RTL and producer SimpelZodiak contacted lawyer Sébas Diekstra on Monday about the former participants of Temptation Island. The two parties ‘are always open to talks with (former) participants of our programs’, a spokesperson said on Monday evening.
Five former participants have now joined Diekstra Temptation Island reported that psychological complaints have been left over from the recordings of the program. Former participants Efrain and Aylin told their story on this site on Saturday. Aylin indicated that she had made two suicide attempts as a result of the psychological complaints that resulted from the program. Efrain and Aylin received financial compensation of 30,000 euros, but are still considering legal action against RTL.
Diekstra confirms RTL’s offer to enter into discussions with the three new candidates. “Clients are of course open to having a conversation first,” he says.
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RTL and SimpelZodiak say they do not want to comment on the matter. “We naturally stand for respectful cooperation,” says the spokesperson on behalf of the two media companies. “And if the parties really cannot come to an agreement, there is always the independent reporting point Mores, where participants can always go.”
The program Temptation Island is not included in the major investigation into misconduct in Hilversum that the Van Rijn committee is currently conducting. That investigation only concerns abuses at the NPO and not problems that occur at commercial channels.
‘A lot of guts and strength’
Efrain and Aylin indicate that they have been aware for some time that ‘there were more victims who had experienced similar things. “But we are also hearing new things now.” Efrain is happy that he can now do something for these victims, because he has engaged Diekstra as a lawyer. “Previously I could only offer a little support if participants knocked on my door with their experiences with a new season, because I have previously pushed the boundaries on social media.”
Efrain expressed his displeasure with the program, but did not feel free to openly tell the whole story, partly because of penalty clauses in his contract. Efrain wishes other participants who may now want to follow the example of Aylin and himself ‘a lot of guts and strength’. And the couple says: talking openly about what happened to them during the program feels “like a liberation”, just like the support they now receive from other participants. Aylin: ,,It’s like I can finally be myself again, it also feels less alone. There is finally movement.”
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