the men subsequently took legal action against the show’s producers, citing psychological and emotional damage.
A love photo with Tila Tequila
MTV’s 2007 reality TV series starred Myspace bisexual star Tila Tequila. 16 straight men and 16 lesbians all competed for her love. There was just one problem. Tequila wasn’t exactly bisexual. Oh, and she already had a boyfriend. In 2018, she admitted it had all been a sham, describing her presence on the show as “gay for pay.”
Girls who like boys who like boys
This Sundance Channel reality series ran for two seasons, one in New York City and one in Nashville, and chronicled the lives of four gay men and their best friends. There was nothing patently offensive other than the fact that the whole premise was outdated even by 2010 standards and people were very, very obnoxious.
Find prince charming
Logo’s Bachelor-inspired reality TV series aired in 2017 and was doomed to fail when, a week before its premiere, it was reported that the show’s star, Robert Sepúlveda Jr., was a escort. This was followed by a pornographic tape leak. It wasn’t Sepúlveda’s past that was the problem, but rather that he tried to hide it from the producers and then lied about it to audiences, which completely killed the show’s credibility.
Gay, straight or caught?
Lifetime’s 2007 reality TV series involved a contestant going on a poolside group date with three men. There was a catch, of course. One of the men was straight but in a relationship, another was gay and in a relationship, and the third was straight, single and ready to mingle. The woman had to guess which one was which. If she chose correctly, she won a trip.
What is happening at the abbey
Who wants to see what’s going on in one of Hollywood’s most popular gay bars? It turns out that no one. E’s horrific 2017 reality series only lasted seven episodes before the network hit the pause button when it realized that no one wanted to watch a bunch of drunken narcissists and celebrities. D-List like Brandi Glanville and Tori Spelling get lost and treat people like jerks.
Playing straight
This truly gruesome 2004 reality TV series involved a straight woman and a bunch of guys all forced to live together on a ranch. His challenge: guess which guy was gay and which was straight. Each week, she would watch them participate in group activities, observe their vocal inflections and manners, then identify which ones were homosexual. If she chose correctly, she won $ 500,000.
List A: New York
This Real Housewives-inspired reality series followed six flamboyant white gays as they set back LGBTQ rights by about 40 years with their petty relationship dramas, toxic personalities, cat fights, subtle misogyny, heavy drinking. alcohol and all around the terrible representation of homosexuals.
Graham Gremore is editor and editor at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
