Love Island USA host Ariana Madix has called out the Australian franchise after appearing in an AI-generated promo for the upcoming season of Love Island Australia.
Ariana, 41, appeared in the promo handing over the keys to the Love Island USA villa in Fiji, which will reportedly be taken over by the Australian cast for the new season.
However, the reality TV star revealed she had no idea the footage she filmed would ultimately be incorporated into an AI-generated video.
“They didn’t tell me AT ALL that the clip I shot would be used with AI. Something I am firmly against,” Ariana reportedly commented on Instagram, according to a screenshot shared by fan accounts.
“Wtf guys @loveislandau?”
After some fans questioned whether the Vanderpump Rules star had actually filmed the footage specifically for Love Island Australia, she returned to the comments to clarify what happened.
“I am not employed by Love Island Australia,” she wrote in one response.
In another, she confirmed that she had filmed the footage used in the promo, writing: “I did film. Notice the sunglasses and remember when I had a stye?”
The comment appears to reference the sunglasses she wore while filming the original footage, which Ariana says fans may remember from a period when she had a stye.
The promo, which Instagram has labelled as containing “AI content”, begins with Ariana wearing a colourful strapless dress and sunglasses as she hands over the villa.
“Good luck, Australia! Try not to break anything,” she says.
The video then cuts to Love Island Australia host Sophie Monk, who jokes that the villa needs some “Ausification”.
From there, AI-generated models are shown renovating the Fiji villa in a bizarre montage.
Ariana has hosted Love Island USA since its sixth season in 2024 and is set to return for the ninth season in 2027.
Love Island Australia fans are NOT impressed with the new promo
Ariana Madix wasn’t the only person unhappy with the Love Island Australia promo, with viewers taking to the comments to slam the show’s use of artificial intelligence.
“The fact they used ai is just straight up embarrassing,” one fan wrote.
“Ran out of budget? what’s with the AI,” another asked.
“LORD PLS GIVE US OUR ONE SHOW THAT AI DOESN’T TOUCH,” a third person pleaded.
“Can someone explain to me what it is with Aussie TV and AI?? Like the music and these ‘boys’. It truly makes the quality so ugh,” another commented.
“Absolutely devastating seeing Aussie TV turn to AI!” one viewer added.
Others questioned why the production couldn’t simply use real people and locations for the promo.
“We seriously couldn’t hire a Fijian man to say bula?” one person wrote.
Another viewer said they “can’t even like this post bc of the amount of ai and how poorly it was done”
“Gah! The AI. Maybe the contestants will be cyborgs,” another joked.
One particularly blunt commenter wrote: “This AI promo is something and then I threw up when she said the MAGA tagline.”
The backlash comes as Australian reality TV continues to face criticism over its increasing use of AI.
Channel Nine previously copped backlash over The Block after viewers criticised the show’s use of AI-generated music and cartoon-like visual effects.
Channel 10 has also faced questions from viewers over the use of AI in its promotional material for Big Brother Australia.
Chattr has reached out to Nine for a statement.
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