’90 Day Fiancé’ Sacrifices Its Greatness to Please the Cancel Culture
Get ready for the explosive 10th season of the reality TV sensation, “90 Day Fiancé”! Last Sunday, we were introduced to the fascinating international couples who have 90 days in America to decide if they will tie the knot or head back home.
In a classic “90 Day Fiancé” moment, Jasmine, a self-proclaimed Kardashian look-alike, spilled the tea on what attracted her to Gino, a man 20 years her senior from Canton, Michigan. She hilariously described his unique features, including belly fat, flamingo legs, a sharky nose, and nonexistent lips. It’s safe to say she has a thing for unconventional looks!
This captivating mix of brutal honesty, questionable motives, and jaw-dropping trainwrecks is what makes “90 Day Fiancé” so addictive. The show thrives on the imbalances and cultural clashes within these relationships: a stunning immigrant paired with a frumpy American, a resident of the “Southern Hemisphere” eyeing an American suburb. Every season, someone inevitably asks, “Is it just a green card marriage?” This winning formula turned “90 Day Fiancé” into TLC’s flagship program, but it’s also become a double-edged sword.
Reality TV in a Politically Incorrect Era
The underlying assumptions of the show — that beauty standards matter, that America is a desirable destination, that age plays a role in relationships — are now considered politically incorrect. It’s seen as fat-shaming and ageist. These immigrants aren’t from the “Third World,” they’re from the “Southern Hemisphere,” which is no better or worse than the USA. And suggesting that they might have ulterior motives or be dishonest is deemed xenophobic.
While the show’s premise relies on cultural differences and romance, it also runs the risk of making value judgments in favor of American ideals, which is a big no-no. “90 Day Fiancé” premiered in 2014, just before the rise of woke culture, and it’s hard to imagine it being approved in today’s climate.
However, despite the controversy, the show is a massive hit. It has spawned spin-off series for every stage of the K-1 visa process and has a dedicated Reddit community that rivals the drama of the show itself. The showrunners now face a dilemma: how to continue a successful program in a cancel culture-ready world.
In an attempt to address the controversial aspects of “90 Day Fiancé” head-on, this season introduces a clever twist. The show takes the most challenging elements — traditional values, American exceptionalism, and objective beauty standards — and subverts them with an American witch, a U.K. immigrant, and a transgender individual.
A Bewitching American and a Latin American Catholic
The season kicks off with Ashley, a modern-day witch engaged to a Latin American Catholic. Ashley’s witchcraft practices range from Tarot card readings to mindfulness techniques. By making the American character the witch, the show flips its previous narrative.
Previous seasons often featured Mormons or other traditional families, but now America exports its tolerance for the occult to conservative Christian immigrants. When asked if “witchiness” is a thing in Ecuador, Ashley responds with mock solemnity, “No, GOD is a thing in Ecuador.”
She is concerned that her Catholic fiancé, Manuel, wants her to convert and views witches negatively. Ashley worries that he won’t accept her true self and her witchy lifestyle. In other words, she fears he won’t embrace the cornerstone of modern American ethics: “You do you.” The show encourages viewers to sympathize with her struggle.
It’s a sad irony that colonialism has led to this clash of beliefs. Christianity, seen as backward, is now embodied by the immigrant, while the knowledgeable American embraces witchcraft. This reversal challenges the series’ typical dynamic.
A Reluctant U.K. Immigrant and a Rough L.A. Neighborhood
To debunk the notion that America is exceptional, we meet Rob from L.A. and Sophie from London. Rob lives in a cramped studio apartment in a rough part of Inglewood, with a shared bathroom that resembles an outhouse. Meanwhile, Sophie comes from an affluent British family, making America a downgrade for her.
Clearly, America is not the great land of opportunity when compared to Europe. Immigrants come for various reasons, but it’s not because America is a shining city on a hill. They make sacrifices for love. Sophie and Rob, both mixed race, bonded over their shared experiences of bullying and racism as children, a legacy of their colonialist countries.
Plastic Surgery and Transgender Identity
This season introduces two individuals who are passionate about plastic surgery. Jasmine, a woman, spent her wedding dress budget on butt implants.
Nicole, a transgender woman, proudly declares that she has undergone numerous plastic surgery procedures from head to toe. She jokes about not expecting a woman to have curves naturally, highlighting the heavy-handed narrative that trans women are women. Nicole’s journey mirrors Jasmine’s, as they both embrace surgical enhancements. However, Nicole faces rejection from straight men, despite her certainty about her identity.
Initially, Nicole kept her transgender identity a secret, even from her fiancé Justin. It took two years of dating before she revealed her past. Justin needed time to process the information, but now, at age 47, Nicole feels this may be her last chance at love. She acknowledges the challenges of finding a straight man willing to date a trans woman. The show portrays Nicole as a romantic figure deserving of empathy, constrained by a world of narrow-minded individuals.
TLC Embraces the Revolution
Season 10 of TLC’s “90 Day Fiancé” retains some of the elements that made it a juggernaut, but the show’s original assumptions have been turned upside down. America is no longer portrayed as a land of opportunity, stability, and abundance. Instead, it is depicted as a place of fundamentalism, bigotry, and racism, which both its citizens and immigrants strive to overcome through tolerance and witchcraft. While this may earn the show praise from the left, it remains to be seen if it will make for great reality TV.
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In what ways does Michael’s story shed light on the struggles and triumphs of the transgender community?
And Outspoken Transgender Individuals
Last but not least, this season introduces some controversial yet intriguing characters. The show brings in a plastic surgery enthusiast and an outspoken transgender individual who challenges societal norms. The plastic surgery enthusiast, Amanda, openly talks about her numerous cosmetic procedures and her desire for perfection. She believes that altering her physical appearance boosts her confidence and self-esteem. On the other hand, we have Michael, a transgender individual who tirelessly fights for acceptance and equality. Michael’s story sheds light on the struggles and triumphs of the transgender community. By introducing these diverse and unapologetic individuals,
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