HBO Head Dismisses ‘Naked Attraction’ Controversy
“HBO is the home of ‘Real Sex’” remarked HBO CEO Casey Bloys in response to backlash over nudity in the show.
With apologies to the Parents Television Council, it doesn’t appear that “Naked Attraction” is being stripped from Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platform Max in the near future. As reported by The Wrap, HBO chairman Casey Bloys addressed the blowback his company was receiving for quietly adding the show to its streamer at this week’s Code Conference in Laguna Niguel, California.
Bloys suggested there was nothing sneaky or underhanded about the nature of the program’s importation to Max, saying it was part of an overall deal with the studio which holds the rights to “Naked Attraction,” and that it was added along with several other series. He also pointed out that HBO has hardly steered away from nudity and sexual content in the past.
“I just want to make one point because I think I know the point that you’re probably trying to make as, ‘Oh my gosh, can you imagine that show next to… your prestige show?’” Bloys continued. “I will remind you that HBO is the home of ‘Real Sex’ and ‘Cathouse’… Going back to the ‘You need an entire mix of programming’ — this programming serves its purpose.”
The reason that “Naked Attraction” has drawn so much ire is because of how much full-frontal nudity the show features. The conceit of the series is that a “chooser” scrutinizes the naked bodies of potential dates one part at a time, revealing their faces last. Once the choice has been narrowed to two potential candidates, the chooser themselves strips down so their dates can give them the same treatment.
It’s hard to argue Bloys’ point that traditionally, HBO has not been known to be shy of offering adult content in its programming. The service that houses titles like “MILF Manor” is unlikely to discontinue offering similar content if it has concrete data that its users will respond to those shows.
On the other hand, Max officials made it clear when they first launched the newly reconfigured streaming service in May that they wanted it to have a more family-friendly reputation.
“We want Max to be welcoming to all, including to a key customer segment: kids and families,” said WBD streaming chief J.B. Perrette at the time.
Despite that statement, it appears that Max isn’t willing to stray too far from its roots in this case. HBO has always had a reputation for offering programming that other channels couldn’t or wouldn’t try, and that will continue to be the case with titles like “Naked Attraction.”
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