Netflix sparks heated debate over dating show title for Down syndrome singletons
Fans have slammed Netflix over the “iffy” name of a new dating show starring people with Down syndrome.
The streaming giant has been faced with a severe backlash after the show Down For Love was launched earlier this month, and follows several people with Down syndrome as they look for love. However, the series, which hails from New Zealand, has concerned viewers who believe the pun in the title is derogatory, and called for Netflix to rename it.
“I started watching this last night. Why did they title it like that though,” one tweeted. “Nah they dead wrong for the name. Hell got a special place for Netflix,” another added. One viewer felt conflicted as they enjoyed the show, but couldn’t get past the perplexing title. “The concept of the dating show is great but that title is so iffy,” they explained. Others thought it was a bad joke, with one commenting: “If I said there’s a Down syndrome dating show on Netflix called ‘Down For Love’ you’d assume I was joking, right?”
Netflix have been blasted over the name of a new dating show (Netflix)But many viewers were won over by the show’s sweet portrayal of people looking for love, and praised Down For Love for being inclusive. “This is great. It really celebrates the individuals on the show and people with Down Syndrome, in a similar way to Love On The Spectrum. All human life is valuable,” one wrote, as another called it “soooooo heartwarming”. “Watch this y’all. It’s such a feel-good show. Everyone deserves love and affection,” one viewer added.
“Down for love on Netflix is so sweet omg I’ve been cheesing this whole time,” one fan commented, while another said it was their “favourite show of 2023,” and it has been compared to Love on the Spectrum, which focused on people with autism looking for love. “(This is) exactly the wholesome happy my heart needed,” one viewer added.
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The five-episode series first aired in New Zealand last year, and follows 10 people with Down syndrome, including actress Libby Hunsdale and swimmer Carlos Biggemann, as they look for love. It has been produced in conjunction with the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association, and has been commended for showing the challenges faced by those who just want to find love.
Zandra Vaccarino from the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association said the show challenges “misunderstandings” about people with Down syndrome, and instead showcases their meaningful love stories. “People make assumptions that people with Down’s syndrome may not want a relationship or cannot have a relationship,” she told The Spinoff. “I knew that people with Down’s syndrome would be keen to have their stories told and to raise awareness that, just like everyone else, they also want to have meaningful relationships.”
Despite the criticism, the show has been praised by critics, and was in Netflix’s top 10 shows shortly after being released, with stars Leisel Shepherd and Brayden Pettigrew still together after meeting on the show in 2021.
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