Jasmine Boatswain, star of the reality TV show The Traitors, has spoken out about the negative impact of social media on her mental health. The Londoner, who made it to the semi-finals of the show’s second season, revealed in an interview with the BBC that online hate had made her “really, really low”. The 26-year-old said that reading negative comments on social media left her scared to leave the house. She assumed that people who recognised her would hate her, and was surprised when someone told her that they enjoyed watching her on the show.
The Traitors, which takes place at a castle in the Scottish Highlands and has a prize fund of up to £120,000, sees participants split into two groups: “Traitors” and “Faithful”. Traitors must eliminate contestants from the rival group to claim the prize, while Faithful players try to work out who the Traitors are and eliminate them. The show is hosted by Claudia Winkleman, who guided Boatswain through the process as she battled for a place in the final.
The BBC, which renewed The Traitors for a third season in November 2021, received criticism from some quarters for the show’s gameplay, which could lead to the elimination of popular or sympathetic contestants. However, for Boatswain, who was exposed to hostility on social media, it was the platform that caused the most distress. The Traitors is not the first reality show to attract controversy over its impact on its contestants’ mental health, and the issue of online hate is being debated by regulators and campaigners around the world.
Boatswain has received some supportive comments on social media since her interview with the BBC was broadcast, with fans of The Traitors and other observers expressing sympathy for her experience. The show, which has been praised for its innovative format and suspenseful gameplay, has proved a hit for the BBC, attracting a loyal audience and spawning a lively online community. Whether the next season, or other reality shows like it, will take steps to address the mental wellbeing of contestants remains to be seen
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