A Virgin Island star has defended Channel 4’s new sex therapy show that viewers have slammed as being ‘exploitative’.
The radical new series launched on Monday night, leaving viewers ‘creeped out’ and ‘uncomfortable’.
The show focuses on a retreat for 12 adult virgins aged between 22 and 30 who are looking to take the next step in intimacy with a ‘hands-on’ experience.
After the contestants were asked to tap into their ‘primal animalistic self’ on the second episode which aired on Tuesday, fans labelled the segment as one of the most ‘awkward things’ they have seen on television.
Now, however, Ben Harris – who features on the show – has defended the series, saying ‘I don’t regret taking part at all’.
Writing on his own blog, Ben opened up about his previous experiences being bullied in school and how it instilled within him this belief that ‘I was physically repulsive to women.’
He also explained how he was still a virgin despite going on more than 40 different dates with women and having two girlfriends.
After deciding to go on the show, Ben praised how the ‘selection process was incredibly thorough’ and said Channel 4 handled this matter ‘sensitively’.
He went on to say: ‘Despite, or perhaps because of, the rise of dating apps and social media, adult virgins in their 20s and early 30s are becoming increasingly common.
‘Prime age adults are both more connected and yet paradoxically more isolated from one another than they’ve ever been.
‘If this show helps to clear even a fraction of the stigma associated with being an adult virgin, it’ll have all been worth it. Even if it doesn’t, I know I got a lot out of it, and I don’t regret taking part at all.’
Following the first episode’s release, however, viewers online were quick to label the show ‘creepy’ and exploitative.
‘I’m finding this very creepy, I wouldn’t like that and I’m not a virgin,’ kellyhayward6 wrote on X.
‘This is so exploitative. I’m panicking myself and I’m watching it at home!! I can’t even imagine being one of them right now,’ vikki_hughes added.
‘Anyone else a bit creeped out by this show?’ dan_thatdan shared.
‘This Virgin Island is breaking my heart and making me so sad, but it also feels a little exploitative, [I] know they all have signed consent but still,’ druhorton agreed.
Virgin Island‘s next episode will air on May 19 at 9pm on Channel 4.
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