One of many extra heated exchanges from the unique Pop the Balloon or Discover Love—a wildly common YouTube present by way of which eligible Black singles ruthlessly assess one another’s attractiveness face-to-face—ought to have culminated with a lesson in humility.
Aaron, a 29-year-old plumber whose deal breakers included “being promiscuous” and “non-cleanly” had simply completed insulting a lady for having an excessive amount of hair on her arms when fellow contestant Kailah lower him right down to dimension.
“You kinda seem like a Ninja Turtle, you’re not that cute, you must calm down, and also you’re stocky as hell,” Kailah stated as the opposite girls erupted in applause and cheers. Moderately than backing down, although, Aaron shot again, “you’re not even certified to be coping with me,” earlier than bragging that he had more cash than her.
The second, like most of the exchanges on the present, brings its attraction into sharp focus: Pop the Balloon doesn’t maintain again. Set in a no-frills, stark white studio, with many slow-motion match checks, the present is candid and weak, typically ridiculous, and generally problematic. It’s the anti-thesis of a extremely produced relationship franchise like The Bachelor—however individuals have come to like that lack of polish; the present averages round 2 million viewers per episode and was not too long ago parodied on Saturday Night time Dwell.
However a lot of the authenticity that followers cherished was absent from Netflix’s reboot, a reside model referred to as Pop the Balloon Dwell, which debuted final week hosted by comic Yvonne Orji of Insecure, and that includes actuality stars and contestants of all races. That episode is already coping with accusations that it’s “watered down” and quantities to “a paper bag take a look at.” Which begs the query, what does a present lose, particularly one that’s anchored in Black tradition, when it widens its scope to incorporate everybody?
“In fact Netflix added DEIs,” @camsimply joked on Bluesky, upon listening to concerning the new model.
“We will’t have NOTHING!” @princey5ive responded.
“They gentrified Pop the Balloon … UGH,” @richgirlenergy_ posted on X.
It’s “a tragedy,” one Netflix govt, who spoke on the situation of anonymity, tells WIRED of the premiere, saying it wouldn’t be shocking if the group that works on the present makes a number of changes given the overwhelming destructive response.
Netflix didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Launched in December 2023 by Bolia Matundu and Arlette Amuli, who additionally acts as host, Pop the Balloon has adopted the identical naked bones strategy to discovering love throughout its 51 episodes. A gaggle of single girls or males stand shoulder to shoulder in a line, every holding a purple balloon and toothpick. They’re launched to a potential suitor who should ask and reply questions (“What’s your love language?”; “Do you could have children?”). Though the present options individuals of all backgrounds—entrepreneurs, docs, educators, engineers, even alleged scammers—the contestants are predominantly Black, straight, and Christian.
