‘Ex on the Beach’ Cast Talk Trailblazing LGBTQ Representation – Exclusive Interview
MTV‘s sneak attack Ex on the Beach isn’t just another dating show and the cast talks about how the series shows the dynamic relationships within the LGTBQ community.
David Barta from Paradise Hotel and Arisce Wanzer from Strut find themselves in a messy love triangle this season thanks to Wanzer’s ex Mike Mulderrig, seen on Lindsay Lohan’s Beach Club. Barta, who quickly finds himself falling for Mulderrig said beyond the wildness of the season, Ex on the Beach breaks barriers in reality television.
‘Ex on the Beach’ cast shows the dynamic of relationships within the LGBTQ community
Barta, who identifies as bi-sexual said the fluidity in the series has a natural flow, something missing from most dating shows. “I think that that’s one thing that this show in particular in comparison to other reality shows in general, let alone dating shows, is, showing the dynamic of relationships within the LGBTQ community,” he explained to Showbiz Cheat Sheet.”
Barta’s ex is a woman, but he is attracted to Mulderrig and wanted to see where the relationship might go. Wanzer, a transgender model, was a little shocked by how quickly her ex arrived on the scene – and how quickly he kissed Barta.
“I don’t see competition in other people,” she said. “I only compete with myself. So I’m not going to compare myself, especially to someone like David, because we do not offer the same things. So it’s like literal apples and oranges. And so yes if he wants to go that direction then [shrug]. Or if he wants to stay here, then [shrug]. What are we doing? Kill it. What are we doing? So, yeah, it’s all just unexpected stuff, and everyone’s world gets turned upside down all season. So look forward to that. We all get stressed out to the limit.”
‘Ex on the Beach’ cast shows multiple genders exploring different relationships
Barta said the beauty of the show is how multiple genders can explore any relationship.
“When you’re dating someone who is interested in multiple genders, it’s like, how do you go about that?” he said. “Do you become extremely jealous or do you understand like Arisce said, ‘I can’t compete where I don’t compare?'”
“Because at the end of the day, different people and different genders offer different things. And bring different things to the table. So I think the show does a really good job, but not that I’ve seen on any other dating shows before, like the true dynamic of that.”
“And I think it really kills a lot of stigmas that are out there about just the nature of LGBTQ relationships,” he added. “As well as stigmas of over and hyper sexualizing people within the queer community.”
Nothing is off-limits this season
Barta also addressed self-discovery this season. “I didn’t discover anything new about my sexuality,” he remarked. “It seemed that people responded to it because several times with romantic partners, had I behind closed doors truly identified where I lie on the sexual spectrum at the end of the day.”
“What I really discovered about myself is not everyone is going to be OK with that,” he admitted. “There are going to be people who I want to date or be with. And once they find out my truth, they’re not going to be with me. And I learned that I have to be OK with that and understand and not take full offense to it. I feel like on the show I may have experienced a couple of times where I took offense to maybe people not fully understanding.”
“Because once again, there’s a difference between dating someone who is straight and then being able to sympathize with you,” Barta added. “And dating someone within the LGBTQ community who can empathize and fully understand. And those are just different relationship dynamics that I got to explore on the show. I don’t do things perfectly the first time. I definitely stumbled over myself throughout the entire season. Somehow, I ended up home. No one killed me. No ex’s ripped my head off. But I went through a lot while was there.”
Season 5 of MTV’s global phenomenon Ex on the Beach premieres Thursday, March 31 at 8 pm ET/PT on MTV.
