In this 28th edition of “Koh-Lanta”, “Les Reliques du destin”, candidate Ulrich is attracting a lot of criticism due to his misogynistic and sexist remarks.
All adventurers, but not on equal footing. Since the start of the 28th season of “Koh-Lanta”, “Les Reliques du destin”, the episodes have been punctuated each week by criticism from viewers about the misogynistic remarks and sexist behaviors of some of the adventurers. This is far from the first time for the TF1 adventure game. But this time, it goes a bit further.
From the first episode, some viewers raised eyebrows at how the yellow team leader, Paul, pointed out Clémence during the team composition: “We’re going to focus on Clémence, but we need to put her back in her place right away,” he said before choosing the young woman, deemed too impulsive.
Since then, examples have multiplied, and female contestants no longer hesitate to mention, once their elimination is known to all. Like Karine, a specialist in Polynesian canoe (but whose rowing advice was barely listened to before a male contestant took the lead, she was even judged “too directive”). She has since confided to “20 Minutes” that it was “very complicated to advance in Koh-Lanta as a woman over 45 years old.”
Ulrich in the eye of the storm
This contestant has attracted numerous criticisms this year. “Koh-Lanta is not for the weak (…) Physically, I would be above average,” he said while lifting tires at a gym in his portrait. The beefy contestant of this season is not comfortable in the water. To the point where others had to lighten his load to facilitate the collective crossing of a sea inlet. Playfully mocked upon his arrival at the camp, he was never truly worried.
However, he never forgives any mistake. Clémence paid the price after panicking during a freediving challenge. Despite her apologies to her teammates, Ulrich criticized her. “She’s useless. She spends the whole day sunbathing on the beach. She’s only good for chatting, laughing loudly,” he whispered behind her back. Angered by his scolding (which he later pretended to apologize for), Clémence was eliminated shortly after.
Ulrich’s case has taken on new dimensions with a food distribution issue, a recurring subject on “Koh-Lanta”. “Women don’t eat as much as men. Men spend three times more than women,” he said bluntly around the campfire. This surprised Clémence Castel, a spectator of the show and a double winner of “Koh-Lanta”. “Completely disagree,” she responded from a distance on social media, while mentioning Ulrich’s weaknesses in the water. The exchange turned into Ulrich’s online rant against her.
Trivialization of the masculinist discourse
13 women versus 15 men have already won a regular season of “Koh-Lanta.” Proof that gender has little to do with the final victory. But according to the HuffPost, essayist Valérie Rey-Robert, author of “Télé-réalité : la fabrique du sexisme” (Les Insolentes editions) cites a multitude of objectively sexist elements inherent in the TF1 program.
“The challenges are primarily designed for men with fairly short strength and endurance tests. Women are systematically disadvantaged,” she says. “Of all the seasons, 113 challenges have been won by women against 60-70 by men,” defended producer Alexia Laroche-Joubert back in 2020 when her show was criticized for sexism in a report from the High Council for Gender Equality.
On the other hand, the expert points out another problem: “the obligation for women to wear two-piece swimsuits,” recalling the mental burden associated with the risk of losing their swimsuit during a challenge.
Another issue highlighted by Valérie Rey-Robert, even more apparent this season, is “this reflex of women wanting to keep even the worst men. And above all, the fact that women’s strategies are always perceived as more devious. Women are cunning, men are intelligent.” And conversely, the reflex of men wanting to eliminate women first, always seen as weaker. As proof: since the start of this season of “Les Reliques du destin,” four women have already been eliminated, compared to just one man.
But what is more alarming today is that the phenomenon seems more complex. Just like the normalization of masculinist speeches on social media. Whether intentional or not, Ulrich takes advantage of a significant platform to deliver a sexist discourse, while deliberately provoking on the subject online, responding to a follower with, “No, I’m misogynist Pro max, it’s even a step above.” The essayist regrets these slip-ups. “It’s the return of current bashing with guys openly claiming their masculinism. It has always been the case, but in our time, it shocks us even more,” she judges.
Contacted by the HuffPost, the production of “Koh-Lanta” did not respond to our requests. However, it would have been pertinent to hear their perspective on the importance of prevention around this family program, the attention paid during casting to certain types of behaviors, or the preparation of future selected adventurers in terms of equality. It would not be surprising to see Denis Brogniart remind the adventurers of certain rules of communal life and food distribution, whether in front of or away from the cameras – to set certain things straight. Even if watches are prohibited on “Koh-Lanta.”
