Goodbye, Isaack, ciao, Philippe, and bye, Felix. The three toxic candidates ofDouble occupation who created a “climate of intimidation” in the guys’ villa were fired by the production team.
Posted at 9:02 p.m.
This radical decision, unheard of since the opening of the first chapter ofOD, in 2003, is part of a movement of popular discontent, which denotes an important change of culture and mentality in reality TV here. Fans no longer tolerate behavior associated with exclusion or disrespect.
Weighing even more in the equation, the sponsors, powerful engines of these alcohol-soaked tropical adventures, are now dissociating themselves from these schoolyard gestures, which do not advocate “inclusiveness and solidarity”.
No, Isaack, Philippe and Félix did not physically beat their roommates at OD. But week after week, they’ve been targeting those they wouldn’t like, kicking them out of group dinners, shutting them out of strategic discussions, and belittling them in the eyes of their suitors. It is a form of sneaky violence, especially in a context of extreme confinement such as that ofDouble occupationwhere the players evolve in an airtight bubble, anxiety-provoking limit.
The families of the three thanked bachelors were contacted on Wednesday, while Isaac, Philippe and Félix will take the news on Thursday when the Production J crisis team arrives in Martinique to save the show from sinking. Psychologist Dania Raminez and bullying researcher Stéphane Villeneuve will be on the trip.
As they live cut off from the outside world, without social media or anything, model Isaack Matteau-Vaillancourt, 24, entrepreneur Philippe Gaudreau, 27, and chemical process technician Félix Milot, 24, have no idea of the anger they triggered among Quebec viewers.
The shootings ofDouble occupation have a three-week advance on the broadcast of episodes on Noovo. We will therefore see big (Isaack), bro (Philippe) and big (Félix) on our TVs for several more days. When Productions J, which concocts OD for the Noovo chain, decided to crack down, Felix had already been eliminated as part of the game. He lived in the house of the excluded. Isaack and Philippe were still in the running for the $500,000 awarded in prizes. Closely associated with the bullying trio, Walide Aouadi, the 28-year-old beneficiary attendant, did not receive his 4%.
Honestly, we should give the loot to Jimy and Claudia right away, because no one will dethrone them anymore. They are adorable. Anyway, the fans would never have voted for Isaack or Philippe, who quickly showed their colors of manipulators, which displeases the public fond of Cupid shows.
The boss of Productions J, Julie Snyder, spent the day on Wednesday on the phone to reassure the partners who are injecting a lot of money into her reality show. The most important sponsors ofOD, including the Geloso Group (Bulles de nuit, Shaker Mixologie), reiterated their support. Polysleep mattresses, Shop Santé boutiques, Oraki clothing and Twenty Compass jewelry have, however, severed their commercial ties with ODwhose actions and decisions do not reflect their values, they said on Instagram.
10 days ago, the exclusion of firefighter and carpenter Jonathan Desjardins, 26, brought down the first domino in this saga. Because they didn’t like him, and for that reason alone, Jonathan’s roommates sacrificed his better half Clémence in the hope that he would follow her and clear the floor. What Jonathan did, in tears and incomprehension.
Then Tommy Kimpton, the 27-year-old DJ, suffered the same vicious treatment. Philippe and Isaack didn’t like him, they tarnished his reputation and almost forced him to self-exclude. To The week of the 4 Julies, Julie Snyder apologized to Jonathan and took full responsibility for this fiasco. On Wednesday evening, Julie Snyder once again acknowledged her wrongdoings. “The production and I take responsibility and we apologize. This is an opportunity to have a common observation on this social issue. We could and should have acted faster, it won’t happen again, ”said the host and producer to The Press.
Before viewers rioted and sponsors fled, problematic contestants were lectured. In vain. “It’s like in a schoolyard: no matter how much you warn them, you can’t always hold them back”, tells me a source who works in the team. Double occupation.
Also, the production was torn: if it did not show the gestures of Isaac, Philippe and Félix, would it be accused of censoring the truth or protecting malicious candidates?
For several seasons now, host Jay Du Temple (who did not comment on Wednesday) has been constantly talking about bickering in homes, and he was spoiled this fall.
As a viewer, I hated seeing Isaack, Philippe and Félix at work. A detestable trio, really. I was in fine curse when they contaminated the judgment of the girls, who drank each of their poisonous words. But would I have shouted harassment? I do not think so. I screamed for the other contestants to kick them out and destroy their unhealthy hold.
For 20 years, reality shows have accustomed us to these shenanigans and the formation of cliques. This is the basis of the game. Also, reality show participants more often attract ridicule than sympathy. We watch them go and we say to ourselves: pfft, they chose to be there, no one forced them to register, too bad for them, they are not pity.
And we won’t play the hypocrites here: the chicanery pays off for OD, it pays for the ratings. We cry when there is none, we say it’s boring, but we are indignant when it overflows. Where do we draw the line now?