The Block: ACMA receives complaints of 'bullying and harassment'

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has received numerous complaints about the 2023 season of The Block, with claims it promotes 'anti-social behaviour'.

ACMA received 28 complaints in one week, with a spokesperson telling The Australian: "The majority of the inquiries related to allegations of bullying, harassment and promotion of anti-social behaviour between contestants."

Nine has 60 days to respond to the complaints, but fans have been taking to social media ever since this season began, with many complaining that there's not enough focus on renovation and too much drama.

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“I don’t mind a bit of drama, it’s a reality show so I get there might be some sparks, but every single episode there’s toxic behaviour, snarky comments and bullying and it's kind of bringing me down,” one user wrote on Reddit last month.

“I don’t feel good after watching The Block anymore and that’s a shame because this is usually my comfort show. I hope it gets better as the season goes on.”

Others agreed that the drama is “tiring” and they prefer to watch the show online so they have the ability to “skip through all the toxicity”.

“Once upon a time it was a show about building. Now it's a soap opera with snippets of building,” another added.

“I love drama and I am there for it when it’s minor disagreements about Block-related stuff and issues with the builds etc, but a lot of this season isn't drama, it’s bullying and that isn't ok,” someone else shared.

“B***hiness and toxicity is next level this season,” one fan wrote, while a different user replied, “ I miss the early days where you had the odd moment but the show was mainly about the renos and reveals”.

Many others have shared that they are choosing not to watch every episode, and only watch the room reveals to avoid all of the drama.

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“Honestly decided today to stop watching this season, only seeing online the articles with pictures of the revealed rooms,” one person shared.

“I only watch the reveals,” another added, while a third said, “The weekday episodes are just so much b***hing and moaning, backstabbing, and confrontations. Not a fan”.

The Block has seen a 20 per cent drop in viewership from last year, coming in second in the September 19 ratings with 526,000 metro viewers.

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