ITV's explosive new reality offering, Destination X, has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with viewers branding the show 'traumatic' and 'emotionally cruel' following its brutal premiere.
Furious fans have flooded social media, accusing producers of crossing a line with the show's harsh psychological challenges. Many are even calling for the programme to be pulled from the airwaves entirely.
What is Destination X?
The controversial format strands a group of contestants in a remote location, completely isolated from the outside world. Deceived about their true destination, they are subjected to a series of intense mental and physical trials for a chance to win a £100,000 cash prize.
The first episode featured a particularly gruelling 'lie detector' test, where participants were aggressively interrogated about their pasts and relationships, reducing some to tears.
A Wave of Viewer Outrage
The public reaction was swift and severe. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), one distressed viewer wrote: 'What is this cruel mess? #DestinationX is genuinely hard to watch. This isn't entertainment, it's psychological torture.'
Another echoed the sentiment, posting: 'Absolutely horrific television. Switching off. #DestinationX should be cancelled.' The sentiment was overwhelmingly negative, with countless others describing the show as 'vile', 'triggering', and 'a new low for reality TV'.
Defence and Division
Despite the backlash, the show's presenter, former Love Island star Laura Whitmore, has defended the format. However, her involvement has also drawn criticism from some of her own fans, who expected a different tone from her.
This intense division suggests ITV may have a major controversy on its hands, sparking a debate about the ethical boundaries of entertainment and how far is too far for ratings.
