Why do Black people love popping the balloon?

Another unserious dating show has graced the internet. 

“Pop The Balloon or Find Love” was created and produced by Phoenix-based married couple Arlette Amuli and Bolia Matundu. The goal is to match a contestant with someone from the singles lineup. If the single isn’t feeling the contestant, they can pop the balloon. But if they’re interested, they keep it unpopped to learn more and maybe go on a date. The average Pop The Ballon experience consists of nine singles standing in an empty, white room, holding a red balloon and a pin. They judge each contestant based on what they say and look like. 

My favorite iteration of this dating show isn’t even from Artlette’s channel. In  “Pop The Least Attractive Persons Balloon or Find Love! *Girls Edition*” a contestant named “No Neck Jay” meets a singles group. No Neck Jay is not just a name. He truly does not have a neck and he embraces it. We can assume that the host brought him on the show for this reason, making it funny and interesting to see how the singles will react to his appearance. Immediately after No Neck Jay introduced himself every person popped their balloon. They then proceeded to say that it’s because he gives them more of a “bro vibe.” That’s a lie for sure. We all know they popped the balloon because he has no neck. 

Sounds riveting, right?

Well, a lot of Black people seem to think so. This dating show concept has gone viral within the last year, with the most popular video on Arlette’s channel having over five million views, and this trend sparking copycats with videos like “Pop The Balloon for the Least Attractive Person” and “Pop the Balloon Based off Body.” While these video titles sound outrageous, millions find them entertaining. It essentially has the same appeal of reality TV. I’m sure we all know the phrase, “Baddie Baddie Shot O’Clock!”

Dating show videos have always been popular across Black YouTube but have gained more traction within the last few years. I think it’s partly because long-form videos are becoming more accepted than short-form videos. I also think it’s because, in their structure, the dating shows are similar to a dating app. The prioritization of physical attractiveness can determine whether you talk to someone or skip past small talk to ask personal questions. The dating shows have everything in between.

The reality and authenticity of Pop the Balloon appeals to us because it provides an escape from our own lives. We can step back and watch these strangers we don’t even know try to find the love of their lives, even though we know it most likely won’t happen. Why would you ever come on this show if you were truly looking for love? That’s crazy. It’s very unlikely and rare that people match and stay together after the show. People either match because they are solely attracted physically or don’t know much about the person and learn that they don’t like them after they go on a date. At its core, this show is so unserious which is why it is more known for watching people get rejected and roasted than finding love.

On one side, it’s cool because Black creators are behind it and it allows us to see how relationships might play out.

But then again, it can get messy. 

It’s as if a person’s value is being tied and equated to something as meaningless as a balloon. I find this especially true for the women on the show. When watching, there is a stark difference in how men view seeking out a partner compared to how women approach dating. Only a few men ask deep questions about the person they find attractive. They aren’t trying to get to know their personality, it’s about looks. 

The connection seems solely based on physical attraction rather than a personal connection. For example, a man might ask the woman he’s interested in to “do a 360” so he has the chance to see more of her body and what she’s wearing. The women on the show aren’t perfect either.  Some judge men based on what they’re wearing and if it seems expensive. Do they have a beard? Are they 6 feet? Everything is quite superficial in this show, which makes it interesting and entertaining. It’s the audacity and outrageousness of hearing someone asking someone to turn around so I can see your butt fully. Nobody is doing that in real life. If they are, it isn’t recorded. This show allows viewers to witness absurdities they might not see every day.

Black YouTube thrives on unique, entertaining, and often absurd content, and certain video concepts tend to become wildly popular within the community. Once a concept goes viral, it’s common for someone to claim ownership, leading to countless recreations by those hoping to ride the wave of its popularity and gain clout. Examples include Smash or Pass, 20 vs. 1, Find Your Match, and now Pop the Balloon.

While Arlette did not officially trademark this dating show idea, her videos stand out as some of the most popular and iconic within this space. Arlette's shows maintain a certain level of professionalism and decorum, offering an engaging yet tasteful experience. In contrast, many imitations seem more chaotic, resorting to outrageous antics to attract attention and views. These copycats often lack the structure that makes Arlette's content so distinctive and recognizable.

This kind of absurd content does well on Black YouTube. Someone will trademark a popular video concept and people will reproduce it to get clout. Smash or Pass, 20 vs. 1, Find your Match, and now Pop the Balloon. While Arlette did not trademark the dating show idea, her videos are arguably the most popular and recognizable. They have the decorum while the imitations of the show will do anything to garner views. 

A fitting case of this “absurdity for clout” is  “20 Girls vs 1 Rapper: Lil RT.” 20 vs. 1 is another popular dating show concept where one person will speed date 20 people, trying to find one perfect match. Lil RT is a 10-year-old rapper… so off the jump, he shouldn’t even be doing something like this. He’s most known for doing adult things as a child (which is a problem in itself) but it explains why he would even be on this show. To their credit, he is speed-dating other girls his age (which is also weird but better than the alternative). Lil RT watches different dance or rap battles during the Pop The Balloon segment. There was a part of the video, now taken down but accessible via repost, where one of the girls was borderline twerking and the host, a grown man, said “Ooh shi” while looking at her.

Instances like the Lil RT video show why these video concepts aren’t always the best for entertainment. The creator is doing anything for clout but the views come from the video being weird rather than funny. 20 vs. 1, like Pop the Balloon, can contribute to negative perceptions of dating, especially within the Black community. It focuses too much on surface-level attraction rather than a personal connection.

Pop the Balloon isn’t just a dating game, it’s a reflection of larger issues surrounding beauty standards, dating culture, and the effects of viral content on real-life conversations. Shows like these expose how quick we can be to judge someone which perpetuates prevalent stereotypes in the Black community. Its sensational nature contributes to the rise of content farming, where drama and clickbait are often valued over deeper connections. As social media progresses, we must consider how media like this shapes our perceptions of relationships, beauty, and worth. Are the laughs worth the cost of diminishing how we value ourselves and each other?