Dating show sends same-sex couple to country where gay sex is illegal… Wait, what?!

The U.K. reality dating show Blind Date has come under fire after producers sent two bisexual men on a romantic getaway to a country where homosexuality is illegal.

The popular dating show recently paired up Jordan Shannon and Jesse Drew, its first-ever out bisexual contestants, sending them to the Eastern Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia.

There’s just one glaring problem.

Saint Lucia is super homophobic. Especially if you’re a man.

Gay sex between males is punishable by up to 10 years in prison plus a fine. (It’s legal for females, though). Same-sex marriage is also banned. And the country holds the unique distinction of being the only UN member in the Americas to formally oppose the an international declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Shannon told the Daily Star he wasn’t told about the homophobic law until he had already arrived in the country.

“I didn’t know [about the law] until I was told on the way to the hotel,” he recalls. “I thought, ‘What the f*ck?’”

What the f*ck, indeed!

He added, “The hotel security woman told me how most gay men were in the closet there as homosexuality is illegal. It’s 10 years in prison if caught.”

According to the U.K. government’s official travel advice for Saint Lucia, “LGBT travellers should be mindful of local attitudes and be aware that public displays of affection may attract unwanted and negative attention.”

It further states: “Local attitudes towards the LGBT community are mostly conservative throughout the Caribbean.”

“Public displays of affection (such as hand-holding or kissing) between opposite or same-sex couples are uncommon. Certain homosexual acts are illegal.”

Sooooo why did Blind Date send these two men there?

The question remains unanswered.

The show’s producers have yet to issue any comment, apology, or explanation for why they endangered the lives of two of their contestants, but a spokesperson for the network said, “We didn’t know and are taking this up with the production company.”

Luckily, Shannon and Drew returned to the UK without incident, although it’s unclear whether their segment will air given the controversy.

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