OPINION: The naked truth and Naked Attraction

by Todd E. Brady

Guest columnist

Max--the streaming platform that used to be HBO produces Naked Attraction, a British television show which features contestants seeing silhouettes of six naked individuals standing in six boxes behind colored screens.  Little by little, from the feet upward the naked bodies are revealed.  As more body parts are seen, a “chooser” critiques and scrutinizes the six fully nude bodies.  (Faces are revealed last.)  After four nudes are eliminated, the chooser takes his or her clothes off and gives the remaining two contestants the opportunity to critique the chooser’s body.  Then the chooser and chosen go on a date.  Meanwhile, people are at home voyeuristically watch the whole sordid affair on their flatscreens. 

No, I’m not making this up.  My only question is “After you have been through that experience, what in the world do you wear on your first date?”

Obviously, Max thought that The Batchelor, The Golden Batchelor, The Bachelorette, and other silly dating shows were not appealing or exciting enough.  Naked Attraction has stooped to a lower level and shallower approach with this new absurdity. 

Speaking of the show, Jeffrey P. Johnson, University of Georgia professor of Entertainment and Media Studies said, “They are showing full male frontal nudity, and that's maybe what's catching a few breaths.”  One person on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, claimed the show “might just be the greatest reality show of all time.” 

This is not reality.  Instead, it is perversity. 

At the beginning of each show, a disclaimer appears on the screen “The following series is intended only for mature audiences. It contains full frontal nudity, coarse language, and graphic discussions about the human body. Viewer discretion is advised.”  According to the show, it is intended for “mature” audiences.  While they say the show is intended for “mature” audiences, the participants are obviously the epitome of immaturity.

Buzzfeed UK does not overstate the matter in the title, "’Naked Attraction’ Is The Most Utterly Stupid Dating Show On TV.”

The existence and popularity of this show reveals many realities—one of which is the shallowness of society.  Entering a relationship simply because of the appearance of one’s body shows a lack of knowledge, reasoning, emotions, and character.  It is the height of superficiality.  It is pornographic. 

What you get ‘em with is what you keep ‘em with.  Participants in Naked Attraction need to realize that the body changes.  Gravity takes its toll over time.  There is more to a relationship than physical attraction—much more.

If the show’s producers appeal to their audience’s base desires, they are going to have to appeal to baser desires next time.  If they have gone low with Naked Attraction, they are going to have to go lower next time.  And they will.

Years ago, the Apostle Paul described this by saying “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.”  We do well to realize that folks like this can’t help acting this way.  The reason they act this way is because they think this way.  They are “darkened in their understanding.”  (Ephesians 4:18)

In our society, men are calling themselves women.  Women are dressing like men.  Children are being confused by the silliness of transgenderism.  We have a Supreme Court Justice who can’t even say what a woman is.  Meanwhile those in Britain and America are entertaining themselves with titillating and salacious “dating” shows.  We should not be surprised at something as ridiculous as this. 

The chickens are coming home to roost.

Todd E. Brady serves as Staff Chaplain and Advanced Funeral Planner at Arrington Funeral Directors. He and his wife, Amy have five sons. You may write to him at tbrady@afgemail.net.