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Mickey Rourke’s was removed from the Celebrity Big Brother house earlier this year (Picture: Shutterstock)
From Love Island to GB News and Celebrity Big Brother, this year’s most complained about TV moments have been revealed.
Every year, media watchdog Ofcom publishes a breakdown of all the complaints it has received from viewers about various TV shows.
Over the past 12 months, 49,580 complaints were made about 8,422 cases.
From these cases, 24 broadcast standards investigations were launched, with Ofcom finding that 15 had broken their rules.
Overall, complaint numbers have fallen from 2024 and there have been fewer investigations opened.
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But, taking a look at the most complained about programmes of TV, here is the top 10 list.
1. Shakira being ‘bullied’ on Love Island
Viewers made 3,547 complaints over the alleged bullying of Shakira Khan (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
The number one spot in this year’s Ofcom list belongs to none other than Love Island.
Coming in at 3,547 complaints, viewers protested on July 24 over the alleged bullying of Shakira Khan.
Fans of the show claimed that producers had highlighted her confrontational moments, including her clashes with Emily and Meg, making it seem like she was a villain.
2. More Love Island ‘bullying’
Many complaints were also made about how Megan Moore was treated (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
In a surprising revelation, the alleged bullying of Shakira in another episode of Love Island on July 22 was the second most complained about moment of 2025.
In total, 2,509 complaints were lodged, with a small number also being made about Megan Moore returning to the villa.
Despite these statistics, viewers still hailed the latest series as ‘the best season ever’.
3. Further Love Island ‘bullying’
Shakira’s treatment in the Love Island villa was the top three most complained about moments of the year (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
It’s a Love Island hat-trick! The top three most complained about TV moments of 2025 all belong to the alleged bullying of Shakira.
This time around on July 23, 2,002 complaints were made regarding how Shakira, who eventually coupled up with Harry Cooksley, was treated.
Viewers were also unhappy with Dejon Noel-Williams’ behaviour towards Megan as well.
Despite the show taking the top three spots, Ofcom decided not to investigate the latest season, despite viewers logging more than 14,000 complaints in total.
4. Karen Millen on breastfeeding
Fashion designer Karen Millen made controversial comments as a guest (Picture: Channel 5)
In fourth place, and finally breaking the trend of Love Island so far, is none other than fashion designer Karen Millen who called a mother ‘selfish’ for wanting to breastfeed.
Appearing on Vanessa Feltz’s talk show on June 10, the show was hit with 1,866 complaints.
Viewers took to social media to criticise her misleading and ‘disgraceful’ remarks.
5. GB News
GB News has been hit with more than 70,000 complaints after presenter Josh Howie called LGBT+ people ‘paedos’ (Picture: GB News)
On January 22, 1,391 complainants objected to a presenter’s comment on GB News after Josh Howie appeared to suggest the LBGTQ+ community included paedophiles.
Ofcom’s investigation found the live programme broke broadcasting rules by including a highly offensive remark which was not justified by the context, falling short of generally accepted standards.
In addition to these complaints submitted directly by individuals to Ofcom, the Good Law Project gathered 71,851 complaints and provided them to Ofcom.
6. Sky News on Gaza
Samantha Washington was criticised for her comments on the Madleen (Picture: Sky News)
In sixth place, 1,302 complaints were made against Samantha Washington on Sky News on June 7.
The complaints related to a section of the programme on the Madleen, a vessel trying to deliver aid to Gaza.
Those who contacted Ofcom alleged that a comment by the presenter misrepresented the mission’s peaceful nature.
7. Love Island
Hundreds of complaints were also made after the way Blu spoke to Toni, pictured, on Love Island (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
In seventh spot, we’re back to Love Island… again.
One day after the most complained about moment of the year, 1,296 complaints were made on July 25 about the alleged bullying of Shakira again.
Some of these complaints, however, were also levelled against the way Blu spoke to Toni, when a feud erupted between the two Islanders.
8. Love Island: All Stars
The Love Island: All Stars series also received thousands of complaints (Picture: Ricardo De Leca/ITV/Shutterstock)
In eighth position, we’re yet again talking about Love Island, but this time it’s for the All Stars edition.
On February 12, 1,240 complaints were made about alleged bullying behaviour between the particpants.
The episode saw contestant Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu confront her friend-turned-rival Elma Pazar about feeling a ‘weird grudge’. This then erupted into a blazing row.
Tensions first appeared when Ekin-Su kissed Elma’s partner, Sammy Root, in the heart rate challenge. The argument saw Elma swear at Ekin-Su and her partner Curtis before storming off.
9. Mickey Rourke on Celebrity Big Brother
Mickey was repeatedly warned about his behaviour on Celebrity Big Brother (Picture: Shutterstock for Big Brother)
Rather surprisingly, Mickey Rourke’s repeated offensive behaviour on Celebrity Big Brother was the ninth most complained-about TV moment of 2025.
The Hollywood actor, 72, was eventually removed from the ITV show after making homophobic remarks directed at JoJo Siwa.
Mickey also used sexually inappropriate language in a conversation with Ella Rae Wise and displayed threatening behaviour towards Chris Hughes.
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Speaking to Variety, Mickey said about his exit: ‘I blame myself. I know it was my bad, you know, I’ve got a short fuse. I know I upset a lot of people out there. I’m sorry for that. I’m actually ashamed of myself for getting that hot. I went over the line, you know, I did wrong. I guess I could say I’m a work in progress.’
10. The Brit Awards
Charli XCX’s outfit was a point of controversy at the Brit Awards (Picture: Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Last, but certainly not least, was the the Brit Awards 2025, which received 938 complaints on March 1.
Sabrina Carpenter’s risque performance and Charli XCX’s outfit was the main source of the complaints.
The Espresso singer, 25, later addressed the controversy with her trademark humour on Instagram, writing: ‘I now know what watershed is!!!!’
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