’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.